Kinetic Energy Theatre Company

It all began in 2009, when Kinetic Energy Theatre Company’s co-directors Graham Jones and Jepke Goudsmit got together with their friend and colleague Lee McIver to explore their shared desire to support live Australian jazz & improvised music. A desire arising from their life long love affair with jazz, Lee as trumpet player and composer, Graham and Jepke as theatremakers.

The three of us soon shaped our mission. Our aim was to create an acoustic listening environment in which to present leading Australian contemporary jazz & improvising performers, and where new talent and ideas could be nurtured. We wanted to provide a place for exploration and experimentation (‘create a concert you cannot perform anywhere else’…); to inject the scene with a vital impulse towards cross generational exchange; to stimulate inter-disciplinary development, and to support original contemporary Australian work.

And so in 2010, Kinetic Jazz was launched and Sydney responded: the musicians took off, creativity flowed and bold explorations found fertile soil. Key ingredients being: authenticity and adventurousness, and the deep desire to bring together the maker and the listener within the art of listening.

Right from the start, our pianists were able to enjoy the rare opportunity to explore the special range and scope of that magnificent Australian piano: the unique Stuart, thanks to the ongoing sponsorship by Stuart & Sons and Albert Music, and pianist Kevin Hunt’s research project which he conducted across the many years of this sponsorship. 

Each year we organised a major Festival in January, followed by three satellite seasons across the rest of the year. Kinetic Jazz's home base was right in the middle of the Inner West, at the St Luke’s Church precinct in Enmore, whose hall is an acoustic paradise, and whose church provided extra space for the larger events.

One characteristic of a typical Kinetic Jazz event was the inclusion of pieces that explore the related art forms of poetry, drama and dance. Many initiatives were taken, such as the Drum Kitchen Project, the Poetry & Jazz Pieces, and numerous experimental duos & trios were spawned. The Kinetic Cinema project was set up to show archival footage, and new work that links sound & the moving image.

In January 2011, we formed the Kinetic Jazz Orchestra (KJO), an 18-piece composers big band. The KJO predominantly played new work created by its own members. We also brought legendary big band composer Mike Gibbs to Australia, twice, to work with the KJO and mount a Gil Evans program as well as a selection of his own exquisite pieces. Australian composer Roger Dean has been a regular guest composer working with the KJO, and in 2013 Bruce Cale joined us to write new work specifically for the band. We also produced KJO gigs at a variety of venues other than St Luke’s Hall, such as Venue505, The Foundry, The Seymour Centre (SIMA) and The Phoenix Theatre in Wollongong.

Our major Festivals were professionally recorded, with the best pieces featuring on our very own Kinetic Jazz CD series. 

International and interstate guests featured regularly, such as flute master Kaoru Watanabe from New York, pianist Tony Gould from Melbourne, and saxophonist Remco Keijzer from Melbourne/ Amsterdam. In 2014, US guitarist Jeff Peterson was our guest, as well as Australia’s own international flute master Riley Lee.

In the course of the 18 seasons that we produced, we were able to bring an enormous range of artists in the contemporary jazz field together, and to present their work to an appreciative audience. Our last Kinetic Jazz event was a KJO concert in November 2017 at St Luke’s Hall, exclusively featuring pieces created by the band’s current composer-players: Justin Buckingham, Miroslav Bukovsky, Mike Kenny, Cam McAllister, Jason Morphett and Don Reid.

Congratulations and thanks to all who contributed to the Kinetic Jazz journey.

2010

January 28-31 - Inaugural KINETIC JAZZ FESTIVAL at St Luke’s. Program: Peter Dasent solo piano, Sandy Evans trio with guest pianist Alister Spence, Jackson Harrison Trio (28/1); Don Reid’s Blue Rondo Quartet, Kevin Hunt Trio, Jeremy Rose Quartet (29/1); Mike Kenny’s Lab Band, Paul McNamara Trio with guest singer Nicky Crayson, Tony Gould solo piano (30/1); Roger Dean solo piano, Keijzer-McGuiness Quintet, Lee McIver’s Polymorphic Orkestra (31/1); Each night: poetry version of GO! WALK! performed by Jones, Goudsmit & Reid. Photo documentation: Corrie Ancone. Sound recording: Lee McIver & Rob Cornish. Lights: Wayne Patterson. Co-directors: Lee McIver, Graham Jones, Jepke Goudsmit, Produced by KETC and Elmac. Ongoing sponsors: KETC, Elmac, Albert Music, Stuart & Sons, Herkes

