The two endlessly curious, idiosyncratic improvisers have been shaping their careers for several decades. The duo’s debut album, Mythographer (2022), was listed in the “Best of 2023” by New York City Jazz Record.

These all-around musicians with a rich musical vocabulary find common ground wherever their inspired improvisations take them.

Throughout his impressive career, Alister Spence, pianist, composer and Doctor of Philosophy, has established himself as an influential Australian and international figure in jazz and improvised music. His diverse talents have brought him together with some of the most prominent figures in contemporary music, improvisation, film and theatre in his homeland, Japan, Scotland, Sweden and the USA.

Since 2008, he has been performing with and composing for the renowned Japanese pianist and composer Satoko Fujii and his orchestras. The tandem has developed projects with Japanese trumpeter Natsuki Tamura and drummer Ittetsu Takemura. Spence also frequently performs and records with Scottish saxophonist Raymond MacDonald, Canadian double bassist Joe Williamson and Swedish drummer Chris Cantillo.

He has collaborated with Michiyo Yagi, Barre Phillips, Myra Melford, Mark Helias, Andy Sheppard, Jim O’Rourke, Bernie McGann, Chris Abrahams, Don Burrows, Dale Barlow, Phillip Slater, Archie Roach, Ed Kuepper and many more of the most celebrated musicians.

His trio with Lloyd Swanton and Toby Hall, which has released eight albums and toured the USA, Canada and Japan, is gaining a growing international reputation. Alister was also a founding member and composer of the renowned Clarion Fracture Zone, a band that was active for 15 years. He is also a member and composer of Wanderlust and Australian Art Orchestra, and performs with Sensaround.

His discography includes more than 40 albums, many of which have been nominated for or won Australian Recording Industry Awards, while his international collaborations have won numerous top ratings from publications such as The Wire and Jazzwise (UK), New York City Jazz Record (USA), Music Magazine (Japan) and Jazz Forum (Poland). The pianist’s solo piano double album was listed in the “Best of 2020” by New York City Jazz Record.

Spence also writes music for film and theatre, and has composed soundtracks for works by renowned film directors Ivan Sen, Tom Zubrycki, Allan Collins and Tom Murray.
His itineraries span Europe, Asia and Canada. In 2009, he visited Lithuania, performing at the Vilnius Jazz festival with J.Williamson and Ch.Cantillo.

Tony Buck is one of Australia’s most creative and adventurous exports, and is a fixture in the international improviser and new music community. The drummer, percussionist, guitarist, video-artist and producer is involved in a wide range of projects but is particularly well known as a member of the trio The Necks. In 2019, this group was awarded the Australian APRA Award for distinguished contribution to Australian music. Buck’s work has been recognised with numerous national awards.

Early in his career, he spent a lot of time in Japan collaborating with Otomo Yoshihide and Kato Hideki, before moving to Europe in the mid-1980s. He has toured and recorded with John Rose, John Zorn, Tom Cora, Phil Minton, Evan Parker, John Surman, Lee Ranaldo, Clifford Jordan and other greats in improvised music.

Buck’s current projects include Spill with Magda Mayas, Das B with Mazen Kerbaj, Mayas and Mike Majkowski, VELUM with John Butcher and Mayas, the trio Glacial with New Yorkers David Watson and Lee Ranaldo, and the duo with Axel Doerner.

He also works in video field, appearing as a video-artist in Tokyo, Belfast, Berlin, New York and Sydney.