The Trio

Alister Spence - piano / samples
Lloyd Swanton - double bass
Toby Hall - drums, glockenspiel

The Alister Spence Trio is without doubt one of the most distinctive and spellbinding units in contemporary Australian jazz and improvised music.
Alister’s style of composition is highly regarded, and the band’s live performances and CDs have earned them critical acclaim all over the globe.

‘Ingenious themes’
The Wire, UK

‘Utterly compelling’
Jazz Journal, UK

‘Spence is fully rivalling the pianists that have brought about the present boom in piano trio music’
Swing Journal, Japan

‘The cutting edge of modern Australia defined’
Sydney Morning Herald

Formed in Sydney more than ten years ago, the three members of this band have a long history of playing together, being previously well known for their collaboration in the ARIA (Australian Record Industry Awards) award-winning band Clarion Fracture Zone. CFZ toured internationally between 1990 and 1997 with great success.

Individually they are recognised as leading performers and composers in contemporary original music in Australia.
Lloyd is a member of The Necks and leader of The catholics.
Alister is a member Wanderlust, The Australian Art Orchestra and The Laughing Clowns.
Toby is a member of the Sandy Evans Trio, The World According to James, and was previously a longstanding member of The Mike Nock Trio.

The Alister Spence Trio is noted for its engaging, strong compositions and for the synergy, interplay and energy that they have together.

They have released four CDs on the Rufus Records label (distributed in Australia by Universal Music). The trio’s first CD Three Is A Circle (2000), is released in Japan on the Earth Spirit Label, and their subsequent CD’s are also available there through DIW Record Stores.

The band has toured nationally and internationally playing at prestigious festival events such as the Tokyo Jazz Festival (2008), The International Festival de Jazz de Montreal (Canada 2006), The Wangaratta Jazz festival (VIC) and Brian Eno’s Luminous Festival at The Sydney Opera House in 2009.

They have twice been nominated for Best Australian Jazz Album (ARIA Awards).
fit, the trio’s most recent CD, was voted in The Wire Magazine’s top 15 Jazz and Improvisation releases worldwide for 2009 (January 2010 Rewind edition, UK).

‘Guaranteed to draw you into their captivating musical worlds.’
Sydney Morning Herald

‘Spence has that priceless gift of always leaving you wanting more’
Jazzwise Magazine, UK

Other Links
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