Agus Batara Quartet

Agus Batara Quartet is a lush and sophisticated instrumental jazz band playing original compositions. The quartet brings together Agus Batara (keys) with three great Melbourne talents of Jonathon Moore (guitar), Anthony Pell (bass), and Sebastian Jego (drums).

The band was formed in 2017 through their participation at the Castlemaine Jazz Festivals and the Halls Gap Festival, Australia. Agus Batara (bandleader/ composer) draws his musical style from his early years classical upbringing, strong jazz tradition, modern deep funk and other eclectic groove inspired by the contemporary jazz innovators such as Brad Mehldau, EST, Avishai Cohen(b) and Tigran Hamasyan.

After living his formative years in Indonesia, Agus migrated to Australia in 1997. Agus studied piano privately for several years from Melbourne jazz icon; Steve Sedergreen. Between 2010-2011, he moved to London to study at the London Contemporary Centre of Music under the guidance of Roland Perrin, Roberto Pla and Sid Gauld (Incognito). On subsequent trips, Agus attended the Jazz Academy and the Summer Jazz School, and had a private mentorship from British’s elite pianists including Michael Garrick, Zoe Rahman and Simon Purcell (Guildhall School of Music), who all helped him to grow as a musician.

Returning from London Agus has immersed himself in the Melbourne and Victoria regional jazz scenes. Some highlights included performing at the 2013 Wangarattta Blues and Jazz Festival with Jazzatomika (original bebop), and in the 2015 and 2016 with BLT’s (funk/ fusion/ latin). The Agus Batara Quartet is his first project as a bandleader and composer, showcasing his finesse in composition. In the past couple years the quartet has been playing various Melbourne music venues including the Post Office Hotel, CERES Market, Compass Pizza, Edinburgh Castle, and the ‘coolest’ Paris Cat Jazz Club.

The Quartet released their debut EP’ titled ‘Opening A New Door’ in early 2019. The EP features five Agus’s original compositions written in between 2014-2018 including ‘A Glimpse of the Past’ and ‘Gypsie Latino Traveller’, which have been broadcasted on a number occasions on the 106.7FM-PBS station.