In 1952, Gerry Mulligan performed at The Haig on Wiltshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, where a young Chet Baker started sitting in. The venue had done away with its piano and this led Mulligan and Baker to develop a sophisticated, intertwining style of jazz that was subtle and free of clear chords.

The Tom Fell Quartet features some of Canberra's most acclaimed jazz musicians: Alex Raupach (trumpet), Nicholas McBride (drums) and Chris Pound (bass). Together they swing the west coast sound to life with beautiful melodies, contrapuntal improvisations and virtuosic ensemble playing.