EDITORIAL: After two years of COVID-affected Jazz festivals, we have very positive news with both of our major Victorian festivals. While much of regional Victoria has been struggling with flooding, Wangaratta is confident that they will be fine for the Festival dates. They have taken the precaution of moving the outdoor stages to indoor venues (with the Blues Stage going to the Wangaratta High Auditorium). After a break of 3 years (with the 2019 Festival cancelled due to financial concerns), it was crucial for this year's Festival to proceed (However it remains to be seen if the move of the MIJF to October - instigated by the State Government - will adversely impact on Wangaratta's audience numbers or not).
With the MIJF having only one night to go, it can be safely stated that this year's MIJF has easily been the most successful in the Festival's history in terms of audience attendance. Pre-sold out shows seem to be the norm, and the 9,000 attendance for the Big Saturday event was a real triumph (aided by good weather that day, with no rain at all).
The program included a very broad range of styles (and, like many European jazz festivals, stretched the "jazz" umbrella by including acts like MonoNeon). I was fortunate to hear first-class music on every night of the Festival.
As is one of the characteristics of this art form, there were unexpected highlights (to add to the predicted ones, such as the astounding technical wizardry of guitarist Al Di Meola). For me, one such surprise was the passionate soloing of Sydney alto saxophonist Peter Farrar with Pheeroan akLaff's quintet. Hearing the continued development of tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana and her trio since their 2016 debut here (at Wangaratta, with both bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Kush Abadey) was also very rewarding.
I missed Lalah Hathaway with the MSO and jazz soloists, but I understand that guitarist Doug DeVries delivered some really stunning solos. However, as a devoted Ellington fan, I felt compelled to go to support one ambitious non-MIJF presentation: conductor/band leader Toshi Clinch presentation of Ellington's Sacred Concerts at St. Paul's Catheral on Friday, 21st.
These works had never been performed before in Australia, and - like Mike Nock's masterpiece "Ondas" -deserve to be revisited. Clinch culled pieces from the thee Sacred Concerts to produce a two hour+ concert, bringing together his big band, a choir (from Trinity College, University of Melbourne), vocalists
Michelle Nicole and
Eddie Muliaumaseali'i, plus a tap dancer!
I heard about half of the concert (including a favourite piece, "Something About Believing") and was impressed by all of the elements: choir, both vocalists (Nicole was superb, as always), and the band, which really produced an authentic
sound. The band included several well-known players (such as Brett Williams), but Paul Williamson on baritone saxophone did an incredible job of channeling the role of the great Harry Carney.
Ellington was always concerned about moving forward in his work, but there is also a place for revisiting masterpiece works in the jazz canon. Kudos to Toshi and his support group! The MIJF program concludes tonight, and there are still a few tickets for the Quentin Angus Quintet shows at The Jazzlab (which is the MJC is co-presenting, having presented his tour here a few years ago). After that, there is 4 days break before the Friday night concerts at Wangaratta.
And remember that the gigs do not stop at The Jazzlab - Dasika/Keller/Svobodatomorrow night, for instance. And Uptown Jazz Cafe has artists like the Mark Fitzgibbon Trio and Mat Jodrell Quartet. The unofficial year-long Festival continues... ▪ Martin Jackson
Pictured: Christopher Hale's "Ritual Diamonds" at Chapel-off-Chapel Photo: Misja Carbo | MIJF (MJC co-presentation) QUENTIN ANGUS QUINTET (New York/Sydney/ Perth/ Melb) Sunday, 23rd 7 pm. & 9. 30 pm at The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick. $39/$35 con Based in New York over the past decade, acclaimed expatriate guitarist and composer Quentin Angus is returning to promote his new album, The State of Things. Featuring deeply emotive song-craft and lyricism (combined with earthy grooves), this performance features international vocalist Jo Lawry (currently based in Sydney, but best known for her work with Sting, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel). The group also features some of Australia’s leading jazz talents, with Sydney pianist Steve Barry, Melbourne bassist Sam Anning, and Perth drummer Ben Vanderwal. | MJC Sponsored concerts at the 2022 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz PHEEROAN akLAFF (USA), CHLOE KIM (Sydney) & MARIA MOLES (Melbourne): INDIVISIBLE ▪ A percussion summit work
WPAC Theatre, Saturday, 29th., 4 pm
| ▪ | A percussion summit work
WPAC Theatre, Saturday, 29th., 4 pm | SHAMIN Brisbane duo of Sophie Min (piano) & Benjamin Shannon (drums). WPAC Hall, Saturday, 29th., 9:45-10:45 pm
