TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) featuring Aaron Choulai

TLDR sets up hypnotic grooves and off kilter overlapping rhythms using tape loops, analogue and digital delays, and organic instrumental sounds.

TLDR premiered in 2023 at Jazzlab for a highly successful season. Led by Peter Knight it features Helen Svoboda bass and voice, Theo Carbo guitar and electronics, Quinn Knight drums, and Peter playing trumpet, analogue delays, and laptop electronics.

This week’s special guest is Aaron Choulai who will bring his unique approach to synthesisers, 404, and piano to Jazzlab with TLDR. Born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and having lived in Tokyo for 15 years, Aaron Choulai is an artist of diverse culture and musical expression.

Choulai began his career in Melbourne as a pianist before moving to New York in the early 2000’s. While working as a bandleader and sideman in America and Europe, Choulai’s profile as a composer and arranger grew while participating in projects back in Australia, working with The Black Arm Band and conceiving the cross-cultural music collaboration We Don’t Dance For No Reason.

In 2008 he undertook postgraduate studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts and after graduating in 2013, continued living in Tokyo where he has become a prominent musical figure in Japan.

Choulai has collaborated with various artists including Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Ben Monder, Jim Black, Daichi Yamamoto, Slack, Alan Browne, Paul Grabowsky, Joel Frahm, Yoshimot Akihiro and more.

In 2023 he took over directorship of the Australian Art Orchestra from Peter Knight so this is a very special meeting of musical minds!