Guitarist Reinier Baas and saxophonist Ben van Gelder are prominent figures in the Dutch music scene, and long time collaborators. They have played over 200 shows together in the past years, performing as a duo, as a trio with drum legend Han Bennink and with both their quintets. Their joint efforts have resulted in a collaboration with the multiple Grammy Award winning Metropole Orkest entitled 'Smash Hits', which will be released in October 2018, as well as a duo record, which will be released in the spring of 2019. 
An active bandleader, Reinier Baas has toured with his quintet ‘The More Socially Relevant Jazz Music Ensemble’ in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. His second album ‘Mostly Improvised Instrumental Indie Music’ received the prestigious Edison Award in 2013. As a soloist, he has performed with the Metropole Orkest, Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw, New Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 2016, Baas released his fourth studio record “Reinier Baas vs. Princess Discombobulatrix, a ‘mostly instrumental opera’. This collaboration with illustrator Typex and a line-up of 15 prominent improvisers and classical musicians received wide-spread critical acclaim - “Ravel, Prokofiev, Poulenc, Baas, truly!” - VILLA D'ARTE - and earned him a second Edison Award in 2017. Reinier has received composition assignments from the North Sea Jazz Festival, November Music Festival, Südtirol Jazzfestival and Pynarello. He has worked with Gregory Porter, Dave Douglas and Han Bennink, and is currently a member of Benjamin Herman's Bughouse. Reinier is a teacher at the conservatories of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. 

Ben van Gelder is an authority on the alto saxophone and a composer with a contemporary view. His music is rooted in tradition but is distinguished by a unique blend of “lyricism, energy, grace and rhythm.” His albums ‘Frame of Reference’ and ‘Reprise’ garnered outstanding reviews in the Dutch and international press. The album 'Reprise’ was named ‘best jazz album of the year’ by de Volkskrant. Van Gelder has won various awards, such as the Deloitte Jazz Award and the Stan Getz/Clifford Brown fellowship, and more recently a composition assignment from the Jazz Gallery in New York. He has collaborated with outstanding musicians such as Mark Turner, AmbroseAkinmusire and Aaron Parks. His latest outing ‘Among Verticals’, a record inspired by the painting of Frantisek Kupka, received 5-star reviews in Dutch newspapers NRC and Volkskrant. Ben van Gelder is on faculty at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

The relentless grind of modern life on the precipice is reflected in this music. Coast draws inspiration from Sydney coastline, the thin line between. bobbing up and down our heads above the water, the unrelenting energy of the ocean that surrounds. Bubbling and swirling with improvisational energy the expansive melodies throwing forward are under pinned by driving rhythms. This intensity is at times juxtaposed with more introverted and meditative pulses a calm and peace. The ensemble has a muscular approach but is accurate and deliberate, the saxophones cutting lines are followed by delay drenched synths and angular guitars. This is music of a changing time and an evolving place.

“Derricott has always been one of our most surprising drummers, technically exciting while at ease in any improvisational situation, creating effortlessly and colourfully. The Coast ensemble could not have been better chosen to bring his vision to life – Shannon Stitt on keys, guitarist Peter Koopman and Michael Avgenicos on sax.” – Words About Music.

Opening the show at 6pm will be a student band from ANU School of Music TBA.