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Way Out West
Nu-Jazz / Jazz / Other

"Vietnamese and African infused jazz"

Melbourne, Victoria
Australia

Profile Views:  17567




Last Login:  7/4/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Way Out West

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne  

   Way Out West: General Info
Member Since9/6/2006
Band Websitejazzhead.com/wayoutwest
Band MembersPeter Knight, trumpet Paul Williamson, tenor saxophone Dung Nguyen, modified electric guitar, dan tranh (Vietnamese zither), dan bau (single string plucked instrument), dan nhi (Vietnamese violin) Ray Pereira, percussion Howard Cairns, acoustic bass Dave Beck, drum kit Live at Montreal Jazz Festival July '08 .. width="425" height="350"> .. ..>
InfluencesVietnam, Africa, Miles Davis, Omou Sangare, Rabih Abu Kahlil, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Douglas, John Hassell, Bill Frisell, John Surman, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Tomasz Stanko---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A film made by artist, Tamara Saulwick, set to music and words written by Peter Knight:
Sounds LikeABC Limelight Magazine October 2007, Peter Wockner Rating * * * * * A mixed marriage of unprecedented success! While the thought of fusing African and Vietnamese music may appear unusual, the result is one of the most compelling releases of 2007. Trumpeter Peter Knight is a renowned innovative composer. Dung Nguyen brings the fleeting street sounds of Vietnam using a modified electric guitar and multi-stringed dan tranh. Dave Beck, Howard Cairns and Ray Pereira are at one with the rhythms, the latter especially textural when raising the African grooves to danceable levels. But their grooves are corralled by the underlying focus on interaction and expression through the horns of Knight and Paul Williamson. ------------------------------------ Wonderfully atmospheric intensely evocative A treat. John Shand Limelight (ABC arts and entertainment magazine) March 2004------------------------------------------------ [Way Out West] has a distinctly Asian flavour, thanks to the bubbling, ethereal sounds of Nguyen's instruments, yet at the same time Knight and Williamson introduce a clear Western touch while Pereira in places takes it all the way to Africa. Like its name, I simply think this captivating mixture is Australian. Australian Financial Review October 2003------------------------------------------- That these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz ensembles, beautifully harmonised and played, is a mysterious Melbourne alchemy Jazz that lasts, for the most part integrates improvisation and composition organically; this disc is a very appealing example. John Clare Sydney Morning Herald October 25th 2003 .. width="425" height="350"> ..>
Record LabelJazzhead
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 6 2008 8:00P
Camerata Musicali Sulmonese Sulmona Sulmona, L’Aquila
Jul 9 2008 9:00P
Veneto Jazz Festival, Fiesso d’Artico Fiesso d’Artico, Venezia
Jul 11 2008 8:00P
Veneto Jazz Festival, Valdagno Valdagno, Venezia
Jul 12 2008 10:00P
Circolo Vecchia Quercia Gorizia, Gorizia
Jul 15 2008 8:00P
Wazz Osaka Osaka
Aug 10 2008 3:00P
Footscray Community Arts Centre Footscray, Victoria
Nov 2 2008 8:00P
Wangaratta Jazz Festival Wangaratta, Victoria
Nov 22 2008 9:00P
Sound Lounge Sydney, New South Wales

Way Out West's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Live review for Vancouver Jazz Festival performance  (view more)

Listen to our recent Music Deli concert recorded at Fitzroy Town Hall in Melbourne  (view more)

APRA nomination, concert broadcast on Music Deli and other news  (view more)

Music Deli live recording at Fitzroy Town Hall 17th April  (view more)

