Evan Harris Quartet featuring Nick Pennington at AAA Arts Fund Showcase

I became involved with the American Australian Association shortly after relocating to New York in 2016, as one of the many young Australian artists the organisation generously supports through its Arts Fund. Since then, I am grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to perform under the auspices of the AAA at functions including its Arts Fund Showcase.

The AAA Arts Fund Showcase highlights the depth and diversity of Australian artistic talent, this year featuring Lucy Wanapuyngu (who practices and teaches fibre art in the Aboriginal community of Gapuwiyak in northeast Arnhem Land), video art by Ben Heim (an NYU alum with a special interest in multimedia and immersive art) and a performance by my band with a special guest, guitarist Nick Pennington. The band comprised:

• Nick Pennington - lead guitar

• Sam Zerna - double bass

• Oli Nelson - drums

• Evan Harris - saxophone

This particular performance was especially exciting for me, given that Nick and I had been collaborating on a number of musical projects prior, his musical stylings becoming intertwined with my own. Nick’s musical performance resonates with me because it somehow evokes an image of an Australian identity, even through the lens of the American music in which we specialise. I was glad he was able to lend his sound to the performance, and thrilled to be able to share the bandstand with him at the AAA Arts Fund Showcase.