The Gravity Project is a cross-cultural collaboration between Australia and Japan exploring the frontiers of contemporary improvisation.

Led by Paul Grabowsky AO, this nine-piece ensemble incorporates Japanese instruments along with an improvising beat performer (Aaron Choulai) and a jazz quintet. The musicians will perform in Japan in September as part of Australia now.

Artistically, the overarching aim for the Gravity Project is to create and disseminate a transcultural musical dialogue through a carefully structured collaboration of Japanese musicians (two leaders in the performance of traditional Japanese music), performing with Australian improvising and electronic focused musicians playing original music of the now. You can see program details of the Gravity Project here on the Tokyo Jazz website.

Over the past 3 years, Paul Grabowsky has been invited to perform at the Tokyo Jazz Festival and Iwate Jazz Festival.In addition, they have conducted workshops at schools in Iwate Prefecture as part of the support from the Australian Government for those who were affected by the Tsunami in 2011. This year, saxophonist Rob Burke will be visiting schools in Iwate to share with students the joy of music that has no boundaries.

Come and celebrate the start of the Australian Jazz journey at Tokyo Jazz festival with the Gravity Project’s free performance on 1 September from 14:50 at The Plaza, Yoyogi Park!
Details of related tours in October have been decided as follows;

5th Oct  Sakuraza, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture

6th Oct Mr Kenny’s, Nagoya-city, Aichi Prefecture

7th Oct, Shinjuku Pit Inn, Shinjuku, Tokyo

This activity received grant funding from the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Australia Council For the Arts.

This event is also supported by Creative Victoria.