ARIA and National Jazz Award winning tenor saxophonist & composer, Zac Hurren, and brilliant Melbourne-based jazz drummer, Sam Bates, hit the road for an East Coast Tour in September 2022 to share a unique musical friendship. Marrying different playing and compositional styles together, this duo present imaginative and varied stories for the listener, along with their trademark energy and humour. Since meeting, Zac and Sam have gone on to collaborate, perform and record with some of Australia’s greatest musicians, however for this tour, these brothers of jazz are excited to share their musical friendship with the Blue Mountains at Katoomba’s one-and-only speakeasy live music space, Pigeon Lane @ Gallery ONE88.
ZAC HURREN & SAM BATES // Saturday, 24 September 2022 // Doors 6:00 pm // Tickets: $94.50 ea incl. 2-Course Meal
Location: Pigeon Lane @ GalleryONE88, Katoomba. 186-188 Katoomba St, Katoomba
Ticket price includes a 2-course meal // This is a seated performance // BYO alcohol // COVID-Safe Event. We recommend that you visit our good friends at Leura Cellars en route to GalleryONE88, who provide an exquisite selection of wines, beer, and spirits, including locally brewed beers from 'Mountain Culture' and ciders from 'Hillbilly'.
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/ HURREN/BATES DUO EAST COAST TOUR SEP 2022 /
Hurren/Bates Duo celebrates the friendship and creative partnership between ARIA and National Jazz Award winning tenor saxophonist/composer Zac Hurren and brilliant jazz drummer Sam Bates.
The duo line up provides unique challenges and opportunities for their respective playing and compositional approaches, as they strive to present imaginative and varied stories for the listener, along with their trademark energy and humour.
Since meeting at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in the mid 90’s, Zac and Sam have gone on to collaborate, perform and record with some of Australia’s greatest jazz musicians and enjoy concurrent careers as educators and mentors.
Now in their 3rd decade of friendship, these brothers of jazz are looking forward to creating music together again in these awesome venues.
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/ ZAC HURREN /
Zac Hurren is a truly unique and virtuosic saxophonist, composer, improvisor and teacher. Zac's approach to music is integrally interactive and alertly intuitive, resulting in music of exuberant expression and inspired spontaneity. Hurren’s strikingly unique and inventive style has made him a sought-after collaborator for many leading Australian musical visionaries. He has performed with musicians including Paul Grabowsky, Scott Tinkler, Simon Barker, Vince Jones, David Ades, Philip Rex, Matt McMahon, Stephen Magnuson, Evan Mannell, Sam Anning, Julien Wilson, Cameron Undy, Ken Edie and Katie Noonan to name a few.
Zac Has been a chief composer for numerous albums of new Australian music and has performed as soloist with many of Australia’s premier orchestras (including the ACO, SSO, WASO, TSO, ASO, QSO and Camerata).
2009 saw Zac win the prestigious National Jazz Award and he won the ARIA Award for best Jazz Album in 2011 with his group Elixir. In 2011 Zac toured Australia with his group Elixir (featuring Katie Noonan) performing nationally as the opening act for the legendary US bassist Ron Carter’s Trio. 2012 saw Zac perform at the Sydney Opera House as a finalist for the Freedman Fellowship. In 2015 Zac performed on stage with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In 2018 Zac was commissioned by Richard Mills to compose a chamber opera for the Victorian Opera and Plexus. This new work was premiered with the Victorian Opera in September 2019 under the baton of Richard Mills. In 2020 Zac was commissioned by The Melbourne Ensemble, The Australian Voices and AVÉ Australian Vocal Ensemble to compose new Australian musical works.
The last 2 years of the pandemic have seen him focus on designing and building his recording studio ‘The Rainbow Room’ and producing (engineering/mixing/editing and broadcasting) a monthly monetised live stream concert series ‘Live from Zac Hurren’s Rainbow Room’, as well as continuing to compose, mentor and teach.
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/ SAM BATES /
Sam Bates is a Melbourne based drummer/composer specialising in jazz and improvised music, as well as contemporary rock and popular music. He has worked with a variety of artists including Scott Tinkler, Ollie Browne, Katie Noonan and Christine Anu. Other career highlights include;
- Winner of The Alan C Rose Memorial Trust Scholarship
- Twice a finalist in the National Jazz Awards
- Recipient of the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music Fellowship
Bates has released three studio albums under his own name which have garnered critical praise, including 4.5 stars in The Australian.