Five star review for Adelaide Fringe gig  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Way Out West
Buy the CD
album cover
click to order
Way Out West------------ Old Grooves for New Streets--------------- Where else but Melbourne would you be likely to find a band featuring a Sri Lankan born West African percussion master and a Vietnamese traditional musician, who also carves up the jazz guitar a-la Pat Metheny, mixing it with players diversely experienced in Western pop, jazz, and classical traditions? Melbourne is just such a melting pot and Way Out West is just such a band. A chance meeting in 2001 between eclectic trumpeter/composer, Peter Knight, and Vietnamese traditional music virtuoso, Dung Nguyen, marked the beginning of a remarkable collaboration and led to the formation of Way Out West, a band that continues to draw inspiration from the cultural vitality and diversity of Footscray with its new album, Old Grooves for New Streets (Jazzhead). Dung learnt his instruments, which include the 16-stringed Vietnamese zither (the dan tranh), and the dan bau (a single stringed instrument also called the monochord) from his grandfather while growing up in Vietnam, continuing a tradition of many generations. He came to Australia when he was 16 and continued his studies at Monash University where he developed a love of jazz and won prizes for his guitar studies. Dung’s fluency in both Vietnamese music and jazz means collaboration with Peter Knight and the rest of the band really is collaboration: the creation of a new sound rather than a pastiche of pre-existing sounds. In fact many reviews of Way Out West’s first album, Footscray Station, note the unified approach the band achieves: “The supple seamless vibes they produce easily transcend any glib notions of multicultural kitsch” (Herald Sun), “That these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz is a mysterious Melbourne alchemy” (Sydney Morning Herald). When it was released in 2003, Footscray Station achieved considerable national and international acclaim, It was reviewed very favourably in New York’s Cadence Magazine and included in the top 10 jazz releases of that year in the Sunday Herald Sun critics’ poll. It also received widespread national airplay and led to numerous festival invitations around Australia including the prestigious Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. Footscray Station was praised for its “shimmering beauty” and “evocative atmospheres”, it encouraged the listener to kick off their shoes, sit back and let the sounds wash over them. Old Grooves for New Streets will do something very different. As its name suggests the new album takes groove as a starting point, the listener will be more likely to keep those shoes on and start to move around the room rather than kick back; to brew up a strong short black rather than a hot chocolate. This shift in approach is due in no small part to the newest member of the group, drummer Dave Beck, who joined about two years ago. His energy and virtuosity have driven Way Out West to explore different approaches to groove and the rapport between Dave and percussion master Ray Pereira is irresistible. Add Howard Cairns’ earthy bass stylings, the crackling energy of the horn section (Paul Williamson saxophones, Peter Knight trumpet) and the bubbling ethereal sounds of Dung’s instruments and you have music that is alluring, groovy and utterly unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. The Melbourne launch of Old Grooves for New Streets is at Bennetts Lane on Thursday 6th September 9.00pm start $15/12 For more info visit: www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne www.jazzhead.com Way Out West - Footscray Station - I Found My Way Buy Footscray Station from iTunes

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   Way Out West's Friend Space (Top 12)
Way Out West has 961 friends.
 Myles Mumford 


 Peter Knight 


 Dung Nguyen 


 Raj 


 Quinsin Nachoff Rhodes Band 


 Montreal International Jazz Festival 


 Matt Darriau 


 tamara 


 viet vo da house 


 Jazzmonk 


 5+2 Brass Ensemble 


 Cindy 





Way Out West's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 159 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Ranga Pae





Jun 29 2008 10:43 PM

Aloha from Maui, Hawaii. I love your sound! Africa and Vietnam are a perfect combo. Thanks for the add.
JAZZ BOULEVARD





Jun 29 2008 1:50 PM

Hi Way Out ... received and played on last show ... have a good time in Montreal!!
kumpei Nakabayashi





Jun 23 2008 9:03 PM

thx4connecting
Greetings from Tokyo,
domo arigato!!!!
Rita





Jun 18 2008 11:36 AM

we see the 12

ciao ciao Rita e Domenico
noiam(ノイアム)





Jun 6 2008 1:43 PM

Thanks for the request☆
Bass Driver





Jun 4 2008 5:45 PM

Thanks for the request.
You play so coooool music !!
I know Wazz
meg.





Jun 3 2008 10:34 AM

thanks for the req.
meg.
LaTourelle Orkestra





May 28 2008 8:18 PM

Hi Guys
Our Clarinetist is Jean-Luc Côté
A great Clarinestist and Oboe.
He play flute in the group
LA RATOUREUS,check in our friends.
Nice to meet you.
LATOURELLE ORKESTRA
Marie Saintonge





May 27 2008 7:25 PM

Very interesting music.
I'll be in Montreal when you come, I will pass by see your show, all the best, take care
Marie
andrea schroeder





May 26 2008 3:07 PM

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour."
William Blake
LaTourelle Orkestra





