A smoldering voice, a band that defies labels, and two gigs that will leave you transformed.

In 2004, Zulya and the band, The Children of the Underground, took Australian audiences by storm, re-configuring the way world and folk music is
perceived by the release of their first album, “The Waltz of Emptiness and Other Songs on Russian Themes.”

ARIA award-winning Zulya and The Children of the Underground is by far one of the most intriguing and unique acts in Australia, and perhaps the world. They perform exquisite original music loosely inspired by Zulya’s Tatar and Russian roots. Zulya’s music defies being labeled, but has been described as “Kurt Weillish, Euro-Cabaret jazz [collides with] lullabies constructed to tear your heart out.”

Nearly ten years after their formation the ensemble is placed firmly at the crossroad of restlessness and the sublime. The result; a transformative concert music that is haunting and nuanced. Their most recent album, “Tales of Subliming” is a rich tribute to the group’s continued search for the elusive connection between ensemble, composition, and performance.

Swinging like a Bolshevik Marlene Dietrich, Zulya and her Underground friends are able to strike a deft balance between melancholic sadness and the unbridled joy that’s never too far away.
SONGLINES, UK

Zulya and the Children of the Underground play Bennetts Lane in a special two night season – two albums, Saturday, The Waltz of Emptiness, and Sunday, Tales of Subliming.

World-class alto saxophonist and accomplished composer, David Rex, continually surprises his audience with his combination of technical proficiency and emotive musicality. Since bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old jazz saxophone prodigy, Rex has established himself on the Australian Jazz scene (as well as being a finalist in the International Saxophone Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival). He has released two critically acclaimed albums with the ABC Jazz label; recorded with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis) and toured internationally with jazz heavy-weight artists such as Vincent Herring, Billy Harper, Vince Jones and James Morrison.Tonight Rex will be debuting his third album, Tour of Fate. The album features international artists Aaron Goldberg (piano), Reuben Rogers (bass) and Gregory Hutchinson (drums) as well as previously unheard David Rex compositions. He will be showcasing his talents as bandleader and improviser with esteemed Melbourne jazz musicians John McAll (piano), Tamara Murphy (bass) and Hugh Harvey (drums).

"I firmly believe that David Rex is the finest alto saxophonist in Australia today" - Barney McAll