SHAMIN are an experimental jazz duo based in Brisbane, Australia. The group formed off the back of a recording session for Martin Kay’s Forage and explores original composition, unconventional rhythm and timbre drawing influence from Matt Mitchell, David Binney, Dan Weiss, Steve Newcomb, Mark Guiliana, Vijay Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey to list a few. Shamin will be performing a selection of old and new tunes. | Sunday, October 30, 7.30 pm, at The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick. $25/$18 con. Tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator Mirko Guerrini’s move to Melbourne from Italy has greatly enriched the local scene over the past decade. He toured back to Italy a few months ago, with performances including the Umbria Jazz Festival. For this concert he expands on a project that he initiated in 2017, when he first formulated the concept of a MJC Collective group that was formed from all bandleaders (and composers), to highlight the opportunities provided by the MJC. The purpose of the Collective is to showcase some of Melbourne’s most talented jazz musicians in one ensemble. While it was too difficult to keep such a group together long term, the ever-productive Guerrini created an impressive book of his originals for a large ensemble. He has added new works to be performed by this impressive sextet, in which he will be joined by his regular collaborators in the trio Torrio! - Paul Grabowsky (piano) and Niko Schäuble (drums), together with Tony Hicks (reeds), Jordan Murray (trombone) and Philip Rex (double bass). | Sunday, November 6, 7.30 pm, at The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick. $25/$18 con. Trumpeter Gianni Marinucci (trumpet and flugelhorn) leads several bands, including a Nonet, but has a long-standing Trio with
guitarist Craig Fermanis and double bassist
Tom Lee. For this concert they will be playing material from their 2022 recording “Abruzzo Aria” featuring special guest Mirko Guerrini on tenor and soprano saxophones. The repertoire is composed by the band members (as well as some pieces by other local musicians), but mainly drawing inspiration from Gianni’s parents’ home region of Abruzzo in Italy. Visit https://giannimarinucci.wixsite.com/giannimarinucci "Marinucci is a highly-gifted and marvelously restrained player possessing a luscious, seductive sound that's filled with both muscular strength and emotional fragility. His melodic and improvisational approach is economical with a superb (and swinging, even at slower tempos) sense of note-placement. This is a player whose horn indeed tells tales.” Nick Mondello ,'All About Jazz” Recording available on Bandcamp: https://giannimarinucci.bandcamp.com/album/abruzzo-aria | WANGARATTA Festival Friday 28 October – Sunday 30 October PRESS RELEASE:
"We are thrilled to be returning to live events for the 2022 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues.
Audience support over many years is what keeps us going. The 2022 program is adventurous and eclectic, featuring Australia’s premier jazz and blues artists, inspired international collaborations and the annual National Jazz Awards.
This year we excitedly present a predominantly Australian-program featuring local artists, expatriates returning from abroad and local artists having the opportunity to collaborate with some acclaimed international artists. It will be a tremendous weekend celebration of our incredible homegrown talent. In a world premiere, First Nations musician and songwriter Jess Hitchcock (Kate Miller-Heidke, Paul Kelly, Short Black Opera) revisits her jazz roots in a festival curated project of new arrangements of lesser known standards and originals. Finnish pianist Kari Ikonen returns for a world-premiere collaboration with Melbourne-based bassist Helen Svoboda and Austrian based Brazilian composer/ guitarist, Emiliano Sampaio brings to the Festival a collaborative iteration of his renowned 'Mereau' nonete, featuring players from Brazil, Germany and Australia. Festival favourites, Wanderlust, convene from across Australia to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The always imaginative and innovative Scott Tinkler brings together a collection of Australia’s finest improvisers in the Antripodean Collective. The powerhouse collaborative ensemble, This World, draws together the awe-inspiring talents of Mike Nock, Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson and Jonathan Schwartz. Making their festival debut are experimental jazz artists, Queensland duo Shamin featuring Sophie Min (piano) and Benjamin Shannon (drums), and Tasmania’s Julius Schwing Trio. 2021 National Jazz Awards winner, pianist Matthew Thomson will perform with his Sydney trio comprising of 2018 NJA winner Alex Hirlian on drums and Jaques Emery on bass.
Each year the National Jazz Awards focuses on a particular instrument and the guitar will be in the spotlight this year. The prize pool includes cash and studio time along with national recognition.