July 9-11 - KINETIC JAZZ in the ROUND – winter season. With: Drum Kitchen project 1 - Alex Masso & Ed Rodrigues; Clocks & Clouds (9/7); Susan Gai Dowling Trio; Abel Cross’ Neo Bop Quintet (10/7); Gai Bryant Quintet; ROIL (11/7). Each night: Jones & Goudsmit performed their dramatisation of Tom Shapcott’s poem SCHOENBERG IN MELBOURNE, plus EMPIRE (their adaptation of Arundhati Roy’s essays “The Loneliness of Noam Chomsky” & “Confronting Empire”) in collaboration with pianist Jackson Harrison.

October 8-10 - KINETIC JAZZ in the ROUND – spring season. With: Jeremy Rose Trio; Kevin Hunt Trio with guest Daryl Pratt (8/10); Alex Silver & Kevin Hunt; Mark Isaacs Trio (9/10); Drum Kitchen project 2 – Evan Mannell, Timothy Constable & Bree van Reyk; Charmaine Ford Trio (10/10). Each night: CARBON INDULGENCE by Jones & Goudsmit. Cast: Ben Davy-Thorburn, Jepke Goudsmit, Graham Jones, Billy McPherson, and audience participation.

2011

January 27-30 - Second KINETIC JAZZ FESTIVAL. Supported by Marrickville Council with a $2500 grant. Ongoing sponsors as before. Used both the hall and the church as performance space. Curators: McIver, Jones & Goudsmit. Sound recording: Lee McIver, Jayson McBride, Rob Cornish. Technicians: Patterson & Hilario. Photography: Corrie Ancone. Video documentation: Saha & Jola Jones. Program: Drum Kitchen project 3 - Evan Mannell, Bree van Reyk, Timothy Constable; Dave Levy’s Standard Practice Quartet; Mark Isaacs Trio (27/11); Abel Cross’ 3 of Millions; Paul McNamara & Schmoe Elhay; Ben Hauptmann’s BOB (28/1); Drum Kitchen project 4 – Alex Masso; Roger Dean solo piano; Clocks & Clouds; Spike Mason’s Jazz Organism; Kevin Hunt Trio (29/1); The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra; Bill Risby trio; Rick Robertson’s Baecastuff; SNAP (30/1). Each night: KETC performs EMPIRE (version 2, see July 2010) with Abel Cross on double bass. Cast: Ben Davy-Thorburn, Alan Dapozzo, Jepke Goudsmit, Graham Jones, Colin Kinchela, Rebekkah Owusu, Vladimir Shvedov. Created & directed by Jones & Goudsmit.

April 29 - May 1 - KINETIC JAZZ autumn season, in church and hall. Acknowledgement of Country on didgeridoo by Billy McPherson. Program: Amphibious; Tim Clarkson trio; Poetry & Jazz: Thomas Shapcott’s OLD MAN SINGING performed by Graham Jones in collaboration with trombonist Lucian McGuiness, and Judith Wright’s FLESH performed by Jepke Goudsmit & Graham Jones (29/4); International guest: MIKE GIBBS conducting The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra (KJO) – a selection of Gibbs’ original work and orchestrations; Jackson Harrison & Jeremy Rose Quartet (30/4); Ben Panucci Trio; My Goodness McGuiness!; Poetry & Jazz as above (1/5). Launch of KINETIC JAZZ CD1: a compilation of 2010 Kinetic Jazz Festival recordings.

July 1-3 - KINETIC JAZZ winter season, in church and hall. With: Kim Sanders & Friends; The Vampires (1/7); Drum Kitchen project 5 - Alex Masso; Ben Hauptmann’s Relative Band (2/7); The Monday Club; Mike Kenny Sextet (3/7). Each night: KETC performs HOME (version 1) created & directed by Goudsmit & Jones. Cast: Damon Biggar, Angela Canalese, Jepke Goudsmit, Graham Jones, Tomomi Takahashi, Billy Ward. Tech: Wayne Patterson, Sherri Hilario.

