Rafael Karlen

Due to COVID19 and the NSW lockdown, this performance has unfortunately been canceled.

Hopefully we can look at presenting it again soon... More information to follow after July 30...

I'm looking forward to playing with my quintet at Mary's Underground as part of the SIMA Winter Jazz Series.

The band is heavy! This will be a pre-launch gig in the lead up to a National Tour and album…

I was thrilled to be one of the lucky few to be awarded an ABC Jazz Commission for a new trio project with pianist Steve Barry and bassist Hannah James. The three of us will each compose new works exploring…

I'm excited to be one of 5 finalists to be shortlisted for an APRA Professional Development Award in Jazz/Improvised Music. The other finalists are awesome- Steve Barry, Andrew Saragossi, Audrey Powne and Harry Mitchell. Woohoo!

I have been very busy writing music for the creative development of a major new work for the Australian Voices and Camerata- Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. This project explores the themes of losing our past and destroying history, and is inspired…

I'm very excited that Haven has been getting some lovely reviews and acclaim throughout the world.

It was ABC Jazz Album of the Week- woohoo!   
It was also a nice surprise that my track Ripple was included on the…

I am thrilled that Haven by the Berardi/Foran/Karlen Trio is out now! 
This album features special guest vibraphone player Pascal Schumacher from Luxembourg joining Kristin Berardi, Sean Foran and I, and is on the Earshift Music label 

We also…

I was very much looking forward to performing my music with the amazing Andrea Keller on piano with a string quartet at the Melbourne Recital Centre Jazz in the Salon Series in October but this show has unfortunately just been…

It was a pleasure writing string parts for Megan Washington's track Batflowers for her performance on The Sound on ABC TV.

The lovely Australian Session Orchestra sounded very lush on Megan's fun track.

I'm looking forward to seeing…

I'm looking forward to playing a gig with the incredible pianist Steve Barry on Friday! It's been a while between gigs thanks to a pandemic, social isolation and distancing etc. 

Please tune in to the Jazz Social channel on…

This album has been some time in the making... We flew the outstanding European vibraphone player and composer Pascal Schumacher out for a recording and performances at the Brisbane and Melbourne International Jazz Festivals a few years ago and are…

Thanks Pascal Schumacher, Kristin Berardi, Sean Foran for playing so beautifully on this track. We just released this as a (jazz) single on Earshift Music. It's a pleasure hearing my composition come to life with these lovely musicians…