JANUARY 2026
Asteroid Ekosystem are very pleased to announce our brand new studio album Sounds Have Dreams out Feb 13th via band camp and all good indie stores.
To coincide with this release, Ed, Lloyd, Toby and myself will play two intimate Sydney shows, two sets each night!
March 20 and 21st at 21 Shepherd St, Marrickville.
"It's not jazz, it's not rock…Whatever you want to call it, this is one mighty sonic trip that paints colourful pictures in the mind.”
Noel Mengel
Tickets are also available via feelpresents.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
I'm very pleased to announce a new solo album Within Without, on the Room40 Label! This is an album of explorations on the fender rhodes electric piano, an instrument I've played since the 1970s, and more recently in solo performance, and with Sensaround and Kira Kira, as I've been investigating its sound potential more broadly.
In October I have the great pleasure to be reconnecting with Australian/Berlin drummer Tony Buck (the Necks) for a short Europe tour. It's such a joy playing with Tony. Something very special I think!
Tour dates are October 4 to 9 in Newcastle, Glasgow, Berlin, and Vienna.
See the videos page for excerpts of last year’s Spence/Buck performance at Vilnius Jazz Festival 2024.
In other news Asteroid Ekosystem’s third album is now mixed. It’s a beauty I think! It is intended for release during the Australian summer season.
And there's been a terrific review published in Jazz Journal of Alister Spence Trio's recent album Gather:
'ecstatic, resonant and gorgeous ...This is a great pianist at the peak of his powers – an amazing album that richly repays repeated listening.' Andy Hamilton, Jazz Journa
FEBRUARY 2025
We are very pleased to announce the launch of the new Alister Spence Trio album Gather (ASM016) on February 24. It’s our first trio album in more than seven years and we are thrilled with the results! The launch will be at Church Street Studios for Monday Night Confessions, alongside the wonderful duo Spill (Magda Mayas and Tony Buck). Please visit the recordings page for more information and links. Tony and I played a terrific piano/drums duo concert for Jetsets on February 18.
In other news Kira Kira Live (ASM015) continues to receive strong positive reviews. Glenn Astarita gave it 4.5 stars in AllAboutJazz and voted the album in his list of the Ten Best Albums of 2024. It was also listed in AvantMusic News’ list of Honorable Mentions 2024.
’Kira Kira, a Japanese avant-garde ensemble has been at the forefront of improvisational music since 2017. … The mixture of free improvisation and the occasional tuneful theme is nothing short of superb.’ Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com
And in April Asteroid Ekosystem (Alister Spence, Ed Kuepper, Lloyd Swanton, Toby Hall) will go into the studio to record a new album, slated for release in late 2025.
I acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners and pay my respects to the elders past, present and emerging, on whose lands I live, work and play. Sovereignty was never ceded. It always was, always is, always will be Aboriginal land.