Jessica Carlton - In the Beginning

NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Jazz

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.

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Nominee

Jessica Carlton

Title of the work

In the Beginning

Performer

Jessica Carlton, Pete Evans, Djuna Lee, Harry Mitchell, Jamie Oehlers

Performance Date

16/11/2024

Venue

Ekphrasis (album release)

Nominator Statement
Jess Carlton has a very unique sound, both on trumpet and in her compositional voice. She isnt afraid to write what she hears, rather than what she feels should be done. Sometimes this means choosing unapologetically simple, heart wrenching melodies over complicated ones, and other times pushing boundaries with dissonance. I feel each one of her musical choices in In the Beginning is made with integrity.
This pieces is part of her album Ekphrasis released in November last year, and is based on a visual artwork by Judy Chicago, which explores the rewriting of the genesis story, showing that life is owed to women, rather than men. This has particular significance for Jess as a mother and outspoken feminist.
In the Beginning is written in sections, following the artwork from left to right, from darkness and emptiness, to birth/life. The first part of the piece slowly builds into chaos, which suddenly gives way to a simple piano melody which, to put it simply, feels like a breath out.
Jess has been recognised Australia wide in various ways, including being nominated for the Freedman Fellowship and a Jazz Bell Award, and this pieces is equally deserving of nationwide recognition.

Eligibility checklist

Support Materials

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