Julien Wilson – tenor sax
Carl Dewhurst – guitar
Cameron Undy – bass
Simon Barker – drums
The Coathangers? Two reasons. Julien is from Melbourne and the rest of the band live in Sydney, where the iconic Harbour Bridge is nicknamed ‘The Coathanger’ by some. Also, when Julien is in Sydney, the band feels like a second home, something so familiar that wherever he throws his jacket it fits perfectly.
Julien first met Carl, Cameron and Simon at the 1994 Wangaratta Jazz Festival where Julien won the National Jazz Award at 22. They stayed up all weekend together and played at the jam sessions together every night. An instant brotherhood was formed. Since then Julien has booked them as his regular quartet when in Sydney, and toured with them all in a variety of other groups including the Australian Art Orchestra. All members are known for performing a vast range of diverging musical styles, but when they play as a quartet they play Julien’s compositions, but a little differently.
The music embraces their personal strengths and shared inspirations while leaving plenty of room for their highly individual voices. There is always a palpable sense of joy and adventure when these four master improvisers get together.
2015 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Jazz
2104 Australian Jazz ‘Bell’Awards Trifecta (Best Album, Best Band, Best Composition)
2008 Australian Jazz Artist of the Year
2006 Freedman Fellowship for Jazz
1994 National Jazz Award Winner
“I can hear influences as diverse as Archie Shepp, Jan Garbarek, Ben Webster, Gato Barbieri, Dave Liebman… But particularly, of Mark Simmonds, who is one of the heroes of jazz saxophone in this country” Dale Barlow
“Wilson was always the real thing, exploiting the instrument’s warmth and sonic breadth to make gripping statements. The Melbourne saxophonist arrived on a shock wave in the early ‘90s and has been vital to Australian creative music since.” Sydney Morning Herald
“You play like you’re from the jungle” George Russell
The Coathangers with Stephen Magnusson