“an absorbing performance from a band with an intriguingly original approach to music-making”. - The Vortex London Live Review
"intelligent and sometimes moodily reflective, but always in touch with their jazz origins. Foran's piano style is brimful of ideas applied equally well to ballads and up-tempo pieces" - 4* The Australian
MISINTERPROTATO are one of Australia’s most inventive contemporary music ensembles. So much more than a traditional jazz trio, this group expands the capacities of the classic piano/ bass/drums combination with elements of the avant-garde and a fresh attitude they bring to their music. Truly captivating for a variety of audiences, MISINTERPROTATO skillfully blend dense, exciting improvisations and delicate atmospherics, conjuring up sounds of modern jazz, ambient music, avant-garde rock, free improvisation and contemporary classical music.
Formed in 1999 while studying at the Queensland Conservatorium, the group’s sound is driven by award winning pianist Sean Foran, teamed with John Parker’s expansive dynamic and timbral range on percussion and Patrick Marchisella’s visceral touch on the double bass. Their debut album “now for the free” released in 2003 gathered them critical acclaim. The Sydney Morning Herald called them “full of brilliant promise” while The Age noted - “a polished debut...finesse not usually found on a first album”.
Their second release “In is In” released on the boutique label Jazzhead is an even stronger development for the group. The Australian called it “intelligent and moodily reflective....4 stars”, while “Rhythms” said, “Filled with emotion and space and rich in texture and interaction, ‘In is In’ marks and impressive growth in their maturity and assurance.”
”Variations” their third album, and the first to be released internationally, features a variety of melodic and rhythmic landscapes, with the relaxed structures of Foran and Parker’s intimate songwriting decorated by the group’s spontaneous musicality. The 'variations' come from the mood and texture created by the intuitive interplay between the three members and the subtle balance between delicate textural explorations and vigorous driving pieces. “ A fine example of contemporary music in various tempos, incorporating a range of moods and drawing extensively on diverse classical references fused with 21st century jazz ideas.” - The Australian
Inspired by a diverse range of influences from Aphex Twin to Vijay Iyer, and Tortoise to The Bad Plus, Misinterprotato’s music combines a dense rhythmic focus with the melodic clarity of a Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau or Stravinsky and like fellow Australians The Necks, whom they cite as an early influence, there is a remarkable attention to detail and a desire to allow ideas to develop naturally within their music. A key focus is the balance between piano/bass/drums, with the trio maintaining a free flowing three way conversation with no one dominating and all contributing integral parts.
Misinterprotato have performed around Australia at the Wangaratta Jazz festival, Woodford Folk Festival and Melbourne International jazz Festival, Brisbane Festival, Valley Jazz Festival, and the Apollo Bay Festival, among others. Internationally the trio have also appeared at the Calgary International Jazz Festival Canada, the Kutchan Jazz Festival Japan, World Expo Japan, and toured Japan several times. In 2009 they were invited to showcase at the prestigious MIDEM music conference in Cannes, France and in 2010 toured the UK to wide critical acclaim supporting the release of “Variations” on the British label NAIM.
In 2010 the trio release a collaborative album with contemporary classical group TOPOLOGY, collaborate with dance company EXPRESSIONS and tour their new trio album "THE GENTLE WAR" around Australia.
