It was good to see local performers featuring in Geoff Page's Jazz at the Gods series. And what a band this was! It's hard to imagine a better front line to carry the melody than Rachael, Alex and Matt. Rachael's use of voice as an instrument was astounding - especially her exact echoing of the trumpet solo melody line in one number. Matt continues to take the local scene by storm, having recently move to Canberra to study under John Mackey. All the band members are well-known, leading lights of the local scene, with the possible exception of Rohan - a recent arrival I gather, who nonetheless has quickly fitted in to the swing of things in the national capital scene. A quality evening of Alex's clever original compositions mixed with new interpretations of a few standards, to keep the standards-hungry audience happy.

An evening of Jazz at the Gods featuring the Alex Raupach Sextet (Alex Raupach - Trumpet; Rachael Thoms - Voice; Matt Handel - Saxophones; Andy Butler - Keyboards; Rohan Dasika - Bass; Aidan Lowe - Drums) --- ANU, Canberra, ACT