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Holli Scott's poetic second album to launch at Perth International Jazz Festival


Holli Scott. Photo by Kirsty Chisholm Photography

Australian jazz vocalist and composer Holli Scott is set to release her “glorious” second album, Weather and Weeds next month. The album will be out on October 25th and launched with an exclusive performance at the Camelot Memorial Hall in Mosman Park, WA on Sunday, 27 October as part of the Perth International Jazz Festival (PIJF).

 

This immersive and inclusive event will feature visual art by Fremantle’s Jotterbook as well as a live interpreter from AUSLAN Stage Left; it’s set to be a mesmerising performance as part of the festival.

 

Weather and Weeds showcases Scott’s growth as a composer and storyteller, balancing beauty and darkness with her signature poetic flair and evocative melodies. The album sees Scott team up with two of jazz’s most celebrated musicians: Grammy award-winning pianist Tal Cohen (USA) and world-renowned saxophonist Jamie Oehlers (AUS). Together, the trio create an intimate, open sound that allows space for improvisation, blending jazz with elements of folk, art music, and spoken word.

 

At its heart, Weather and Weeds is an exploration of relationships – both with people and with the ever-changing Australian landscape,” says Scott. Growing up in the rural town of Nannup in Western Australia and the daughter of visual artist Wanda Comrie, Scott’s lyrics are deeply connected to the natural beauty of her surroundings.

 

I think the album has strong ties to my childhood running through each song, even when the lyric is centred around something else entirely,” she says. “I spent a lot of time outside exploring, and I’d go for bush walks often with my Nan while mum worked in the post office on Saturdays. Walking over the old railway bridge and spotting wildflowers in amongst the big trees felt nothing short of magic, and I think the images I absorbed in my time there are things that I draw upon in my writing.”

 

The trio first came together after a chance meeting between Scott and Cohen at the 2022 Perth International Jazz Festival. While Scott and Oehlers have collaborated for over a decade, this marks her first project with Cohen. The chemistry between the three musicians was immediate, and after only a couple of rehearsals, they recorded the album in a single session.

 

The album’s first single, Back the Way We Came, delves into the complexities of letting go of a long-held friendship, with Scott’s voice weaving vivid imagery of late afternoon light and shadow.

 

Scott’s re-imagining of Tom Waits’ Tango Till They’re Sore adds another layer of depth to the album, breathing new life into the song’s gritty, narrative-driven lyrics. Stripping down the original’s rough instrumentation, Scott transforms it into a haunting, intimate reflection, blending her jazz sensibilities with Waits’ dark storytelling.

 

Scott’s artistry has garnered widespread recognition, with nominations for WAM’s Song of the Year and Best Vocalist, international recognition as a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (USA, 2020), as well as being a finalist in the James Morrison Generations in Jazz Scholarship. With Weather and Weeds, she takes listeners on an intimate journey – one reflecting the beautiful and delicate balance between resilience and vulnerability that runs through both nature and human connection.



Weather and Weeds will be available for digital release on Friday, 25 October 2024, with CDs available for pre-order via Bandcamp. Single, Back the Way We Came is out now.

 

The live album launch will take place at Camelot Memorial Hall, Mosman Park, WA, on Sunday, 27 October as part of the Perth International Jazz Festival. CLICK HERE For tickets.

 


ABOUT THE ARTISTS

 

Holli Scott is an Australian jazz vocalist and composer whose music blends elements of jazz, folk, and spoken word into a distinctive, narrative-driven style. Her debut album DUST (2019) received critical acclaim, and her work has been recognized with several nominations, including for WAM’s Song of the Year and Best Vocalist.

 

Jamie Oehlers is one of Australia’s leading jazz saxophonists, known for his expressive and lyrical playing. Winner of the 2003 World Saxophone Competition, Oehlers has performed across the globe and is a multi-time recipient of the Australian Jazz Bell Awards, including Best Australian Jazz Artist.

 

Tal Cohen is a Grammy award-winning jazz pianist based in Miami, renowned for his unique blend of traditional jazz harmony and rhythmic innovation. Cohen has performed worldwide with legends such as Terence Blanchard and Joe Lovano and has won the Barry Harris National Jazz Piano Competition at the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Freedman Fellowship.

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