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"new compositions in jazz and improvised music is alive and in very good health in this country and Mace is leading the charge into the future. I fret less knowing that the future is in the very best of hands" - Graeme Lyall AM (M.Mus.)
The Mace Francis Orchestra (MFO) was formed late in 2004 by band-leader and composer Mace Francis to experiment with composition, in the style of the great modern big bands lead by Bob Brookmeyer, Thad Jones, Bill Holman and Maria Schneider. The result has been the coming together of 13 of Perth’s finest emerging young musician’s and composers to create exciting new music for big band.
Over the last three years MFO has developed an individual and original powerful sound through a residency at the Brisbane Hotel in 2005 and now at the Swan Basement (every Wednesday) plus special projects and commissions. These projects have included The Unpopular Songbook, commissioned by the Perth Jazz Society, which explored new possibilities and interpretations of pop, rock and hip hop tunes and Chinese Whispers, which in 2005 involved eight West Australian composers collaborating to create a new body of music.
“an inspiring performance…show-casing the extremely diverse creative approaches of each of the composers to this challenging compositional task, and it made for an absorbing, exciting and very entertaining evening.” Alan Corbet - JazzWA.
Chinese Whispers is now in its third edition involving eight composers and eight visual artists from around the world. This will be premiered by MFO as part of the 2007 Club EMU series in November.
In 2006 MFO released their first studio CD titled Introducing the Mace Francis Orchestra launched at the Perth Jazz Society.
“Lyrical, beautifully-textured, unrushed… a little-big-band that sounds bigger than its twelve-member-strength.” Doug Spencer – ABC Radio National
"This is a very auspicious start for a great new band and the begining of a long journey for and excepional new talent - Mace Francis" - Ed Partyka
“his themes are melodically pleasing and rhythmically strong. Francis has definite goals in mind, and has assembled a first-class ensemble to help him reach them.” Jack Bowers – allaboutjazz.com
In November 2006 MFO toured Victoria, performing at The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Lebowski’s, Section 8, The Potato Shed and QDOS.
So far 2007 has seen a WAMI (West Australian Music Industry) nomination for Best Jazz Group and a NEW CD release - MFO LIVE.
Please stay intouch.
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