Mace Francis's High 5

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

Mace Francis is establishing himself as predominant figure and advocate for original Australian big band music. He moved to Perth, from Victoria, in 2000 to study composition and arranging under Graham Lyall AM and in 2004 graduated from WAAPA with First Class Honours. Since 2004, Mace’s focus on composition has awarded him the 2004 APRA Professional Development Award, the international Italian composition prize “Scrivere in Jazz”, three nominations for the WAMi Jazz Song of the Year and numerous national and international commissions including PLONK!, a 40min work featuring his own 14-piece Mace Francis Orchestra (MFO) plus woodwinds, French horn and classical percussion. MFO have recorded 4 CDs since forming in 2005, toured nationally twice (2006 & 2008), collaborated with indigenous artists - Djiva, performed with international artists Jim Pugh (USA), Jon Gordon (NY), John Hollenbeck (NY) and Theo Bleckmann (NY). In 2007 Mace was awarded the prestigious “Most Out-standing Individual Contribution to Jazz” by the Perth Jazz Society.

In 2008 Mace was appointed lecturer in Arranging and Composition at WAAPA as well as Artistic Director of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) where he has implemented emerging composer commissions and guest artist programs. Since his appointment, WAYJO has performed with Fred Wesley (USA), Allen Vizzutti (USA), James Morrison and John Morrison. 2010 has been a successful year for Mace as he is about to embark on another national tour with his band MFO (see details at

www.macefrancis.com

) and he has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious MCA Freedman Fellowship which will be decided at a performance at the Sydney Opera House in August.

1. BOB BROOKMEYER NEW ART ORCHESTRA – European Tour, 2004

In July of 2004 I was lucky enough to go on the road with Bob Brookmeyer’s New Art Orchestra. I was able to see all their performances in Austria, Germany, and Croatia as well as see how a band at this level rehearses and functions. This big band’s live sound was just like the recordings – beautifully balanced, impeccable tuning and incredible playing. I still get goose bumps thinking about it.

2. VILLAGE VANGUARD ORCHESTRA – Village Vanguard NYC, January 2006

In 2006 I was part of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra tour to New York where we played at the IAJE Conference. After 36 hours travelling we had arrived in Manhattan on a late Monday afternoon. Myself and some of the others guys went straight down to the Vanguard and was totally blown away by this band. As it turned out it was the first time the band had performed without deps for 7 months – very cool. I still remember the power of the sax section and the sound of the room – just like the “Live at the Vanguard” recordings. I was in New York for another 3 Mondays and made sure I was at the Vanguard each time.

3. BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET – Molde Jazz Festival Norway, 2004

This was an amazing set of music. The whole set built in intensity and dynamics. They started with a ballad and as each tune went by the intensity built. It was amazingly paced until the final tune when they were all playing at there maximum. Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Eric Reeves were yelling and screaming and the audience was right there with them.

4. CARLA BLEY – Essen, Germany, May 2006

In 2006 Carla Bley and Steve Swallow were artists in residence at the Essen Concert Hall. I saw Carla’s “jazz opera” Esculator Over The Hill. A totally bizarre performance which was like taking an LSD trip in India with Ornette Coleman playing your own personal soundtrack.

5. TONY GOULD & GRAEME LYALL – Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, 2006

Beautiful, beautiful music in the Cathedral at Wangaratta. One of the first times I have been moved to tears.