About
Tim Pledger
“Pledgers harmonies are so pungent they make you blush, and his tunes breathe…the usual distinctions between tradition and convention can’t plot Bohjass ” (The Wire. Britain).
Tim is the composer and saxophonist with his spiritual free jazz band Bohjass which began in the early 1980’s. Bohjass has been critically acclaimed both in Australia and abroad with many of Australia’s great improvisers having played at some stage in this ensemble.
“Pledger demonstrates his right to impose his ideas on the rest of the group by delivering amazing sax solo’s, where he evokes Ayler and Dolphy with just the right amount of detachment and humour to separate himself from the numbskull literalists.” (Hi-Fi News. Britain)
Tim’s musical, filmic and written works are concerned with the landscape of the culture and politics of the environment they are created within, and therefore present personal meditations on certain aspects of society. Tim’s music was the soundtrack to Iranian/Australian filmmaker Vahid Vahed’s film “Transformation” which was AWARDED The Dead Oscar at Sydney Underground Film Festival, 2011 for Most Political Film.
Album - "Into the Low Rents/Compassion"
Album - "It Asks Nothing"
It asks nothing
Bohjass
“Review Dingo Australian Jazz Journal”
Saxophonist Tim Pledger is a force of nature, which begs the question: Why isn’t he better known? Given renewed interest in the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane, it is a question worth asking. After all, Pledger’s free-floating ensemble Bohjass has been mining this rich seam for nigh on four decades, displaying scant regard for commercial success. Their long-term residency at Bar 303 in Northcote is the stuff of legend, spawning a fanatical – if tiny – cult following. The band’s fluid line-up – comprising core members like flautist Belinda Woods, augmented with a rotating cast – reflects Pledger’s singular modus opreandi which, while outwardly shambolic, masks a visionary dedication that invites comparison with the great Sun Ra. Bohjass’s latest ít asks nothing’ is a bona fide monster, its nine extended tracks, played by an eight piece, delivering nearly 80 minutes of spritual/free jazz. In short: a sprawling, trippy, trancey, percussion fuelled, cosmic brew.”
Des Cowley.
Tim’s Jazz scores, written for bohjass, have been published in the prestigious
Australian Jazz Real book.
Tim Pledger – Into the low rents/compassion
NOMINATION: Work of the Year – Jazz
Tim Pledger has been committed to a relentless pursuit of an individual sound through his composition and with his main band Bohjass having released 13 studio and live albums since the debut án ex. in pm. tort in 2000. This latest release; ínto the low rents/compassion’ with the 14 piece Bohjass upas militia is a meditation and ode on the social milieu of recent times. The double album is written as one long journey through this fragile and sometimes incoherent atmosphere. Also, it must be said that the music presented here draws from a wide spectrum of the Jazz language and history; engaging Latin, free jazz, progressive rock techniques and improvisation utilizing chordal, modal and free open sections for improvisational purpose and effect. The album was featured as one of Bandcamps albums of the month for May 2024.
Bohjass
Bohjass are a spiritual free jazz band from Melbourne, Australia. Formed by composer and saxophonist Tim Pledger during the 1980’s, Bohjass has metamorphosed many times with long-time members Belinda Woods and Ali Watts joining in 1996 and 1998 and the current lineup established by 2015.
“Pledger’s harmonies are so pungent they make you blush, and his tunes breathe, puffing themselves up and deflating in humorous mimicry of biological necessities…the usual distinctions between tradition and invention can’t plot Bohjass. Maybe what’s most admirable is Pledger’s emotional investment in His melodies, his very unpostmodern absence of formalist justification.” (The Wire)
Tim Pledger has released 22 recorded works that are all available on Bandcamp, including 12 Bohjass studio albums. Their latest releases, It asks nothing and Into the low rents/compassion, showcase the band’s evolving sound and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of free jazz. Visit their Bandcamp page to explore these and other works.
Bohjass began playing in Melbourne in 1994, performing in jazz clubs (Bennetts Lane, etc.), rock venues including The Espy, The Evelyn, Bar Open, Pony, The Northcote Social Club, a show at La Mama, and, around 2008, began a long-standing and ongoing residency at Bar 303 on High St Northcote.
“Their long-standing residency at Bar 303 has created a vital outlet for creative expression, not just for the many, many members of the band both past and present but for a whole community of musicians that have grown around the institution that is ‘Bohjass’.” (ABC.net.au)
Bohjass have played many festivals, including Falls, High Vibes, the closing act of the 2008 Jazz Fringe, Folk Rhythm and Life, 303 Jazz Party, and have played live to air on ABC Radio, 3RRR, 3PBS, 3MBS, and 3CR.
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