SYDNEY double bassist/bass guitarist and composer Lloyd Swanton will launch his new double CD Ambon at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues on Friday.
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Swanton’s uncle Stuart Swanton died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, but kept a secret diary in a coded shorthand, which was brought back to Australia after the war, and is the only substantial surviving diary written by a soldier on Ambon.
“I wanted to pay tribute to the bravery and decency of my uncle,” Swanton says.
“I wanted, while not shying away from the confronting horror of Ambon, to identify elements of joy and beauty in the saga.
“I had a veritable obligation to bring this story to life as best as I could.”
Swanton draws on numerous musical elements referenced in his uncle’s diary to create a diverse suite of music which brings meaning and life to the Ambon story.
