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ELASTIC TIME: two of Australia's most acclaimed contemporary music ensembles reunite as Topology and Trichotomy stretch the boundaries of jazz, pop and classical music.

After more than a decade since their 2010 album "Healthy", Topology and Trichotomy and return to the same stage for a rare collaborative performance. 

Since they last performed together, Topology has redefined contemporary art music through ambitious cross-artform projects, long-form collaborations with composers and artists and a reputation for bold, genre-blurring and intercultural work presented on major stages and festivals. Meanwhile, Trichotomy has built an international profile through extensive touring, critically acclaimed releases and collaborations across jazz, pop, classical and cross-artform projects - building a wide audience for their adventurous, deeply communicative approach to improvisation.

At the heart of Elastic Time is a live performance of music from "Healthy", a body of work that moves seamlessly between contemporary classical music and modern jazz. Rich in texture, melody and dynamic interplay, this work showcases the distinctive creative chemistry between the two ensembles. Shaped by artistic evolution, Elastic Time celebrates a shared musical history while opening fresh pathways for improvisation, collaboration and collective musical imagination.

Listen to "Healthy" on Spotify at: Topology and Trichotomy: Healthy, 2010

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TOPOLOGY

• John Babbage: composer, saxophone
• Robert Davidson: composer, bass
• Bernard Hoey: composer, viola
• Christa Powell: violin
• Therese Milanovic: piano

Established in 1997, Brisbane-based Topology are established leaders in musical creativity in Australia, prolific creators of new original work, expert collaborators across genres and art forms and award-winning music educators. With a well-established reputation for their signature work, the quintet experiments with surprising combinations of genres, theatrical staging and cross art form collaboration to create thought-provoking music experiences for audiences of all ages, backgrounds and tastes. Resident Artist at Brisbane Powerhouse for 18 years, Topology has an extensive discography, produced countless evening-length works, presented an award-winning concert series, and toured extensively nationally and internationally.

Topology is famous for the breadth and depth of their collaborations. Undaunted by stylistic barriers, the quintet has created stunning new work with partners in: theatre (including Geoffrey Rush, Neil Armfield, Queensland Theatre Company), classical music (the Brodsky Quartet, the Southern Cross Soloists), contemporary art music (Terry Riley, Speak Percussion), dance (Expressions Dance Company, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, Jody Oberfelder), puppetry (Dead Puppet Society), contemporary jazz (Trichotomy, Loops), popular songwriting (Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan), comedy (the Kransky Sisters, Gerry Connolly), Asian music (Dheeraj Shrestha, Ubiet) and indigenous Australian music (William Barton).

Topology have performed in numerous festivals and venues around the world, including: the Ghent Festival of Flanders, Olympics Arts Festival, ISCM World Music Days, Salihara Festival (Jakarta), Singapore Arts Festival, Castlemaine Festival, Brisbane Festival, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, ­Sydney Spring Festival, Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival, Adelaide Festival, Darwin Festival, Midsumma Festival, Lincoln Center (New York), Extended Play (Sydney) and Flowstate (South Bank, Brisbane).

Topology has an energetic education program called the "Topology Creative Academy" (previously known as "Top Up"), which works closely with schools and emerging composers to create and perform new music. The program has grown exponentially over the years reaching thousands of participants around regional Australia every year.

Awards & Nominations

2009 APRA Classical Music Awards – Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation
2014 ARIA Awards – (Nominated) Best Classical Album (Share House)
2015 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards – Winner for Excellence in Music Education (Top Up)

“Topology are the most creative and important composers of new contemporary classics in Australia today” - ABC Classic FM.

Discover more about Topology at topologymusic.com.

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TRICHOTOMY

• Sean Foran: piano
• John Parker: drums
• Samuel Vincent: double bass

Australian piano trio Trichotomy have carved out a reputation as one of the most exciting trios in contemporary jazz. Across three compelling albums for Naim Jazz — Variations (2010), The Gentle War (2011), and Fact Finding Mission (2013) — followed by KNOWN/UNKNOWN (Challenge, 2017), their collaborative Live With String Quartet (2018), and Between the Lines (2019) with folk-jazz-blues troubadour Danny Widdicombe, the group have built a distinctive body of work defined by melodic strength, rhythmic invention and exploratory ensemble interplay.

With more than 20 years performing together, numerous awards in their homeland, and performances across Japan, China, the UK, Europe, Canada and South America, Trichotomy have developed a richly versatile practice. Their work has extended into collaborations with dance companies, classical ensembles, jazz artists and pop musicians, reflecting a broad musical curiosity and a sound that moves fluidly between acoustic detail, electronic colour and dynamic improvisation.

Inspired by a diverse range of influences — including Portico Quartet, Pat Metheny and John Zorn to Esbjörn Svensson, Tord Gustavsen and Nils Petter Molvær — Trichotomy’s music combines dense rhythmic focus with refined melodic clarity. There is a genuine sense of three-way dialogue within the group, with intricate composed elements opening into free-flowing improvisations. It is music of texture, movement and immediacy, pulling the listener into a sound world that is both highly crafted and alive in the moment.

Following a series of collaborative tracks with classical percussionist Nozomi Omote in 2021 and 2022, Trichotomy released TO VANISH on Earshift Music in 2023. The album further developed the expanded sound world that was first explored on "KNOWN/UNKNOWN", bringing electronic and acoustic elements into close interaction with the trio’s signature melodic inventiveness.

The group have continued this collaborative focus with "Iridescence", another recording with Danny Widdicombe, further deepening the connection between Trichotomy’s textural, improvising language and Widdicombe’s distinctive songwriting voice. Looking ahead, Trichotomy are also developing a new suite of music set to a series of poems, scheduled for release in late 2026.

"[Trichotomy] vivaciously balances thematic eloquence with tight-knit polyphonic sophistication - you have to know a lot about music to make it this well." - The Guardian

"this is a genuine trio, with three equally important parts, and they never put a foot or finger wrong" 5 stars! - BBC Music Magazine

“one of the most exciting trios in contemporary music” - All About Jazz

"a rich and detailed interaction that is not content with easy formulas or sleeve effects, a beautiful revelation” - Jazzman (FR)

Explore more of Trichotomy's work at trichotomymusic.com.

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Cost

Tickets for this performance are $30–60. Doors open at 3:30pm. A cash bar will be available for socialising amongst the plants. Free parking.

Tickets

You'll receive confirmation of your ticket order by email or sms (whichever one you used with your order). We'll have a ticket list at the door when you arrive to help you save the trees and the hassle of printing your ticket.

Location

Plant Empire has moved! This concert will be held at our new premises in Tennyson, Brisbane: 15/55 Lofter St, Tennyson Q 4105. The site has easy access to free on-street parking and is an easy 10-minute walk from Yeerongpilly train station and restaurants at Yeerongpilly Green.

Accessibility

Concerts in our new premises have unallocated ground floor seating that are all level without any steps, while mezzanine seating with obstructed views is accessible via a staircase with 22 steps and 1–2 landings. The site has one wheelchair parking spot, and visitors are encouraged to use on-street parking to leave other on-site parking available for people with mobility issues.

Reminders

You have full control over how (and how often) you receive reminders for our events. You will receive one email confirmation from us when you purchase your ticket; but we won't send any further email reminders, so please ensure that you have the concert details in your diary. You can also use the "add to calendar" function in our events calendar to add the concert to your digital calendar and customise your reminder preferences.

Cancellation Policy

Please choose carefully before purchasing your tickets for this concert as we do not offer refunds on event bookings. 

Program Changes

Please note that the program for this concert is subject to change.

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