October  6-9 - KINETIC JAZZ spring season, in church and hall. With: The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra; Poetry & Jazz: Kinetic Poets - six poets from Caravan Slam perform their work with improvised accompaniment by Hannah James on double bass, Ed Rodrigues on drums (6/10); The AustraLYSIS Electro Band; Bill Risby Trio; Jazz-Theatre: KETC performs HOME (version 2). Same cast as July augmented with musicians Billy Ward (sax), Axel Powrie (bass), Matthew Jeffs (piano) playing live score (7/10); Three solos by: Ed Goyer, Jackson Harrison and Lee McIver; Paul McNamara Trio; HOME (version 2) as above (8/10); The Umbrellas; Hannah James Group; HOME (version 2) as above (9/10).

2012

January 25-29 - Third KINETIC JAZZ FESTIVAL. Supported by Marrickville Council with a $1500 grant. Ongoing sponsors as before. In hall and church. Curators: McIver, Jones & Goudsmit. Sound recording: McIver & McBride. Tech: Patterson & Hilario. Photography: Corrie Anconé. Video: Saha & Jola Jones. Launch: Kinetic Jazz CD2 (double CD of 2011 KJF & Gibbs/KJO recordings). Program: Aaron Flower’s BAZ; Clocks & Clouds; Lily Dior & Trio; Poetry & Jazz Collaboration 1: Tom Shapcott’s FIVE DAYS LOST: installation by Goudsmit & Jones, music by Roger Dean, Sandy Evans (AustraLYSIS), performers: Jepke Goudsmit, Robert Gray; Collaboration 2: Tom Shapcott’s OLD MAN SINGING performed by Graham Jones and trombonist Lucian McGuiness (25/1); Young Cats & Kitties: a) Midnight Tea Party, b) On Lying Down In Churches (text & movement Cleo Mees, French horn Lilli Pearse), c) Billy Ward & Frank Dasent Band with guest Robert Gray (spoken word), d) Convolutions I & II: structured improvisation for large ensemble by Roger Dean (11 young musician/ performers conducted by Dean), video installation by Saha Jones; Kevin Hunt Trio & guest Dharug Songman/Yellamundi Richard Green; Poetry & Jazz as on 25/1 (26/1); Gai Bryant Band with guest Miles Merrill (spoken word); Richard Maegraith’s Galaxstare; Jeremy Rose Quartet; Poetry & Jazz Collaboration 3: Tom Shapcott’s SCHOENBERG IN MELBOURNE, performed by Jones & Goudsmit with Jackson Harrison (piano); Collaboration 4: Judith Wright’s FLESH performed by Goudsmit & Jones, with Dave Ellis on double bass (27/1); Jess Green & Bree van Reyk’s Hurtbeats; Peter Dasent’s The Umbrellas; Poetry & Jazz as on 25/1 (28/1); Jeremy Rose’s Compass; Lucian McGuiness’ Impermanent Quartet; James Greening’s Greening from Ear to Ear; Poetry & Jazz as on 27/1 (29/1).

April 13-15, 20-22 - KINETIC JAZZ & THEATRE autumn season, in church and hall. Ongoing sponsors as before, plus KAWAI for second baby grand. In hall & church. Curators: McIver, Jones, Goudsmit. Sound recording: McIver, McBride. Tech: Patterson & Hilario. Photography: Corrie Anconé. Video: Saha & Jola Jones. Kinetic Café: Lucy Martin. Program: Ed Rodrigues’ Ed Band (13/4); Paul McNamara (14/4); Roger Dean, Simon Barker, Phil Slater: SEDition (15/4); International guest MIKE GIBBS conducting the Kinetic Jazz Orchestra: selection of Gibbs originals & Gil Evans pieces arranged by Gibbs (20,22/4); Peter Dasent’s The Umbrellas (21/4). Every night: KETC’s EMPIRE (version 4). Created & directed by Jones & Goudsmit. Laptop technology: Peter Stocks. Video footage: Saha Jones, Lee McIver. Cast: Damon Biggar, Frank Dasent, Angela Fieldhouse, Jepke Goudsmit, Robert Gray, Jane Grimley, Graham Jones, Jola Jones, Lilli Pearse, Floyd Robinson, Billy Ward, and Tom Wade on double bass.

April 24 - Mike Gibbs & The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra at Venue505, Surry Hills.

