REVIEWS
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2023 at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Photo: Roger Mitchell
REVIEWS
Review in Rhythms Magazine
Huge thanks to Des Cowley for his thoughtful and kind review of ‘The Eye is the First Circle.’
"Perica's new album exceeds expectations, once more signalling her exceptional talent."
“Vanessa Perica deserves all the adulation that she will receive when the jazz world hears the contents of this album.”
Read the full review by Gavin Franklin on ‘The Eye is the First Circle’ at Loudmouth Magazine.
"...again, she has shown that she deserves to be in the front ranks among contemporary big-band composers. While it certainly helps to have an orchestra as proficient as this one, Perica makes the most of their talents with charts that test every section's alertness and ability to adapt no matter what the mood or tempo. In that respect, she is firmly aligned with the great big-band masters on whose shoulders she stands: Ellington, Strayhorn, Holman, Nestico, Mulligan, Wilkins, Rugolo, Brookmeyer, Paich, Oliver Nelson, Shorty Rogers and so many others—without sounding a great deal like any of them." - All About Jazz
Read the review by Jack Bowers here.
“The music on The Eye is the First Circle is undeniably outstandingly composed and arranged by Vanessa Perica. Her second outing—following Love is A Temporary Madness (Self released, 2020)—with another supersonic ensemble, it was superbly recorded at the Sing Sing East Studios in Melbourne, showcasing numerous flawlessly performed solos by some of Australia's best improvising musicians. The bandleader, composer and arranger has created explosively expressionistic charts which would bring out the best in any orchestra.” - 4.5 stars 2MBS Fine Music Sydney
Read the review by Barry O’Sullivan here.
“The evening of Thursday 26 October at the Melbourne Recital Centre ( … ) was definitely a festival highlight.
With no embedded storyline apart from the sheer joy of creating fine music, conductor Vanessa Perica wowed the audience with the premiere performance of compositions from her second album, The Eye is the First Circle. With verve and energy, Perica led her 18-strong orchestra of leading Australian artists in an absolutely exhilarating concert.
Perica made excellent use of the musicians under her baton, with superb solos that could only be faulted for being too brief. This was exciting music that culminated in Still We Rise – a piece originally commissioned by Monash University – before the ensemble closed with Spaccanapoli from the acclaimed debut album, Love is a Temporary Madness.”
Roger Mitchell’s review from the Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2023, Ausjazz.net
“For me, the final two numbers of the evening (both arranged by Perica) provided the night’s most satisfying moments. On The Peacocks, singer Michelle Nicolle revelled in the rich orchestral colours and slid across angular melodic intervals with unerring poise. And Perica’s composition Rebrahmanization made for a majestic finale, the MSO and big band relishing the tune’s joyful propulsion that swept us along in its wake.”
Jessica Nicholas, The Age on MIJF x MSO Opening Night Gala 2021
“Love is a Temporary Madness signals the arrival of a major new voice in the world of large ensemble jazz. Writing for her namesake orchestra—a big band stacked with some of Australia's top musicians—Vanessa Perica makes some serious waves. If jazz bias and press didn't so clearly favor North America, it's likely that this lauded debut would've drawn even more plaudits.”
Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz. Read the full article here.
4.5 stars “…an ambitious album of great depth…”
Read the review by Eric Myers for The Australian here.
“…there's "a new sheriff in town," she's packing heat, and you'd best listen carefully to what she has to say.” 4.5 stars
Read the review by Jack Bowers for All About Jazz here. Also in Jack’s ‘Best Releases’ list of 2020.
"Not for nothing is her “band” called the Vanessa Perica Orchestra. And boy do they pack a punch alongside so many attractive melodies, swooping and surging thrillingly, while always finding a way to swing. It’s a fantastic sound – and, just quietly, as capable of more intimate “small” moments as the big sound - it’s seen the album longlisted for the Australian Music Prize..."
Read the full story by music journalist, Bernard Zuel here.
“Perica’s compositions warrant comparison with the work of contemporary American composer Maria Schneider… Schneider’s masterful compositions like ‘Cerulean Skies’ or ‘The Thompson Fields’ are full of visual cues, bold and dramatic, as they strive toward narrative or storytelling. In the same way, Perica creates dense, multi-layered works, full of complex shading, that are forever twisting and turning, alternating solid rhythmic foundation with free-flight. At their best, they are brimming with emotional resonance, highlighted by rich sonorities.”
Read the full review of ‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ by Des Cowley for Rhythms Magazine here.
“The imaginative richness of her orchestral writing is evident in these seven medium-length compositions, characterized by arrangements with generally tight tempi and dynamics in constant development. The reference aesthetic is the incisive modern mainstream of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, combined with the timbrally sumptuous atmospheres of Maria Schneider. “
4 stars - Album of the week
Read the full review by Angelo Leonardi at All About Jazz Italia here.
“Vanessa’s exceptional writing achieves a sensitive balance between involved ensemble composition and providing space for many of the personalities of the all-star band to shine.”
Read the review of ‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ by Rafael Karlen, for The Music Trust.
“…instantly compelling. There is nothing easy about composing and arranging Jazz orchestral charts and few musicians embark on this tortuous path. Thankfully Perica did, and her charts are magnificent.”
Read the full review by John Fenton at JazzLocal32.com here.
4.5 star review in The Age
“Perica’s masterful writing and arranging skills were on neon-lit display in this orchestral setting, which amplified the narrative scope and textural richness of her multi-layered compositions.” - The Age
Read the full review of ‘Spanish Harlem’ with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra here.
Feature story in The Age
After many years of listening to Jessica Nicholas on ABC Jazz, it was lovely to finally meet her in person for this interview. Big thanks to Jessica and The Age for this piece. Link to digital version here.
Thank you to The Music Trust for inviting me to contribute some words as part of their ‘Inside The Musician’ series. It was a nice opportunity to reflect on my journey so far. Link to story here.
CHARTS
‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ entered the ARIA Jazz & Blues charts at number 5! Behind Michael Buble, Norah Jones and Pat Metheny. It then re-entered at number 3 a couple of weeks later.
It also debuted on the AIR Independent Music charts at number 2, and returned in top spot weeks later!
RADIO
Delighted to be a guest on ABC Radio National’s ‘The Music Show’.
Hear the interview with Andrew Ford here.
‘Love is a Temporary Madness’ -
ABC Jazz featured album of the week!
Tune in from 6 April to hear tracks from the album.