MEET THE BAND
Michael Walder
Double bass
Michael Walder is a musician, bandleader and educator with over twenty years’ experience performing on acoustic and electric bass. During his studies at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Michael had the opportunity to study with leading Australian jazz musicians Craig Scott and Steve Brien, and has since become an active member of the Sydney jazz community.
Michael has toured, recorded and performed with numerous bands and artists across the Australian music scene. Career highlights include performing with Australian icon Tom Burlinson at the 2019 Susu Mamas Charity Fundraising Ball in Papua New Guinea, recording bass for the soundtrack of the 2024 Australian feature film What About Sal?, directed by well-known Australian actor John Jarratt, and appearing at the 2015 Woodford Folk Festival with acclaimed French-Australian duo Baby et Lulu.
In 2020, Michael released his debut album, Blues For Ray, and has performed extensively at many of Sydney’s leading music venues, including the Sydney Opera House, The Basement, Oxford Art Factory, The Vanguard, Venue 505 and Camelot Lounge, as well as at countless corporate events, weddings and private functions.
Aaron Blakey
Piano
Aaron Blakey is a New Zealand-born jazz pianist and composer based in Sydney, Australia. He has been performing professionally since 2006 and began his formal music studies at the University of Auckland before relocating to Japan, where he studied with Yuki Arimasa, a former professor at Berklee College of Music. He later completed a Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Aaron moved to Sydney in 2011 after four years performing as an active pianist on the Tokyo jazz scene. During his time in Japan, he held a residency at the internationally renowned New York Bar & Grill at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, famously featured in the 2003 film Lost in Translation.
Now based in Sydney, Aaron leads his own quintet and composes original music for the ensemble. He performs regularly at many of Sydney’s leading jazz venues, including Venue 505, Foundry 616, Low 302, Lazybones, Butchers Brew and other prominent live music venues.
Alex Hirlian
Drums
Alex Hirlian is a Sydney-based drummer and graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he completed a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance in 2016. During his studies, Alex learned from acclaimed drummers Simon Barker and Andrew Dickeson, and also received orchestral percussion training with Daryl Pratt and Richard Miller.
Alex performs regularly across the Sydney music scene and has worked with groups led by many prominent Australian jazz musicians, including James Muller, Sean Wayland, Mike Nock, Judy Bailey, Mike Rivett and Carl Morgan.
In 2014, Alex was selected as a finalist in the Generations in Jazz competition in Mount Gambier, South Australia, directed by James Morrison. In 2018, he went on to win the prestigious National Jazz Awards in Wangaratta, Victoria, as the youngest competitor in the under-35 category.