more from
Earshift Music
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Land of If

by Ball Hanlon Schulz

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 AUD  or more

     

1.
Land of if 06:03
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cast Over 05:05
6.
A White Lie 05:32
7.
8.
Blush 04:40
9.
10.
Attest 07:06

about

The Land of If is the latest release from Ball Hanlon Schulz, a chamber-jazz trio featuring acclaimed Melbourne trumpeter Eugene Ball, bassist Ben Hanlon and piano accordionist Anthony Schulz. Taking impetus from Paul Auster’s book Invisible, The Land of If is a playful foray into the intimate moments of our everyday lives - a shadow of time going by, the smile of the one we love, small innocent mistakes and the local heroism of confronting them.

The group explores the sonic possibilities of their combined talents through a set of nine compositions. Taking nothing at face value, they often turn the roles of their instruments inside out, creating a sound unique to themselves. Drawing from their collective experiences in classical, jazz and folk music, Ball Hanlon Schulz have been honing an ensemble identity over five years. Anthony and Eugene have played together sporadically in a variety of groups over the years, and when they became colleagues, lecturing at the same institution, they decided to form a group. Ben Hanlon was an immediate choice to complete the ensemble, as well as being a former student of Eugene’s during the latter years of high school.

The combination of trumpet, accordion and bass is perhaps a little unusual, except that it does contain the typical melodic, harmonic, and bass voices. It is the traditional roles of these voices that Ball Hanlon Schulz question and reimagine. Piano accordionist Schulz cajoles and compels the piano accordion into romantic yet sweet banter. “The instrument charms us with its multitude of voices,” explains Ball, “It speaks many truths and fictions. Sometimes it forms an ocean-like foundation for a piece, other times, it eloquently explores the harmonies with certainty and precision.” The various appearances by Ball’s trumpet take numerous formations. As Schulz explains, Ball creates “declarations, murmurings, whispers, wonderings, exaltations and question marks.” What drew Schulz to Ball’s playing, in particular, is his unmistakable tone, and his curious and unpredictable style - a willingness to explore the path less followed. “His masterful trumpet takes us to places we didn’t expect to go,” says Schulz.

Eugene Ball has received national and international recognition, performing with some of the biggest names in music. A lover of musical diversity, he is as comfortable in the New Orleans jazz tradition (the Hoodangers) as he is with contemporary improvisation (Andrea Keller, the Australian Art Orchestra), popular music (Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan) and composition. Eugene has composed for the MSO, ACO2 and a variety of contemporary chamber ensembles.

'Ball's dazzling playing fitted between the mercurial and the wrenching…' John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.

Double bassist Ben Hanlon is a rare breed of musician, whose virtuosity and musicality enable him to move fluidly between his permanent position with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a multitude of high-profile jazz ensembles. He has performed at most of the major festivals in Australia, and was recently featured as guest principal bassist on the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-17 tour of China. Ben has recorded jazz releases with James Sherlock, Hetty Kate, Hue Blanes, Bopstretch, Fem Belling, Nathan Slater, and appears on recordings with Missy Higgins, Julia Stone and the Bamboos. To round out this gamut of musical activity, Ben performs regularly as a chamber soloist, including recent performances with the Brodski quartet and Katie Noonan at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

An individual voice in Australian improvised music, Anthony Schulz has developed and expanded a sound world that shatters all preconceptions of the piano accordion. At one point thrashing his accordion in the dissonant expressionism of Berg’s Wozzeck and to the next improvising freely with ECM icon Barre Phillips. He then re-appears in a contemporary jazz performance with the noted jazz vibraphonist Dave Samuels or renowned guitarist Doug DeVries. In 2007, Anthony was awarded an ARIA for his work with Zulya and the Children of the Underground (Best World Music Album - Three Nights).

‘Anthony Schulz stands out on accordion, with his sophisticated use of harmony and countermelody.’ Rootsworldlly and musically.

Artist: Ball Hanlon Schulz
Album: Land of If
Release: June 11, 2021
Label: Earshift Music distributed by MGM

credits

released June 11, 2021

Eugene Ball, trumpet
Ben Hanlon, double bass
Anthony Schulz, accordion

Recorded December 2019 at Melbourne Polytechnic, Fairfield, by Niko Schauble
Mastered by Phil Noy
Artwork by Theodore Papahatzis
Album cover photo by David Wayman
Instrument and band photos by Ian Spence

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ball Hanlon Schulz Melbourne, Australia

This unconventional trio takes nothing at face value. They reinvent with each track the sounds of their own instruments and the possibilities of their combined talent. The trio draw from their collective experience in classical, jazz and folk traditions to reveal something not quite any of the above, and hitting the mark as something entirely their own. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Ball Hanlon Schulz

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Ball Hanlon Schulz, you may also like: