Saxophonist, Composer, Teacher
LATEST FROM MICHAEL
AVGENICOS BROTHERS ALBUM RELEASE: TREADING WATER
Treading Water is the long-awaited debut album from Avgenicos Brothers. Featuring saxophonist Michael Avgenicos and his brother, trumpeter Thomas Avgenicos, the joint project sees them alongside some of Sydney’s leading young jazz artists including pianist Novak Manojlovic, guitarist Felix Lalanne, bassist Nick Henderson and drummer Alex Hirlian. This debut album embodies the brothers’ lifelong musical dialogue amongst a love of modern jazz, groove and electronic sound scapes.
https://avgenicosbrothers.bandcamp.com/album/treading-water-3
EISHAN RELEASES NEW ALBUM: NIM DONG
Eishan's debut album "Nim Dong" was released in July 2018 on Art As Catharsis to critical acclaim.
“… casts a spell all its own… astonishing power and convulsive impact…” – John Shand, SMH ★★★★½
" Eishan Ensemble is a rare attempt in fusing contemporary persian classical music with modern jazz... a flawless combination, as evidenced by the fine compositions on this debut recording" - Songlines UK ★★★★
COAST RELEASES NEW ALBUM: SKIM
“Every aspect of COAST embodies what “modern” jazz should represent.” - Heavy Blog Is Heavy
Art As Catharsis is proud to announce the release of COAST’s second album, SKIM – a polyrhythmic record of expansive jazz, pushing the band into new, adventurous territory.
As a follow-up to a fantastic, energetic and technically astounding album, Skim does more than continue Coast’s trend of bringing to life some of Australia’s finest, most intricately textured progressive jazz. Skim represents a successful exploration into new compositional heights for Coast, proving that lightning can indeed strike twice in the same place. For anyone with an ear for instrumental music, complex and engaging drumming and beautiful saxophone-driven textures, this album will surely be a darling of the critics.
★★★★½ - REVIEW FROM JOHN SHAND
"In what was very much a celebration rather than a tribute, McAll assembled a new band in which bassist Cameron Undy was joined (from a younger generation) by trumpeter Tom Avgenicos, tenor saxophonist Michael Avgenicos and drummer Alex Inman-Hislop.
All embraced both the profundity and the zany playfulness; the necessity to make some phrases ring out like a hammer on an anvil, and others to melt like marshmallows over a fire. This was as real as looking at an original painting, rather than a reproduction."
More details here:
ABOUT MICHAEL
MICHAEL AVGENICOS
From Sydney, Michael's performance career has taken him around Australia and abroad to Asia, Europe and the USA.
Performing on alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet and flute, Michael is an active member of a number of bands; having recorded albums with experimental jazz group COAST, FRYJA, Eishan Ensemble, Aaron Blakey and Gregg Arthur. He also co-leads and composes music for his own group, the Avgenicos Brothers, who recently released their debut album 'TREADING WATER'
Recent performance highlights include opening for Brandon Marsalis at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, performances for Sydney Fringe and VIVID festivals and album launches for Eishan and COAST.
A graduate of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Bachelor of Jazz Performance, 2016), Michael Avgenicos was a finalist in the same year at the prestigious National Jazz Awards – Saxophone Competition in Wangarratta, SA. In 2017 he received the Big Brother Movement (BBM) award for excellence in music.
Aside from his artistic projects, Michael works as a freelance musician, having performed on set for The Voice Australia and recording for Triple J Like a Version in 2019.
Michael also performs for weddings, parties and corporate events with Sydney Jazz Collective. http://sydneyjazzcollective.com.au/
