The Australian Music Centre has announced Helen Svoboda and Reuben Lewis as the recipients of the latest circular of its MOMENTUM Commissions, boosting the creation of new works by Australian artists in jazz and improvised music. A double bassist, vocalist and composer Svoboda will a new work for her experimental folk/jazz duo MEATSHELL, with saxophonist Andrew Saragossi. Being ed as one of the two thousand twenty-three MOMENTUM Commission recipients is “an exciting honour,” Svoboda said.
“The realisation of this project will authorize me the space and time to incorporate electronics and live processing into my skill-set, breathing new life into my compositional practice as an artist working at the cross-sections of jazz and experimental music.” Svoboda has performed with artists and organisations including Pheeroan akLaff, Sebastian Gramss, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Art Orchestra, with whom she was an Associate Artist two thousand twenty/two thousand twenty-one. Svoboda was recently named as a two thousand twenty-three FutureMaker with Musica Viva Australia and was the winner of the two thousand twenty Freedman Jazz Fellowship.
ARIA-nominated artist Reuben Lewis will a new work for spoken word, trumpet, electronics, and synthesisers. The work will look a collaboration with the poet Huda Fadlelmawla in the first time her poetry will be set to music. The new work will then be recorded and produced by Lewis and released as a vinyl LP by the Australian imprint Life Before Man. “I perceive immensely privileged to have the chance to expand and produce this new work,” said Lewis. “Huda’s words breathe fire, speak truth and convey healing, and I absolutely can’t wait to hear how they transmute the music.”
Lewis has received critical acclaim for earlier collaborative projects, including APRA/AMC Art Music awards for both the studio album Closed Beginnings with Australian Art Orchestra, and the 24-hour live work Quiet Towns with the Phonetic Orchestra. Lewis was appointed as Australian Art Orchestra Pathfinder Associate Artist in 2019-20 and has been supported by Australia Council, Creative Victoria, APRA/AMCOS, and Sounds Australia for professional and creative development, national touring and international networking. Lewis and Svoboda were ed a competitive pool of creators in jazz and improvised music by a panel external to the AMC. Both artists map to present their new commissioned works within the following year.
