NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Jazz
For an original Jazz work of any instrumentation, including improvisatory composition.
A work is defined as a single complete musical composition, or expression. This includes music with movements or sub-works (i.e. song cycles), installations, and real-time compositions (improvised music).
If you believe your work to be nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.
Art Music Award guidelines →
Nominee
Claire Cross
Title of the work
Sleep Cycle
Performer
Claire Cross, Reuben Lewis, Merinda Dias-Jayasinha, Kyrie Anderson
Performance Date
17/5/2024
Venue
Sleep Cycle - released via Art As Catharsis Records
Nominator Statement
Im excited to nominate Claire Crosss album Sleep Cycle for Work of the Year: Jazz. Having worked with Claire professionally across numerous projects over the last decade, Ive had the privilege of witnessing her artistic evolution firsthand. This album represents a turning point in her compositional approach and this feels like her most distinctive and personal work to date. The work is divided into five movements (presented as album tracks) relating to each phase of the human sleep cycle.
What makes Sleep Cycle so compelling is the way it has been carefully considered to balance both structure and spontaneity. By imbuing an improvisatory framework with a super-structure drawn from scientific research, Claire has written is a deeply immersive album that carries listeners along a sonic voyage through each characteristic phase of sleep. Theres a confident patience in the way each movement unfolds, and a spaciousness to the sometimes mirage-like textures she has created. The overarching clarity of vision makes this album stand out not just in her own body of work, but within the broader landscape of Australian contemporary art music.
Claires leadership in the improvised music sector has long been recognised, and Sleep Cycle cements her position as a forward-thinking voices in Australian jazz who deserves close attention. The distinctive voices of some of the countrys most exciting musicians have been curated into a space where their collective creativity can thrive - and the resultant music is a testament to Claire's talent not just as a composer, but as a collaborator and bandleader with admirable ambition, originality, and artistic depth.
I wholeheartedly support Sleep Cycles nomination for Work of the Year: Jazz. Claire Cross has created an album that is a standout achievement from an artist whose work continues to inspire and shape our contemporary music scene.
Nominee
Claire Cross
Title of the work
Sleep Cycle
Performer
Claire Cross, Reuben Lewis, Merinda Dias-Jayasinha, Kyrie Anderson
Performance Date
17/5/2024
Venue
Sleep Cycle - released via Art As Catharsis Records
What makes Sleep Cycle so compelling is the way it has been carefully considered to balance both structure and spontaneity. By imbuing an improvisatory framework with a super-structure drawn from scientific research, Claire has written is a deeply immersive album that carries listeners along a sonic voyage through each characteristic phase of sleep. Theres a confident patience in the way each movement unfolds, and a spaciousness to the sometimes mirage-like textures she has created. The overarching clarity of vision makes this album stand out not just in her own body of work, but within the broader landscape of Australian contemporary art music.
Claires leadership in the improvised music sector has long been recognised, and Sleep Cycle cements her position as a forward-thinking voices in Australian jazz who deserves close attention. The distinctive voices of some of the countrys most exciting musicians have been curated into a space where their collective creativity can thrive - and the resultant music is a testament to Claire's talent not just as a composer, but as a collaborator and bandleader with admirable ambition, originality, and artistic depth.
I wholeheartedly support Sleep Cycles nomination for Work of the Year: Jazz. Claire Cross has created an album that is a standout achievement from an artist whose work continues to inspire and shape our contemporary music scene.