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Alana Macpherson

@alana_macpherson

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🎷 composer/arranger
in Frankfurt 🇩🇪
from Boorloo
(Perth, Aus 🇦🇺)

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Last week I started introducing the musicians behind PEOPLE. PLACES. This week it’s time for the saxophone section! 🎷

Alana Macpherson — Alto sax & flute

Alana was one of the first musicians I heard when I arrived in Graz in 2019, and from the very beginning I was drawn to the power of her sound and the depth of her musical speech. Both are beautifully present in her solo on 18/5. She’s also an amazing composer with plenty of experience writing for large ensembles.

Tobias Hoffmann — Alto sax & clarinet

Tobi is not only an outstanding multi-instrumentalist when it comes to saxophones and clarinets, but has also become one of the most distinctive voices in big band composition in Europe. I’m lucky to have had him in the ensemble from the very beginning. He’s been a great guide since then, both musically and on the organizational side.

Miloš Kostár — Tenor sax & clarinet

Miloš was also one of the first musicians I played with in Graz. I was immediately drawn to his powerful sound, his musical language, and some musical influences we share. He’s another incredibly versatile musician. In the early days of the band, he was in charge of bari sax and bass clarinet, but for the album I decided to put him on tenor, which is really his home ground. You can hear two great solos from him on Graz and El Donny.

Anna Gollien — Baritone sax & bass clarinet

It’s hard to find wind players who specialize in the lower register. And while this role might offer fewer opportunities to shine individually, it’s absolutely essential to giving the horn section the solidity I’m looking for. Anna is undoubtedly one of the best at it, and she brings exactly that kind of strength and stability to the low end of the ensemble.

Alana and Tobi have their own projects and released music, while Miloš and Anna are involved in an endless number of projects that I also highly recommend checking out!

Next week, I’ll introduce the brass section. Stay tuned! 🎺

All pics by @simon_reithofer

@alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #LargeEnsemble #Saxophone #AustrianJazz #challengerecords

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Another lovely review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time from Rondo — Das Klassik- & Jazz-Magazin in Germany, by Josef Engels.

I particularly appreciate this description of the album: using the possibilities of writing for a large ensemble to tell personal stories. And I’m especially happy about the final observation that my compositions are at their strongest when the emotional side of the music takes center stage.

That’s something I always try to keep at the heart of my music, regardless of the size of the ensemble or the complexity of the arrangements.

Thank you, Josef, and Rondo for listening so closely to PEOPLE. PLACES.!

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #JazzGuitar #RondoMagazin #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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Another review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time from er-em-online in Germany.

I really like this description of the album as “orchestral contemporary jazz, enriched with Argentine folk roots” — it captures quite well one of the musical balances I was looking for in this project.

I’m also very happy that the review highlights something that is very important to me: even within the complexity of the arrangements, melody remains at the heart of the music.

Thank you to er-em-online for the thoughtful review — and for the “Empfehlung!”!

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@er_em_online
@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @challengerecords @audiotopestudios @ursi.reicher @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #ArgentineMusic #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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Another beautiful review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time by Jörg Konrad for KultKomplott in Germany.

I’m especially happy to see the album described through the connection between my musical roots in Buenos Aires, my experience in Austria, and my interest in bringing together contemporary improvisation, Latin American influences and modern ensemble writing.

I also really appreciate the reference to Kenny Wheeler’s ensemble music, particularly in relation to the melodic character of the compositions — a beautiful connection to make in the context of this project.

Thank you, Jörg, for listening so closely and for these thoughtful words about the album and its musical world.

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @challengerecords @audiotopestudios @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #KennyWheeler #KultKomplott #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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16.10.26 - CLUBNACHT DES DEUTSCHEN JAZZFESTIVALS 🪊
MAD HATTER feat. IVARS ARUTYUNYAN

Am 16.10. findet ein Konzert im Rahmen der Clubnacht des Deutschen Jazzfestivals statt, wofür wir nochmal in unsere alte Location in die Milchsackfabrik umziehen.
Die Frankfurter Band „Mad Hatter“ kommt dafür zu uns und bringt neben veröffentlichten Kompositionen auch neue Werke mit. Dabei präsentiert uns die Band in neuer Besetzung das 2025 veröffentlichte Debut-Album. Mit dabei sind Dennis Sekretarev an der Trompete/Flügelhorn/Komposition und Arrangement, Alana Macpherson am Alto Saxophon, Paul Janoschka an den Keys, Mario Angelove am Bass und Ivars Arutyunyan am Schlagzeug. Es wird ein spannender Arbend, kommt vorbei für diese Special Edition in der Milchsackfabrik! 🎷

Einlass: 20:00 Uhr
Beginn: 20:45 Uhr

Tickets sind online über den Link in der Bio erhältlich oder auch an der Abendkasse.

