<p>Composer, percussionist, painter, educator and proud Kamilaroi man <a href="https://www.adammanning.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Adam Manning</strong></a> spoke with Bent Notes about his growing up with music and rhythm and their becoming then a key feature of his life.   He said that his decision to work with these skills was essentially an evolution rather than a specific decision.</p> <p>Adam discussed how our society seems to have forgotten how to feel and know the rhythm of the land, and how his work brings these rhythms to the forefront, with work recently in collaboration with groups such as the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestra&#8217;s; and in his brand new work &#8211; <a href="https://www.adammanning.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>First Rhythms</em></a> &#8211; with artists from the <a href="https://www.aao.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Art Orchestra</a> (AAO).</p> <p><em>First Rhythms</em> was commissioned by the <a href="https://www.melbournejazz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melbourne International Jazz Festiva</a>l, the <a href="https://www.aao.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Art Orchestra</a> and <a href="https://songlines.net.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation</a> and will be featured in this years Melbourne International Jazz Festival.  The commision is culmination of Adam&#8217;s appointment as the <a href="https://www.melbournejazz.com/industry/first-nations-artist-residency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Nations Artist in Residence</a> at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival for the 2024/25 year.</p> <p>In this work, Adam reimagines <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapstick" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clapsticks</a> — not just as instruments, but as vessels of memory, movement and deep connection to Country.  The work is described as weaving &#8220;traditional percussive language with modern instrumentation, visual art and a fluid interplay of improvisation and notation&#8221;.</p> <p>Adam will be performing First Rhythms with the AAO in the <a href="https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/visit-us/explore-the-venue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Primrose Potter Salon</a> at the <a href="https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melbourne Recital Centre</a> on Sunday October 19, 2025.  Full details from <a href="https://www.melbournejazz.com/events/adam-manning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">melbournejazz.com</a></p> <p><em>Adam Manning was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday October 12, 2025<br /> </em>Bent Notes – 2 hours of Jazz and Improvised Music – 7 o’clock every Sunday night<br /> <span style="color: #ff00ff"><strong>JOY 94.9 – Out.Loud.Proud – Your Voice – Your Radio Station</strong></span></p> <p><a href="https://joy.org.au/support-joy/donate" rel="payment">Support this podcast, Donate to JOY;</a> <a href="https://joy.org.au/support-joy/become-a-member" rel="payment">Become a member</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://joy.org.au/bentnotes/2025/10/adams-first-rhythms/">Adam&#8217;s First Rhythms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://joy.org.au/bentnotes">Bent Notes</a>.</p>