2017 KRUGER SCHOLAR
Frances Madden about what I was hoping to achieve with my music and why I thought that was relevant to Fine Music and the Kruger scholarship. There must have been something that appealed to the panel in there.
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Q: What you are looking forward to about the scholarship?
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A: I’ve had an association with the Station for a few years now and I’m Frances Madden - 2017 Kruger Scholar really looking forward Fine Music 102.5 recently announced to working together the recipient of the prestigious Kruger more closely on various projects next year. Scholarship program offered by the station Of course, the financial and in-kind support en annually. Proof of the late Stefan Kruger’s that comes with the scholarship will be very love for music is the generous bequest helpful in producing the album and then in launching and promoting it. But I’m also that makes possible an annual scholarship ics looking forward to working with people from valued at $15,000. the station and in the Fine Music network so The Kruger Scholar for 2017 is vocalist and I can get input into my music and continue pianist, Frances Madden. to develop. I also hope there will be a s but what makes her a real stand-out are her chance for me to give back and contribute Fine Music spoke with Frances about the Legendscholarship to the station in various ways. I’m sure it is going to be a partnership of sorts. And of Q: How did it feel to receive the course, I have ruly a creative force not just in the jazz idiom, butto admit to being just a little scholarship? bit excited about playing next year in Live Music 102.5 FM from the Joan! A: I was thrilled when I found out I’d been selected by the Station for the Kruger I can bring some joy to Fine Music’s qualityScholarship in one so young. A dynamic andI hope gifted but I also felt really honoured listeners next year and beyond. And also as a jazz musician in particular. live up to the faith that the board have Q: What works and proposals did you submit to be considered? Sydney’s most talented young
shown in me.
musicians. With Biography Described byand ABC Jazz’s Mal Stanley as a A: The project I proposed is to record mysax, trumpet ouble bass, drums, guitar, tenor talented young vocalist and pianist and ‘one second studio album and in my application nd production talents to her performances. to watch’, Changes Frances is one of the classiest I included links to a few of the tracks that young entertainers Australia has produced Frances performing ballads solo to the whole band I’ve already written and which I’ve tried out
in recent times. Her sophisticated mix of with live audiences. There was a swinging vocal jazz, blues and re-interpreted pop tune called Dancing in the Rain that could classics has been selling out the best jazz have been lifted from a 1950’s movie with venues, night clubs and festivals around the Gene Kelly Doris Day. In There waspast one year, Foundry616 inand Sydney. the they have country. She has also established herself as quite earthy blues, Change in Your Eyes, audiences Sydney’s iconic venue The Basement. a contemporary songwriter of note. and theat other one a whimsical Christmas called Boogie Woogie Santa. I was Festivalsong and also enjoyed successful tours to been compared to a young While she’s conscious of the difference between Diana Krall and Norah Jones, Frances at Jazz classical Club and Dizzy’s Jazz Club. Other recent music, which I originally trained captivates her audiences with a combination y Porterin, in and playing to a fullofhouse at warm stage presence andSydney jazz. So I also included a statement her genuinely
how for the Fine Music 102.5 FM 40th Anniversary z Club in Shanghai in October 2017.
together with a voice and style that is uniquely her own. She is also a talented and engaging original composer so when she performs her own swinging tunes, beautiful ballads or smokey blues, they merge seamlessly with the timeless classics she re-interprets. Frances’ regular band is an eight-piece that includes some of Sydney’s most talented young musicians. With Frances on vocals and piano, her line-up normally includes double bass, drums, guitar, tenor sax, trumpet and two backing vocals. Frances also brings her own arranging and production talents to her performances. Changes in tempo and in the combinations of people on stage – from Frances performing ballads solo to the whole band swinging together – give her live shows nuance and variety. Frances and her band perform regularly at their ‘home club’ Foundry616 in Sydney. In the past year, they have twice performed their ‘Jazz Blues & Classics’ show to sellout audiences at Sydney’s iconic venue The Basement. Frances has appeared at Manly Jazz Festival, Devonport Jazz Festival and also enjoyed successful tours to Melbourne playing venues including Birds Basement, Paris Cat Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Jazz Club. Other recent highlights include supporting Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter in Sydney and playing to a full house at Sydney Town Hall where Frances and the band opened the show for the Fine Music 102.5 FM 40th Anniversary Concert & Simulcast. Frances will play at the respected JZ Jazz Club in Shanghai in October 2017. Frances completed her degree in music performance at AIM in Sydney in 2010 and has been working full time as a professional musician since. A few years into her career she began to write her own material, some of which was heard by Judi Morrison, wife of James, who invited Frances to record some demo tracks at James Morrison Studios in Sydney. That led to an album titled If This Were a Dream featuring eight originals written by Frances as well as five classic covers. The album debuted at #5 on the ARIA Jazz Album charts in December 2014 and has been selling consistently since. December 2016
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