I'm very excited to be starting a National Tour next week with some incredible musicians to launch a new Single- Again, As Always. If you're in South East Queensland please come along to the Brisbane or Tamborine Mountain Shows.

The band features acclaimed vocalist Jo Lawry, pianist Matt McMahon, bassist Brett Hirst, and drummer James Waples. Woohoo.

Friday September 2

JMI Live in Brisbane 

10 Exhibition St, Bowen Hills 

8-10:00PM

https://events.humanitix.com/the-rafael-karlen-quintet-featuring-jo-lawry 

I will also be taking a workshop open to the Public at JMI on Friday between 2-4pm. 

Saturday September 3 

The North Stores 
46 Main St, Tamborine Mountain 

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rafael-karlen-quintet-featuring-jo-lawry-tickets-407400003377

On August 19, the wonderful pianist Andrea Keller and exciting The Partridge String Quartet will play new pieces alongside my earlier works from my album The Sweetness of Things Half-Remembered at the Melbourne Recital Centre- I'm very excited! We will premiere three new pieces alongside some Chamber Jazz hits. 

To fit in character limits it's billed as The Sweetness of Strings (which is also true).

Tickets and more information can be found here.

www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2022/rafael-karlen-the-sweetness-of-strings

and the Facebook Event

https://fb.me/e/3DO2r8J4r

I’m thrilled and honoured to have received the APRA Professional Development Award in the Jazz Category! It’s going to be great working on some new projects and getting lessons with a few of my heroes. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists.Thanks APRA/AMCOS!

I am very excited to have the wonderful Australian Voices and Camerata-Queensland's Chamber Orchestra premiere my new 60-minute work for choir and string ensemble. This work features lyrics by Pearly Black and is inspired by recent events in Hasankeyf, an ancient city in Turkey which has recently been flooded for a controversial dam, washing away 12,000 years of history. Sinking Cities explores erasing histories, as well as themes of loss, modernisation, short term gains, and the replacement of traditional lifestyles. 

The world premiere of Sinking Cities will be live streamed exclusively via the Australian Digital Concert Hall. 

Sinking Cities is supported by Arts Queensland’s First Night Showcase – Judith Wright Arts Centre Fund, Australia Council, and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.

More information and tickets can be found through the link below:

https://camerata.net.au/performances/sinking-cities/

I'm thrilled to have been nominated for an ARIA with the album Haven with Kristin Berardi, Sean Foran, Pascal Schumacher and I! Woohoo.

There is some great music on this list. Congratulations to all the nominees.

It was nice to chat with Nathan Henshaw for an interview on the Sydney Saxophone Network Q&A Series.

Here is a link to us talking about music for an hour or so!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV5_B4WyRgg

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 launch happening later in 2021.

Nardje Nordhuis: trumpet

Matt McMahon: piano

Brett Hirst: bass

James Waples: drums

me.

It will be a double bill with the lovely Elysian Fields. More information can be found below.

I hope to see you there!

https://winterjazzfest.com.au/event/double-bill-elysian-fields-rafael-karlen-quintet/

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 themes and the changing histories of our National Parks for our new group, The Eucalyptus Treeo!

https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/abc-classic-and-abc-jazz-commission-15-new-works/13425972

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!