July 13-15  - KINETIC JAZZ & THEATRE winter season, in church and hall. Curation & production team as before. Program: Richard Savery & Anna Okunev’s L.I.E. Ensemble (13/7); Ed Goyer Quartet (14/7); Tim Bruer Quartet (15/7). Every night: KETC’s jazz theatre HOME (version 3). Created & directed by Goudsmit & Jones. Tech: Patterson, Ruby Fox-Lewin (asm). Cast: Damon Biggar, Angela Canalese, Angela Fieldhouse, Jepke Goudsmit, Graham Jones, Tomomi Takahashi, Dave Ellis (double bass), Frank Dasent (trombone), Floyd Robinson (alto sax), Billy Ward (tenor sax), Wilbur Whitta (piano).

October 4-7  - KINETIC JAZZ / POETRY & IMAGE spring season. In the hall. Program: Lee McIver’s Electro Acoustic Orkestra (4/10); David Rodriguez’ Gran Can (5/10); Kim Sanders & Friends (6/10); the A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Septet (7/10). Every night: Poetry & Jazz collaboration: Tom Shapcott’s FIVE DAYS LOST (as in January); Jazz & Image collaboration: THE EDGE #1 by Saha Jones. Plus a live audio-video installation (7/10) by Roger Dean (sound) and Saha Jones (image).

2013

January 22-27 - Fourth KINETIC JAZZ FESTIVAL. In church and hall. Curators/sponsors/production/recording team as in 2012, plus Lucy Martin (Kinetic Café), Lynda Hyde (FOH). Program: Liz Geyer & Bill Risby Duo; Tim Clarkson Septet with international guest flautist Kaoru Watanabe (USA); Kinetic Cinema – Archival footage of KETC’s 1994 WHO LIVES? (Goudsmit/Jones), THE EDGE #2 by Saha Jones (22/1); The Cooking Club; Ben Hauptmann Sextet; KETC’s young musicians band The Soup Kitchen Orchestra with guests Jones & Goudsmit (23/1); Quadrilateral: solos & duets on one piano by Roger Dean & Matt McMahon; The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra program I; Kinetic Theatre & Cinema – live and film excerpts from ECCENTRICS (’92) & WHO DIES? (2000). Live cast: Graham Jones & Jepke Goudsmit with pianist Kevin Hunt & Kinetic Collective (24/1); Remco Keijzer & Matt McMahon; Waldo Fabian Quintet; Sports Pants (25/1); Australia Day Reflection: Wiradjuri elder Ray Jackson leads a ceremony and issues Aboriginal Passport; Anna Okunev Sextet; Kinetic Collective: structured improvisation conducted by Roger Dean with film collage by Saha Jones; singer/ songwriter Tanya Sparke & pianist Peter Dasent; Prophets; Kinetic Cinema: same program as on 22/1 (26/1); Three flautists: Kaoru Watanabe (USA), Kim Sanders & Riley Lee, guest: Timothy Constable (percussion); Urban Gypsies; The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra program II, with guest Kaoru Watanabe (USA) (27/1).

February 13  - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra at Venue505, Surry Hills.

May 22-26  - KINETIC JAZZ – KINETIC CINEMA. Autumn season. In the hall. Curators/sponsors/ production/documentation team as in January. Program: Kinetic Jazz Orchestra with Goudsmit & Jones (spoken word)(22/5); Tim Rollinson Trio with Phil Slater (23/5); Dale Barlow Quartet (24/5); Richard Savery & Anna Okunev’s L.I.E. (25/5); Ellen Kirkwood’s Captain Kirkwood (26/5) Each night: (Short Films by Saha Jones, Maya Newell, Andrew Morgan, and archival footage of WHO DIES? (Jones/Goudsmit).

August 31 - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra concert at Venue505, Surry Hills. Guest composer: Bruce Cale.

October 2-5  - KINETIC JAZZ – KINETIC CINEMA. Spring season. In the hall. Curators/sponsors/ production/recording team as in January. Program: Drew Bourgeois’ SAAN; Cinema: Short films by Cleo Mees, Michael McLennan, Helen Wilson, Maya Newell & Saha Jones. Curated by Saha Jones (2/10); Lee McIver’s Polymorphic Orkestra. Cinema: THE EDGE documentary by Lesley Dyer & Andrew Moffat (‘92), archival footage of WHO LIVES?! (’94) (Jones/Goudsmit), & Saha Jones’ THE EDGE #2 (3/10); Waldo Fabian Quintet (4/10); Noise Exposure - featuring Clocks & Clouds in an installation format by Saha Jones; Kinetic Cinema as on 3/10 (5/10).