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I am super excited to be a part of the German Jazz Festival this year. Our concert will be broadcasted on the HR2 radio station. Tune in. We are going to play music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Madonna and new compositions of mine.

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Another beautiful review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time by Jacek Brun for jazz-fun.de in Germany.

I really appreciate the way Jacek connected the music with one of the central ideas behind this album: how moving from Buenos Aires to Austria gradually changed not only my surroundings, but also the way I see myself as a musician.

Thank you, Jacek, for listening so closely and for this thoughtful review.

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@jazz_fun.de
@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @challengerecords @audiotopestudios @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzGuitar #JazzComposition #JazzFun #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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16.10.26 - CLUBNACHT DES DEUTSCHEN JAZZFESTIVALS 🪊
MAD HATTER feat. IVARS ARUTYUNYAN

Jazz in der Dondorf Druckerei wird für einen Abend nochmal zu Jazz in der Milchsackfabrik. Dieses Konzert gehört zur Clubnacht des Deutschen Jazzfestivals und findet daher in der alten Location in der Milchsackfabrik statt. Dafür kommt die Frankfurter Band „Mad Hatter“ zu uns, bestehend in unterschiedlichen Besetzungen seit 2015. Das Projekt präsentiert Kompositionen und Gedichte von Dennis Sekretarev. 2025 veröffentlichte die Band ihr Debut-Album. Für uns präsentiert sich das Projekt in neuer Besetzung und spielt neben veröffentlichten Kompositionen auch neue Werke - es wird also eine spannende aufregende Reise in der Milchsackfabrik!

Trompete/Flügelhorn/Komposition/Arrangement: @dennissekretarev
Alto Saxophon: @alana_macpherson
Keys: @pauljanoschka
Bass: @marioangelove
Drums: @ivarsarutyunyan

Einlass: 20:00 Uhr
Beginn: 20:45 Uhr

Tickets sind online über den Link in der Bio erhältlich oder auch an der Abendkasse.

Grafik: Leonie Waidelich @fantarochen

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Another review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time by Frank Becker for Musenblätter in Germany.

I have to admit, being compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan was not something I expected to read about this album! 🥹

But jokes aside, I’m especially happy that Frank highlighted the work of the musicians throughout the record — from the horn writing and the different solo spots to the dialogues and interactions that make each piece come alive.

Thank you, Frank, for listening so closely to the music and to the individual voices of the ensemble!

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @audiotopestudios @challengerecords @ursi.reicher @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzGuitar #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #Musenblätter #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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Another wonderful review of PEOPLE. PLACES., this time by Andreas Schäfler for German daily newspaper junge Welt.

I’m especially happy to see Andreas focusing on the compositional side of the project — the part of my musical identity that has grown the most since moving to Austria.

Thank you, Andreas, for listening so closely and for these generous words about the music and the ensemble.

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@jungewelt_insta
@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @challengerecords @audiotopestudios @ursi.reicher @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #JungeWelt #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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Looking forward to be part of the German Jazz Festival 2026 in Frankfurt Main.
Wrote some new music. Come by it is going to be a trip.

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Very happy to see PEOPLE. PLACES. featured in the September issue of Jazzthing, one of Germany’s leading jazz magazines.

The title of the piece — “Fließend und nachdenklich” (“Flowing and contemplative”) — feels like a beautiful way of describing some of the qualities I was looking for in this music.

I also really appreciate the way the article connects the album with my development as a composer, from the early pieces that emerged in Graz to the larger ensemble writing and the musical dialogue between Austria and Argentina.

Thank you, Maxi Broecking, for taking the time to listen and for this thoughtful portrait of the project.

PEOPLE. PLACES. — Challenge Records

@jazzthing_magazin @maxibroecking
@klausgesing @alana_macpherson @tobiasmhoffmann @milos.kostar @annagollien @cesarzan @jordi_roviro @matthias.bernsteiner @thomas.quendler.music @maxkreuzer_music @andreasreisenhoferdrums @avatanasovski @audiotopestudios @challengerecords @ursi.reicher @uwekerkau

#PeoplePlaces #MartinIaies #Jazz #ContemporaryJazz #JazzComposition #LargeEnsemble #Jazzthing #GermanJazz #AustrianJazz #ChallengeRecords

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