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/ THE EXPERIENCE /
Whilst many events promise a 'speakeasy' experience, no other venue in the Blue Mountains does it quite like 'Pigeon Lane', Gallery ONE88's live music quarter. Why you ask? Well, you won't find the entrance to this space on Katoomba's main drag . . . you need to take a stroll down Katoomba's 'Art Street', aka Beverly Place, and with so much visual candy on display, you won't quite know where you're going. Walking past the ever-changing tapestry of street art, rated as one of the 'Top 10 Things to Do in Katoomba' according to TripAdvisor, you need to find a green door at the rear of the gallery. Don't expect a big neon sign or a grand entryway though - it helps to bring someone who has been here before and keep your eyes peeled. Once you cross the threshold, you will pass through a peculiar ticketing booth, a quirky corner bar (although the venue doesn't yet have a liquor licence - so it's BYO) and enter Pigeon Lane proper.
Just like the eclectic underground venues of Paris or New York, this space has antique chandeliers, timber floors and exposed brick, a small stage framed with red velvet curtains, individual tables, and plenty of artwork and vintage curiosities everywhere to pique your roving interest. The acoustics in this space are divine and the vibe casual, which is the perfect storm for bringing out engaging and emotive performances out of every musician that graces this stage. With the likes of Sarah McLeod (The Superjesus), Steve Kilbey (The Church), Jak Housden (The Whitlams), Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges, Lloyd Swanton (The Necks), Sandy Evans (10 Part Invention), Paul Cutlan, Gary Daley, Trish Delaney-Brown (The Idea of North), George Washingmachine, James Greening and many more having played in this room, the quality of music is second to none. You won't want to miss a show here as there aren't many rooms like this.
>>> To find Pigeon Lane, walk down Beverly Place in Katoomba, aka Art Street, and look for the Green Door at the back of GalleryONE88 (don't worry, you'll find us 😁). There's some parking in the lane and you can drop your passengers off at the door if you're feeling chivalrous.
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/ THE MEAL /
Victor Peralta is both a celebrated artist and an executive cook, who will be curating a dining experience like no other. Featuring two majestic and generous courses, meals will be delivered to your table by alternate drop (one option for you and the other option for your partner) between sets. Dessert, tea, and coffee will also be available to purchase on the night.
- Please Note: Menu to be updated closer to event -
Example Entrees -
Platter of Mixed Pinchos: A traditional dish from the North of Spain closely resembling 'Tapas', 'Pinchos' are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack while hanging out with friends or relatives. Thus, they have a strong socializing component and in the Basque country and Navarre, they are usually regarded as a cornerstone of local culture and society; or
Potato Gnocchi in House Pesto Sauce (Vegetarian): This gnocchi is served lightly tossed in our house-made fresh basil & pine nut pesto sauce, and sprinkled with shavings of matured parmesan.
Example Mains -
Mega Meat Balls: Prime beef and spicy chorizo baked slow in a secret ONE88 herb and spiced tomato au jus until tender and mouth-watering. Served alongside al dente pasta and sprinkled with shavings of matured parmesan; or
Red Lentil & Cauliflower Dahl (Vegetarian): This curry is perfect for those nights where warmth and just a little spice is needed. Served alongside jasmine rice and naan bread.
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/ REFRESHMENTS & LICENSING /
Pigeon Lane is currently BYO only, however, has a dedicated cafe during the day and has an extensive range of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as fresh espresso coffee from Blue Mountains Coffee Roasters. If you're in the mood for a little dessert, Pigeon Lane has also got you covered!
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/ THE SCHEDULE /
Date: Saturday, 24 September 2022.
Venue: Pigeon Lane @ GalleryONE88, 186-188 Katoomba St. Katoomba
Doors Open: 6:00 pm
First Course Served: 6:30 pm
First Set: 7:00-7:45 pm
Second Course & Intermission: 7:45 - 8:45 pm
Second Set: 8:45-9:30 pm
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Tickets: $94.50 per person including a 2-course meal
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