The Blues Stage is a hot bed of brass and scintillating sounds. The Black Sorrows will play their classic hits alongside songs from their latest blues album, and Australia’s Queen of Blues Fiona Boyes with her band, The Fortune Tellers, will light up the stage. Melbourne's very own Checkerboard Lounge is set to deliver its dynamic take on classic blues, soul and originals. This festival favourite outfit is made up of singing drummer Carl Pannuzzo, guitar master Shannon Bourne, Hammond virtuoso Tim Neal and uber-musical bassist, Zoe Frater. Other Blues program highlights include Rob Susz (Dynamic Hypnotics) with his funky blues and soul combo, The Continental Blues Party and This Way North (Best Regional Act 2018 - The Age Music Victoria Awards) featuring the explosive energy and expansive sounds of Leisha Jungalwalla and Cat Leahy. The festival culminates in a joyous celebration of brass and groove with a free event. Musicians from the Wangaratta community and surrounds collaborate with funky New Orleans brass band Horns of Leroy and Zimbabwe-born star on the rise and recent runner up on The Voice, Thando. “Australian musicians are among the best in the world. We simply have a unique and bold way of making jazz and blues in this country, and it’s time to put our creators front and centre, loud and proud," said Co-Artistic Directors Eugene Ball and Scott Solimo. 2022 WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ & BLUES:
Dates: Friday 28 – Sunday 30 October 2022
Full Program: $195 (19 Aug - 11 Oct)
Full Price: $210 (12 Oct - Festival)
Children 16 & under are able to attend with a ticketed adult free of charge
Friday Day Pass: $55 Bookings here Website: https://wangarattajazz.com | 2022 National Jazz Guitar Award Finalists Five of Australia’s finest young jazz guitarists have been selected as finalists in the 2022 National Jazz Awards. Harry Tinney (VIC), Joshua Meader (NSW), Julius Schwing (TAS), Theo Carbo (VIC) and Peter Koopman (NSW) will compete for the prestigious honour with a live performance at the Award finals to be held at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues on Saturday, 29 October.
The winner will receive $7,000 in prizemoney and a recording session at Pughouse Studios, with second and third placegetters set to receive prizemoney sponsored by the Rural City of Wangaratta of $4000 and $2000 respectively. | "WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ & BLUES: 30 Years" - On Sale at Wangaratta 'Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz : 30 Years', the book co-written by Adrian Jackson with Andra Jackson, will be available for sale at the Wangaratta Festival, with the co-authors signinig copies.
The first review to be published was by Loretta Barnard for Loudmouth, here Roger Mitchell's review is accompanied by a link to images from the Wangaratta festival not included in the book, here. The book features the inclusion of dozens of superb photographs - kindly made available by such respected photographers as Roger Mitchell, Jane March, Kevin Peterson, Eleftherios Lee Koumarianos, Peter Braig, Gerard Anderson, Tony Dewan, Kathleen Whelan, Chris Herft and Ron Jobe.
Order the book ($66, + $10.95 postage and handling - or the digital flipbook option at $25) via www.melbournebooks.com.au. Please advise when ordering if you would like your copy signed by Andra and/or Adrian.
It can also be purchased at Readings and selected book stores. | DINGO Jazz Journal, Edition 4 (Spring) Out Now The Spring Edition of Dingo, No. 4, was released (as per schedule) in early October. Over 100 pages of beautifully curated images and text. Available at newsagents for $14.95, or subscribe via this link | MIJF Interviews and Reviews in The Age Critic Jessica Nicholas interviewed Sydney pianist and composer Mike Nock about revisiting his acclaimed 1982 ECM album "Ondas" (selected in the 50 Best ECM albums by Manfred Eicher). Read here | GENDER DEFYING JAZZ Workshops A series of workshops for female-identifying, transgender, and non-binary musicians interested in exploring jazz and improvisation
Gender Defying Jazz (GDJ) is a program run by Andrea Keller, Head of Jazz & Improvisation at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.
Registration $300 Full
Financial assistance is available in the form of a concession rate is an available options via fineartsmusic@unimelb.edu.au
REGISTER HERE
Nov 6 - Workshop 1
Nov 13 - Workshop 2
Nov 20 - Workshop 3
Nov 27 - Workshop 4
Dec 4 - Workshop 5 Gender Defying Jazz Concert
Dec 11 - 2PM-5PM at The Jazzlab, Brunswick | ABC Composer Commissions for 2022 - Closing tomorrow The ABC has another round of composer commissions for 2022 just announced for ABC Classic & ABC Jazz. Now in its second year, the ABC Classic and ABC Jazz Composer Commissioning Fund will commission up to 15 new composition projects and record each project for broadcast and digital commercial release.
