Simple songs for a complicated world.
Lugano III invites you into a listening experience shaped as much by space as by sound. There most recent recording was made live in a classical auditorium - no baffles, no headphones - the room itself became part of the music. Every resonance, every decay informs the repertoire, the sonic palette, and the improvisatory flow.
The result? Ambient textures, swirling soundscapes, and compositions that dissolve into one another - like a live ECM mixtape unfolding in real time.
Featuring four of Australia’s most distinctive improvisers:
Harry Mitchell (piano)
Karl Florisson (contrabass)
Ben Vanderwal (drums & cymbals)
with Theo Carbo (guitar, ambient textures)
Together, they create immersive, cinematic jazz that blurs the line between composition and improvisation - music shaped through deep listening, clarity, and collective responsiveness.
🎟️ tix from sydneyconjazzfestival.com
#sydneyconjazzfest #sydneyconservatorium #livemusicsydney #whatsonsydney #jazzfestival #jazzinsydney #sydneyjazzscene
@theo_carbo@harrymitchell94@karl_florisson@ben_vanderwal@sydneycon@sima.jazz@eastside897fm
Tom O’Halloran(keys) Ben Vanderwal(drums) and Adm Ventoura(bass) played together 30 years ago in Western Australia, and in an impromptu get together in Marrickville will reunite on Level 1 at @lazybonesloungemarrickville TONIGHT, Tuesday 28th of April from 7pm…
great food and drinks in an intimate setting #livemusic
Also playing this coming Monday is NEW RITUAL, an interstate collaboration featuring three of Australia’s most celebrated improvisers!
Nick Garbett - trumpet Cameron Deyell - guitar Ben Vanderwal - drums
Nick Garbett (The Strides, The Vampires) and Cameron Deyell (Sia, Missy Higggins, Lior, Laurence Pike) team up with Perth drummer Ben Vanderwal to play some new music, and in the process create some new worlds for us all to momentary dwell in. Expansive, cinematic backdrops will unfold for a deep musical exchange.
This performance will be a unique collaboration featuring the interesting line up of Trumpet, Guitar and Drum set. All three members have distinct voices on their instruments and have admired each other’s music from a far for a long time. They decided it was time to defeat the tyranny of distance and to play a show together.
WEDS MAY 6 from 7pm BEN VANDERWAL'S GUITARMAGEDDON 💙🎤🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🔥
The end is even nigh... ...but we have guitars.... & bass & drums. Super guitarists PETER KOOPMAN, OLIVER THORPE & HARLEY COLEMAN join together to play through some songs & sounds. Three exceptional musicians presenting a captivating blend of lush melodies & gut-wrenching bends, each contributing their unique offerings to fill the room with beautiful tones. There will also be bass & drums, not just any bass - the amazing BRETT HIRST will join the fray.
⭐️ PETER KOOPMAN (Guitar)
⭐️ OLIVER THORPE (Guitar/ Pedal Steel)
⭐️ HARLEY COLEMAN (Guitar)
⭐️ BRETT HIRST (Bass)
⭐️ BEN VANDERWAL (Drums)
🎫 LIMITED TIX!! $28 Prebook/ $30 Door 🍻🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🍾
Doors from 6pm
.au/DGW0NF
I have a new record out today with the amazing Kristin Berardi — and it’s my birthday!!
In fact, it’s also Kristin’s birthday today!!!
Come join the celebration and give Decorate the Silence a spin (link in the comments).
I also want to take this moment to acknowledge the musicians, artists, and technicians who helped bring this project to life.
Sam Anning, Ben Vanderwal, Stephen Magnusson, and Guus Hoevenaars — I live in a constant state of admiration for the humans who contributed to this project. Thank you for sharing your formidable talent.
Huge thanks as well to Dave Darlington for the incredible mastering, Jasper Shelton Hollis for the stunning album artwork, and Hayley Miro for the beautiful studio photographs, and to Bruce Woodward and Adam Tressler for the co-writes on My Weakness and The Letter, and of course to Hayden Bell and Bell Music Services for releasing this record into the world today.
Lucky me!! 💛
Kristian Borring Quartet is back at @theellingtonjazzclub in TWO WEEKS. Very excited to hit the stage with with an excellent band playing my original music.
📆 31 March. 6pm doors.
➡️ follow link in bio for tickets, or visit Ellington Jazz club website
@theellingtonjazzclub@ben_vanderwal@tom.ohalloran.585@alistairpeelbass #perth #whatsonperth #perthisok👌 #livemusicperth #jazzinperth
Next week! Friday, March 13. Only a few tickets left so grab them before they go.
@timjago has journeyed across the globe, landed safely in Perth, and is ready for another great reunion with @ben_vanderwal 🥁, @karl_florisson 🎻, & @tom.ohalloran.585 🎹 at @theellingtonjazzclub
Ticket link in bio
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#livejazz #ellingtonjazzclub #livemusicperth #timjago #jazzguitar
I want the people I love to know they’re not alone in the complicated feelings they carry. Our lives may be different and our experiences don’t line up, but we care about each other and try to show up with compassion, openness, and empathy.
This composition is called “Be Happy Now” and it comes out of my own complicated relationship with happiness. It’s dedicated to those whose inner weather isn’t always clear. “Be Happy Now” deals with the absurdity of telling someone to be happy without any regard for their agency, their situation, or what they’re actually dealing with.
This was recorded during the pandemic in Western Australia, with the incredible @ben_vanderwal on drums #fabianalmazan #drums #mentalhealth #originalmusic #piano
This Sunday night @thejazzlab the MJC is super excited to present the James Muller Quartet (bringing together some of the country's outstanding jazz artists, from Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne). James Muller (guitar), Mat Jodrell (trumpet), Sam Anning (bass) and Ben Vanderwal (drums) playing James' challenging originals. $35/$25 concessions.
Dub, Afro beat, R and B and improv mashed together to put you in a deep trance.
Featuring the Cat Empire’s Grace Barbe on bass, Benjamin Witt (The Chemist, POND, Empire of the Sun, Mei Saraswati, Rabbit Island) on guitars,
Jessica Carlton (Jessica Carlton Sextet) on the trumpet and Ben Vanderwal on the drums.
Edward has influences ranging from Don Cherry, Khruangbin, King Tubby, Yussef Dayes and everything else.
Edward may be joined by a host of his musical friends for some spiritual jazz Jamming.
You will like him. @jesscarltonmusic@gracebarbemusic@ben_vanderwal