Carlton Macpherson Pass Valenti

Jessica Carlton, originally from Melbourne, earned her Bachelor of Music Performance degree on jazz trumpet from Monash University. In her second undergraduate year, she won first place in the Monash University Jazz Prize, composed, and released her debut album, and was nominated for ‘Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year’ at the Bell Awards. Carlton moved to Perth in 2018 when she was pregnant with her daughter, taking a break from performing until the start of 2021 when she began performing around Perth, and teaching at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). In 2021, she received a nomination for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship. Jessica is now undertaking postgraduate research in music at WAAPA.

Alana Macpherson is a saxophonist and composer/arranger originally from Perth, Western Australia. Since late 2018 she has been studying jazz at the Kunst Universität Graz, under some of the finest musicians and composers in Europe including Ed Partyka and Julian Argüelles. She has toured with legendary pianist Emil Spanyi (HU), performed with Lezlie Harrison, Joseph Bowie (NYC), the Vine Street Horns (Phil Collins band), the Evan Sherman Big Band (NYC), among others. In 2018 Alana released her nonet album All or Nothing At All, and went on to win Best Live Jazz Act and Best Woodwind/Brass/Strings instrumentalist at the 2018 WAM Awards. She also took out the 2019 Downbeat Student Music Award for ‘Best Large Ensemble Arrangement’ and was featured in the May issue of the magazine. In 2022 she will release her second album of original compositions Alana Macpherson & WAYJO Live!, as well as the debut album from Carlton/Macpherson/Pass/Valenti Quartet.

WAM Award winning bassist and graduate of WAAPA, Kate Pass leads her own band ‘Kohesia Ensemble’ which serves as a platform for her original compositions that explore elements of Persian music in a jazz context. Kohesia Ensemble's show ‘Shahnameh: Songs of the Persian Book of Kings’ won the 2020 Martin Sims Award at Fringe World. Kate!s debut album Kohesia was nominated for West Australian Music (WAM) Best Album (2018), Best Jazz Act and Best World Act. In 2021 Kate released a second album Silver Lining with Kohesia Ensemble. Kate was also the recipient of ABC Jazz!s Fresh Start Fund, a grant that enabled her to compose and record a 15-minute suite of original music with Kohesia Ensemble in 2021, which is yet to be released. Kate is currently the President of Perth Jazz Society, an ensemble tutor at WAAPA, and a tutor for WAYJO!s Young Women in Jazz Program.

Talya Valenti is known for her work across diverse genres. She has played with acts including Stella Donnelly and Bolt Gun and recently joined Methyl Ethel as a session drummer. After completing a jazz degree at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2012, she returned to her roots in rock/indie music among other styles, which eventually led to national and international tours and festival opportunities including performances at Fuji Rock and Glastonbury. In 2017 she was awarded first class honours at WAAPA for her thesis about the representation and inclusion of gender diverse people in jazz in Perth (Boorloo). In both 2019 and 2020 she won the West Australian Music award for ‘Best Drummer’. More Light and Undeniable are Talya’s first foray into recording and releasing her own compositions. Talya is endorsed by Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals. Show less