Jo Quail
“An awe-inspiring and inventive cellist”
Following a sold out premiere of ‘Five Incantations’ in 2016 at the Melbourne Recital Centre and stunning Fringe performances in 2015 and 2016, Jo will present more majestic soundscapes.
In an Adelaide coup she will also perform ‘This Path With Grace’, four interlinked movements for solo electric cello, cello ensemble and choir (Allegria Absolutely) composed for a documentary by award winning Australian filmmaker Michael Fletcher.
“I tried to paint Michael’s scenes of derelict churches, glacial waters and wide windswept lands with sounds I specifically created on my electric cello, supported by the rich strident warmth of the orchestra and the ethereal beauty of the choir”.
“It’s impossible not to be captivated by the way Jo gradually builds each song, layer by layer to create something which sounds like it was performed by a group of musicians rather than one incredibly talented individual.” Live Review of Glasgow Classic Grand 2015.
Presented by: Trinity Sessions
Jo is a cellist/composer who mostly writes and performs her heady, atmospheric music using her electric cello in tandem with a formidable array of pedal technology. Watching a JQ solo live set, you become aware that this is almost like a dance. Standing to play, she cradles the cello as her feet dart from one button to another, looping rhythms and hooks, building up layers of harmony, bending and shaping the sound to her will.
The inspiration for her music is drawn from a wide spectrum of influences. Music is an obvious touchstone, the compositional aspects of Bach, Debussy, Pärt, Kodály, Tavener and Bartók sit beside her love of Whitesnake, Jane’s Addiction and Nine Inch Nails to name but a few.
Perhaps the greatest influence of all is Jo’s empathy with landscape. Jo is able to channel and transform her own observations and experiences of specific locations into her music; Australia has provided the inspiration for a number of her recent album tracks.