May 26 2008 8:05 AM

Hello Way Our West
Thank for the request,
Your music is so great too.
Our clarinetist is from Melbourne Australia. Maybe be we will meet you
At the Montréal Jazz Festival, we play 26 to 29 june.
Aran McCormick





May 17 2008 7:15 AM

Hey, Thanks for the request. You guys got a great sound going on! I'm gonna try and check you out when you come to Calgary. See ya!
Eccodek





Apr 25 2008 6:54 AM

greetings way out west,
great to make the online connect and looking very forward to mingling at the upcoming jazz fest shows.

lovely sounds here by the way.
peace from ontario
Lads Bandone





Apr 24 2008 5:46 AM

Hi!
Thanks for the friendship.
All the best.
Greetings from Rio-Brazil.

Bandone
Cesar Rodrigues





Apr 18 2008 3:16 AM

beautiful show last night. great to finally see it live...
New Earth Records





Apr 7 2008 2:21 PM

Dear new friend,

thank you for adding us to your friends list!

Much love,
New Earth Records/Yojana
the october trio





Apr 7 2008 12:12 PM

I see you guys are coming out to Canada, welcome!
viet vo da house





Apr 6 2008 11:29 PM

Hi Pete,

A WOW gig in VN will happen...eventually.

Talk to you later.

Bye for now and take care.

Christian
rabnett 5





Apr 6 2008 1:02 PM

Much Respect.
r.
viet vo da house





Apr 5 2008 4:40 AM

Hi Pete,

Long Time no see...Congrats on all the good (and well deserved !) reviews on the last album...and the Tour looks tight !

We'll be playing on our side in August @ Mela Oslo Festival (22-24). Our first gig aborad (5 musicians)...

Hope we'll meet on stage soon.

Cheers and take care.

Christian
Dung Nguyen





Apr 3 2008 5:33 AM

Hello Pete,
yes it is great! all good !
thanks for your hard works
Cheers.
D Ng
Debra Ryan





Mar 22 2008 7:08 AM

Way Out West,

Thinking of you this Weekend.

x

Debra & Family
Dung Nguyen





Mar 3 2008 6:24 AM

Hi Peter,
Thanks very much! the flight was okay, but it was delayed about 45 minutes.
Thanks for keeping my instrument.
It was fun in Adelaide!!!
Cheers,
Dung Nguyen.
Adam Dempsey at Deluxe Mastering





Feb 25 2008 10:47 PM

Congrats guys on the Canadian distribution. Very well deserved.

Adam
Bettina Henrich





Feb 17 2008 8:38 AM

Hi WOW,

Have a nice day! :-)

Bettina
Experience West





Feb 7 2008 5:18 PM

Hey Guys, thanks for the add.
Anyone wanting to advertise their gigs/events in the Melbourne Western Suburbs please send details to our site. Regards
Christian Vasseur





Feb 7 2008 2:13 AM

Very intersting project with marvellous sounds. I like especially Postcard with cool trumpet and oriental touch. Old grooves and new grooves here.
Friendly.
Christian
Oliver Miguel





Jan 18 2008 10:02 PM

cool music.

thanks for the add. i wish you much success in the future.

Oliver Miguel
Jim Sexton





Jan 14 2008 1:36 PM

wow, really great band! thanks for the request. do you guys have any toronto dates in mind? (i know peter was here in november)
jim
Neon Egypt





Jan 11 2008 2:10 PM

Interesting and alluring work, gentlemen. We look forward to hearing more, and wish you great success.

Steven and Harrison
The Tiny Alligator Large Band





Jan 10 2008 10:36 AM

Thanks for the friend request!
Interesting tracks- let me know if you're ever playing in Canada!
viet vo da house





Jan 4 2008 2:51 AM

Xin chao,

All the best for this new year !

Hoping that we'll finally meet in 2008 !

Cheers from Saigon

Christian
Melena East





Dec 9 2007 2:28 AM

hey guys,
thanks for sharing the tracks,
look forward to listening to.
mel
viet vo da house





Dec 7 2007 10:02 PM

Hi Pete,

Thanks for passing by. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the sounds !

Bye for now

Christian
Adam Dempsey at Deluxe Mastering





Dec 7 2007 8:51 PM

Pete & co,
Been very much enjoying listening to the album again lately. Once again - great work & congrats on the well deserved reviews.

Best,
Adam
Ariadne