UK cellist Jo Quail’s music is original, powerful, seductive, soulful and inspiring. Jo is a fearless and innovative player with a formidable stage presence, engaging effortlessly with her listeners from behind her electric Starfish cello and exhibiting complete control over the looping and effects technology which is at her disposal.  Jo’s pieces often build from the simplest of figures into magnificently captivating soundscapes that never lose their sense of proportion or purpose, merging sublime melodies with unstoppable rhythms, equally comfortable exploring complex harmonies and freeform improvisation. In the current climate of style versus substance, Jo’s music follows its own singular path.

Fresh from the 2016 triumph of playing to a sold out Salon at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Jo Quail will be presenting her works for solo electric cello, using looping and effects to bring her magnificent soundscapes to audiences in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart.

Jo has made five previous visits to Australia to perform her music, and finds the country an immense visual inspiration when writing her music.  Following a visit to The Florentine Valley in 2011 Jo immediately wrote ‘Tu Florentine’, and was delighted to make a guest appearance at the Tasmanian Composer’s Festival 2015 to perform the work at the prestigious event.  “I felt so overwhelmed by the silent majesty of this great forest – intensely moving and yet so peaceful and full of ancient wisdom. I wanted to write a piece to celebrate this natural wonder, and to try in some small way to support the work of the protection society by dedicating this music to them”.