The Alastair Kerr Quartet
The Alastair Kerr Quartet was formed in 2009, primarily as a vehicle for Kerr's compositions. A distinctly Australian sound, but clearly influenced by a love of Brazilian and Cuban music, the group’s sound combines a quirky harmonic sense and high level of group interaction. The first edition of this quartet was underpinned by the responsive rhythm section of Kerr and Sam Zerna (bass), with Marc Hannaford’s energetic and highly rhythmic work on piano spurring on trumpeter Pat Thiele in his improvisations – alternatively angular and cascading – in a band that uses delicacy and space in equal measure with intense, driving grooves.
In 2017 Alastair launched the new edition of this group, with the exciting young talents of Stephen Byth (sax), Daniel Mougerman (piano), and Jordan Tarento (bass). Following Byth's move to Boston to undertake his Masters at Berklee, trumpeter Paul Williamson joined the group.
In 2010 the Quartet opened for Chucho Valdes at the Melbourne Recital centre, and this was followed by the release of their debut album The Ultimate Fate of... Buy the album here!
