ARIA award winning jazz trio, Elixir, comprises Australian music treasure, Katie Noonan, alongside her husband Zac Hurren on piano and soprano sax, and Benjamin Hauptmann on acoustic guitars. Ahead of the talented trio’s performance at Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo on Saturday 9 March, we caught up with Katie Noonan to talk musical memories and journeys, and collaborating with national living treasure, Michael Leunig.
What’s your earliest memory of being musical?
I was actually in utero when my mum was performing Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in early 1977 at the Sydney Opera House (!) and she also took my big brother Tyrone to see ABBA at the SCG just before I was born – so I daresay my musical DNA was sufficiently influenced by classical music and pop music from the get go! My earliest memory of performing myself was probably around age five performing a Mozart recital with a violinist at the Scholiarsky School of Music around 1982. Piano was my first instrument and I didn’t really start focusing on singing properly until my teenage years.
Tell us a little about the journey of Elixir since 1997 and how the current lineup evolved.
The primary purpose of elixir was to create a gentle acoustic music-making world celebrating Australian poetry. We started in 1997 with Nick Stewart on acoustic guitar (from my band George) and alto saxophonist River Petein. We made a 6 track EP and played around Brisbane/SE QLD quite a bit in the late 90’s. Soon after River went overseas and Zac Hurren joined the band on tenor saxophone around 1999. We made our debut self titled album and toured extensively around Australia in the early 00’s. Soon after Zac and I felt we wanted to take the band into a more improvisational space informed by our jazz studies, and we asked the masterful jazz guitarist Stephen Magnusson to join the band. This meant we moved to electric guitar being the primary choral instrument and there was a much stronger focus on feel and improvisation. We made two albums with Stephen – First Seed Ripening, featuring the poetry of Thomas Shapcott, and Gratitude and Grief featuring the poetry of Michael Leunig.
A couple of years back I was really yearning to return to the more acoustic folk sound of our beginnings, and we asked Benjamin Hauptmann to join the band. Benny, Zac and I co-wrote our album ‘ A small shy truth’, and it’s been really special returning to a completely acoustic sound, and working with the wonderful Michael Leunig again.
Elixir’s fourth album is based on the poetry of Michael Leunig. How did that come about?
I first met Michael about 15 years ago when I was on tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Richard Tognetti, Michael and I went to supper after the concert in Melbourne, and I felt like I had a met a kindred spirit and a dear friend. A few months later I asked him if he would be our muse for our third Elixir album and he thankfully agreed! Michael loves music and was quite involved in the writing process – adding extra verses and extending some sections in order for them to work as a lyric. It’s been an absolute joy and honour getting to know this wonderful wordsmith and see the world through his playful and childlike, yet profound words.
What can the audience expect from the show at Tallagandra Hill Winery on 9 March?
Our concert at the beautiful Tallagandra Hill Winery will be a chance to disconnect from the world and be surrounded by gentle, acoustic folk/jazz music-making and story telling. I feel we have created a very special world of celebrating the gentle, quiet moments of life, focused on the magic of the world around us; the magic of love and loss, and the glimmers that exist surround us.
Ben will be playing his acoustic guitars, Zac on piano and soprano sax, and myself singing plus some percussion.
What is your favourite piece to perform?
Ohhhhh, I really do love Alchemy – the melody was written entirely by Zac and it’s a beautiful challenge to sing. It’s probably the most jazz influenced harmonically and is in a gentle 5/4 and offers a chance for Zac and Ben to stretch themselves improvisationally.
I also really love Boyhood Poem – one of my favourite lyrics.
Describe your favourite venue for performing.
I honestly love all venues an audience willing to listen, but I must admit performing in regional Australia is extra special. You know people have made a real effort to come to a special patch of the world to commune and share in something special together, and I look forward to having that feeling at the winery this Saturday, and sharing a bottle of The Great Ron Songbook Shiraz with David and Mary and their dogs post show! They are really beautiful hosts and I am looking forward to introducing them and the space to my husband Zac.
Experience the music of Elixir at Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo NSW on Saturday 9 March, doors open 6.15pm, performance from 7pm. Book tickets here.
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