Blueberry Ash is comprised of music inspired by life in an amazing part of the world. The compositions pay homage to special friends, places and memories. 1. Blueberry Ash This work was composed in reaction to the suburban fauna of The Gap, a leafy suburb of Brisbane, Australia, where my family lives. The Blueberry Ash is a strikingly beautiful tree with flowers and fruits that often appear on the plant together providing a stunning double display. The tree’s round oval berry drupaceous fruits are a stunning shade of bright blue, resembling small olives that stand out like precious jewels when they drop to the creek bed close to our house. These fruits attract many birds including the Regent Bowerbird who collects them for their luminescent blue glow. The fruit of the tree is featured in the artwork for this album. 2. Basie’s Butterfly Waltz Some of my closest friends have been dogs and Basie the Border Collie was one of the best. On sunny days he would quite often spend time chasing the shadows of butterflies while ignoring the insects themselves hovering close to his snapping snout. It was representative of his joyous life. Basie was only interested in the fun of the chase and had no interest in harming another creature. In 2015 after 11 years he passed away suddenly and this waltz was written in thanks for the unfaltering love he gave our family. 3. Kklash Kklash plays on opposites that are encountered in everyday life. Consonant and dissonant harmonic statements throughout the work represent themes such as simplicity and complication, happiness and sadness, beauty and the grotesque. This work is performed live in a variety of formats using a mix of western, non-western and electronic musical tools. 4. Subway Subway was composed in 2014 when I was living in New York for a short time as part of a Churchill Fellowship. Each day I would transverse Manhattan Island via the subway entering the subway at 14th Street Union Square station. Over several months I met other musicians for lessons, attended workshops, concerts and became immersed in the great diaspora of what is New York City. The contrast of chaos, flowing sections, stops, starts and jolts in the piece are reminiscent of these journeys. 5. Lullaby for Sarah-Jane & Catherine This piece was composed for my two daughters Sarah-Jane & Catherine who, through no choice of their own, endured growing up in a house with strange and quite often-unpleasant sounds emerging on a regular basis from the front room. I offer this gentle song as a gift of thanks for the great joy and pride they have given their mother and myself in their journey to young adults. 6. I Love Boiled Eggs This piece was written for my wife Janelle, who has been my best friend since we met well over 30 years ago at high school in Cairns, a regional town in tropical Far North Queensland. We have literally grown up together and she has been my biggest support. One morning at breakfast Janelle declared her love for boiled eggs. It was a profound milestone in our life journey and this piece is dedicated to that moment! 7. Love Song From Apache composed by David Raksin, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1954 Originally penned as My Love and I for the 1954 western movie Apache starring Burt Lancaster. This piece was famously recorded by the great Coleman Hawkins on his 1962 release Today and Now. It has since been recorded by many jazz artists including bassist Charlie Haden who stated “It has a very deep melody and very deep chords and it was a perfect vehicle for Coleman Hawkins”. Like Charlie Haden I was inspired by Hawkins version to perform this work. Thanks to… My family for their unconditional love and support over many years. My fellow Queensland musicians for their friendship, inspiration and musicianship on this project over the last few years - Kellee Green, Peter Walters, Toby Wren, Paul Hudson, Tommy See Poy, Joe Vizzone, Aaron Jansz, Nick Quigley, Joe Marchisella, Bruce Woodward, Helen Russell, David Cotgreave, John Reeves, Megan Harmston, Jamie Kennedy and Brodie McAllister. Wilma Reading for her support, friendship and for the privilege of being able to share the stage with an icon. The Quigley Family and the JMI live team, The Churchill Foundation, Brisbane Jazz Club, Tanks Arts Centre Cairns and the Music Staff of Marist College Ashgrove. Lynette Irwin, artistic director of the Brisbane International Jazz Festival, for her continued love and encouragement. Leo McFadden for his ongoing friendship and sharing of his technical expertise throughout the recording sessions. Without these amazing people and many others this music would not be possible. 1. Blueberry Ash – Andrew Butt 7:19 2. Basie’s Butterfly Waltz – Andrew Butt 6:13 3. Kklash – Andrew Butt 8:36 4. Subway – Andrew Butt 7:36 5. Lullaby for Sarah-Jane & Catherine – Andrew Butt 7:07 6. I Love Boiled Eggs – Andrew Butt 9:51 7. Love Song from Apache - David Raksin & Johnny Mercer 6:58 Andrew Butt: Saxophones on all tracks Kellee Green: Piano on all tracks Toby Wren: Guitar on all tracks Peter Walters: Basses on 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7 Nick Quigley: Double Bass on 5 & 6 Paul Hudson: Drum Set on 1, 2, 3 & 4 Aaron Jansz: Drum Set on 5 & 6 Brodie McAllister: Trombone on 5 Megan Harmston: Tenor Horn on 5 Jamie Kennedy: Bass Trombone on 5 Arranged, mixed & produced by Andrew Butt Engineered by Leo McFadden & Andrew Butt Mastered by Adam Dempsey at Deluxe Mastering. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying or broadcasting of this recording is prohibited without the owner’s permission. ©Andrew Butt Trio+