Sinking Cities was made possible through the support of Arts Queensland’s First Night Showcase – Judith

Wright Arts Centre Fund, the PPCA and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts,

its arts funding and advisory body.
 

I'm very excited to announce that ABC Classic have released ‘The River Above’, a single from the upcoming album release of Sinking Cities, performed by Camerata-Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, The Australian Voices and I with lyrics by Pearly Black. Please have a listen here

This project explores concepts of erasing history and sinking cities, and was inspired by the ancient city of Hasankeyf in Turkey which was flooded for a dam major project. The full album will be released on May 31. Please click here to pre-order.

I'm very excited to have been commissioned to write a 10-minute piece for the Brisbane Music Festival.

My new work Reconstructed Definitions for clarinet, cello and piano will be performed by the wonderful Dario Scalabrini, Katherine Philp, and Alex Raineri on Wednesday Dec 6 in Brisbane.  It will be a lovely concert!

More information can be found below.

https://brismusicfestival.com/angelus/

I'm looking forward to playing with these awesome musicians at NIMA in Newcastle to launch our new single Forest Lines on ABC Jazz. Hannah James, Steve Barry and I were commissioned by ABC Jazz to compose and record music inspired by our relationship with and the history of our National Parks. This is the first single from the upcoming album.

Here is a link to the gig tickets

https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/eucalyptus-treeo

Here is a link to the single

https://open.spotify.com/track/0C2bWyRp6yaoJTqzrS9jQt?si=35acc15d27e841a7

It was very nice to be asked to write music for my brother Sai Karlen's interactive installation at the Museum of Brisbane in Queensland. His work explores the relationship of play between in the digital and physical world and looks amazing! 

https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/play-moves/

In January pianist Steve Barry, bassist Hannah James and I went into the ABC studio in Sydney to record our commissioned works which explore the changing histories and roles of our National Parks. We have been preparing for this for a while so it was very exciting to final get to track it.

Thanks to ABC for the opportunity!

I'm very happy to have received another lovely Album review, this time in the UK Jazz Journal

I particularly like the quote below. Woohoo.

'If illustration were needed of how music so often speaks more eloquently than words, it would be hard to beat Australian saxophonist and composer Rafael Karlen’s new album: the words sung by Kristin Berardi often segue into expressive vocalese that tells the listener as much if not more than the narrative.' - Nigel Jarrett

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2022/12/20/rafael-karlen-equally-true/

I'm very pleased to have received a lovely review (in German!) from jazzhalo

Here's the link if you would like to brush up on your German.

https://www.jazzhalo.be/reviews/cdlpk7-reviews/r/rafael-karlen-quintet-equally-true/

Thanks for the great quote!

'Above all, contrary to the other varieties of saxophonists in jazz, Rafael Karlen does not act in a blatant manner, but brings out the lyrical. Truly a feast for the ears!'

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