Ball Hanlon Schulz - Land of If (2021)

The Land of If is the latest release from Ball Hanlon Schulz, a chamber-jazz trio featuring acclaimed Melbourne trumpeter Eugene Ball, bassist Ben Hanlon and piano accordionist Anthony Schultz. Taking impetus from Paul Auster’s book Invisible, The Land of If is a playful foray into the intimate moments of our everyday lives - a shadow of time going by, the smile of the one we love, small innocent mistakes and the local heroism of confronting them.

The group explores the sonic possibilities of their combined talents through a set of nine compositions. Taking nothing at face value, they often turn the roles of their instruments inside out, creating a sound unique to themselves. Drawing from their collective experiences in classical, jazz and folk music, Ball Hanlon Schulz have been honing an ensemble identity over five years. Anthony and Eugene have played together sporadically in a variety of groups over the years, and when they became colleagues, lecturing at the same institution, they decided to form a group. Ben Hanlon was an immediate choice to complete the ensemble, as well as being a former student of Eugene’s during the latter years of high school.

The combination of trumpet, accordion and bass is perhaps a little unusual, except that it does contain the typical melodic, harmonic, and bass voices. It is the traditional roles of these voices that Ball Hanlon Schulz question and reimagine. Piano accordionist Schulz cajoles and compels the piano accordion into romantic yet sweet banter. “The instrument charms us with its multitude of voices,” explains Ball, “It speaks many truths and fictions. Sometimes it forms an ocean-like foundation for a piece, other times, it eloquently explores the harmonies with certainty and precision.” The various appearances by Ball’s trumpet take numerous formations. As Schulz explains, Ball creates “declarations, murmurings, whispers, wonderings, exaltations and question marks.” What drew Schulz to Ball’s playing, in particular, is his unmistakable tone, and his curious and unpredictable style - a willingness to explore the path less followed. “His masterful trumpet takes us to places we didn’t expect to go,” says Schulz.