Local Feature: Carlton/Macpherson/Pass/Valenti’s new record is Undeniable

Bringing together the four distinct musical voices of Jessica Carlton (trumpet), Alana Macpherson (alto saxophone and flute), Kate Pass (double bass), and Talya Valenti (drums), Undeniable is the debut album from the quartet.

A celebration of ‘same time, same place’ – the quartet developed a collaborative ideation for this project with a vision of capturing the moment in time during which they all lived in the same city and document their musical and situational alignment, particularly significant in the current pandemic when moments of togetherness can feel so fleeting and uncertain.

Featuring original compositions written by all four members of the band, the quartet draws inspiration from several sources including the loss of people who light up the world, the feminist movement in China, and bushwalking in Walyunga National Park. Despite the variety of compositional styles and influences, the music has come together with cohesion and represents the quartet’s collaborative approach to making new music and improvising collectively. Inspired by a comment made to Talya by LA-based multi- instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, the album title comes from a feeling that the music evokes – a sense of undeniable presence.