Ephemera: Journey Through Sound and Space

The recent performance of Universe and Universality offered audiences an extraordinary fusion of jazz improvisation and contemporary classical soundscapes set against the awe inspiring backdrop of real space sounds and projections. The ensemble transported listeners on a sonic voyage through the cosmos where music and astronomy intertwined in a seamless dialogue.

NASA recordings of electromagnetic waves from planets and stars compiled by astronomer Professor Paul Francis formed the atmospheric foundation of the performance. These celestial sounds accompanied stunning projections of space probe footage creating an immersive experience that blended art and science in perfect harmony.

Led by composer and multi instrumentalist Keyna Wilkins on piano and flute the ensemble featured Elsen Price on double bass and loop pedal Will Gilbert on trumpet and Jodie Michael on drumset. Each musician brought a distinctive voice shaped by diverse musical influences contributing to a sound world that was both spontaneous and deeply evocative.

The performance included moments of free improvisation where the musicians responded organically to the stellar concepts reflected in the visual and auditory landscape. The interplay between the musicians created a sense of cosmic conversation expanding and contracting like the universe itself.

Jodie Michael and Elsen Price both ABC Jazz Artists from 2025 and 2019 respectively showcased their exceptional rhythmic and harmonic creativity. Will Gilbert’s trumpet lines added soaring melodic textures while Keyna Wilkins’s compositions anchored the ensemble with lyrical depth and inventive structure.

Formed in 2015 the ensemble has performed widely across Australia and internationally yet this presentation stood out as one of their most immersive and visionary works. Universe and Universality was more than a concert it was a meditation on space sound and human connection leaving audiences inspired and awed by the boundless beauty of the universe.