October 25 - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra concert at the Sound Lounge for SIMA. Guest composer: Bruce Cale.

2014

February 1  - Concert of Kinetic Jazz Orchestra at Foundry 616, Ultimo.

April 22-27  - KINETIC JAZZ AUTUMN FESTIVAL. In church & hall. Curators/ sponsors/production /recording/FOH/Cafe team as last year. Program: Ben Hauptmann Quartet: Wes Montgomery tribute; James Greening’s Septet Greening from Ear to Ear (22/4); Bruce Cale & Don Reid Quartet; Tanya Sparke Sextet (with Peter Dasent) (23/4); Natalie Dietz Quintet; Bill Risby Trio with international guest guitarist Jeff Peterson (USA) (24/4); Shakuhachi grandmaster Riley Lee & international guest Jeff Peterson; Noise Exposure featuring Clocks & Clouds in installation format by Saha Jones (25/4); Tony Gould, Imogen Mannen, Riley Lee & Jeff Peterson; Andrew Dickeson’s Quintet BURN (26/4); Sandy Evans, Phil Slater, Simon Barker & Roger Dean in SEDition B; Tim Clarkson Trio; The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra with special guest Riley Lee playing new work by Don Reid. Plus guest composer Roger Dean conducting his new work for the Orchestra (27/4). Each night except on 27/4: Kinetic Theatre & Cinema. Live and film excerpts from ECCENTRICS (’92) – SWEET & LOVELY (Jones & Goudsmit live), plus Lord Buckley’s jive talk classic THE NAZZ performed by Graham Jones as Lord Buckley, and chorus: Angela Fieldhouse, Ruby Fox-Lewin, Jepke Goudsmit, Lynda Hyde, Saha Jones, Floyd Robinson, Tomomi Takahashi.       

June 21 - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra concert at Foundry 616, Ultimo. Launch of CD3: a selection of tracks recorded in 2012/13.

November 20-23  - KINETIC JAZZ SPRING FESTIVAL. Supported by a $2000 Marrickville Council grant. In church & hall. Curators/sponsors/production/photo/Café team as before, but sans Lynda Hyde, and sans sound recording. Program: Matt McMahon & Guy Strazz Duo (20/11); Kevin Hunt Trio with guest Brenda Gifford; The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra (21/11); Waldo Fabian Sextet (22/11); Dave Ellis’ Bass Liberation (13 double bass players); Mark Isaacs solo piano (23/11). Each night: Kinetic Cinema & Jazz Theatre: same items as in April KJ Festival.

2015

February 13 - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra concert at Foundry616, Ultimo. Guests: Riley Lee (shakuhachi) and composer/conductor Roger Dean.

June 14 - KINETIC JAZZ one-day festival at St. Luke’s – BE THE MUSIC. Program: Lee McIver’s Septet Jurassic Bark; Ben Hauptmann & Matt McMahon Duo; The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra, with Jones & Goudsmit (spoken word).

September 27 - TUNE IN to Kinetic Jazz. Program: Divergence (conductor: Jenna Cave); The AustraLYSIS Electroband (Roger Dean, Sandy Evans, Greg White); The Polymorphic Orkestra (Lee McIver, Ed Goyer, Ed Rodrigues); and the Kinetic Jazz Orchestra with spoken word by Jones & Goudsmit. Tech: Hilario.

2016

February 27 - Kinetic Jazz Orchestra concert at Foundry616, Ultimo. Guest composer/ conductor: Roger Dean. And Jones & Goudsmit’s version of Annie Ross’ TWISTED.

May 13,14 - Kinetic Jazz Autumn season: HANDY WORK. Program: The Kinetic Jazz Orchestra with guest director/composers Roger Dean and Miroslav Bukovsky, and dance troupe Des Fleurs (13/5); Polymorphic Orkestra; Jeremy Sawkins solo guitar; Mike Kenny Septet (14/5).

2017

November 10 - Concert by Kinetic Jazz Orchestra at St Luke’s Hall. Hosted by KETC’s co-directors. Compositions by Miroslav Bukovsky, Justin Buckingham, Mike Kenny, Cam McAlister, Jason Morphet, Don Reid. Poetry by Jepke Goudsmit and Jola-Innana Jones.