Each successful commission includes a total fee of up to $6,000 to cover the composition and recording of the new work(s).
Applications close Monday 24 October 2022. Results to be announced in the week commencing Monday 21 November The direct url to apply is here.
2022 ABC Classic and ABC Jazz Composer Commissioning Fund | Australian Albums Tim Nikolsky of The Australian Jazz Real Book Project has compiled an extensive list of Australian jazz artists on Bandcamp here | Tamara Murphy Trio: TMT (OGM001) This is the debut release from the Tamara Murphy Trio, which comprises
Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Tamara Murphy (double bass) and James McLean (drums).
9 tracks, with all songs written by Tamara Murphy, except:
Come together (Lennon/McCartney);
Atoms For Peace: (Thom Yorke);
Brownsville (Bernie McGann); and,
TM (Stephen Magnusson)
TM is dedicated to Thomas Meyer.
Kindness Not Courtesy is dedicated to Tony Gould. Available in digital and CD formats. Releases November 11, 2022 Recorded January 3 + 4, 2022 at Adria Studios. Recorded and mixed by Hadyn Buxton. Produced by Tamara Murphy and Hadyn Buxton. Mastered by Lachlan Carrick. Album layout by Luke Fraser Available via Bandcamp link here This project was supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. | MJC RECORDINGS on 3PBS-FM in 2022 - Tripataka with Daryl Pratt The next MJC/PBS/Vorticity feature recording on Gerry Koster's "Dizzy Atmosphere" show on 3PBS-FM will be aired on Sunday, 6th, 8 pm, will feature the concert recording of Tripataka with Daryl Pratt. It was recorded by Myles Mumford. It is available on the PBS website for several weeks after this. The Previous recording was the Nick Pennington Quartet on October 7th. | MJC CONCERTS filmed on the OH!JAZZ Platform Three of the MJC's concert presentations in 2022 have been filmed and are available on the relatively new OH!JAZZ streaming platform. They are Stephen Byth Octet; Shannon Barnett and Rajiv Jayaweera's "Pat to the Rafters"; and, the Antripodean Ensemble.
These concerts and many more from international jazz clubs can be viewed by a $20 AUD Monthly Pass, or $200 AUD Annual Pass. These subscriptions provide:
- Access to all our content, live and on-demand.
- Unlimited viewing
- Change or cancel anytime, no commitment.
- Where to watch: TV, Smartphones, tablets, PC.
Go to: https://signup.ohjazz.tv/ | M.J.C. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: SUPPORT THE CO-OP & LIVE MUSIC IN MELBOURNE in 2022 MJC Associate Membership for 2022 is available in three tiers: Gold level is $75; Silver level is $30 ($20 concessions), and Bronze level is $10 for musicians. Associate Membership of the MJC costs just $75 for Gold Membership. When you sign up for Gold Membership you receive a free pass to one MJC Club performance by a Victorian ensemble and concession rates to all gigs all year, equating to large savings for frequent MJC audience members.
Silver membership costs $30 (or $20 for concession holders, $5 for Tertiary students). Silver members also receive one free pass to an MJC Club performance by a Victorian ensemble, as well as standard member benefits.
Musicians are encouraged to join at the special Bronze rate of only $10 per year and support the continued operations of the MJC, an organisation that supports them!
All members receive enewsletters and hard-copy or emailed brochures, and occasional discounts to sister businesses, or opportunities to win a range of giveaways (CDs, tickets and more) throughout the year.
For more information, email [melbournejazzcooperative@gmail.com] or visit our website for the easy, revamped Membership page here. | Do you have a gig coming up or a new album out? We would love to do a CD or ticket giveaway for you! email mjac@netspace.net.au or melbournejazzcooperative@gmail.com www.mjc.org.au | Founding Artistic Patron: the late Brian Brown, OA Artistic Patrons: Mike Nock, ONZM & Professor Tony Gould, OA MJC Chairperson: Eugene Ball | The MJC Program is being financially supported in 2022 by the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria, together with the Australian Government through the Australia Council, the Federal Government's funding body, also providing funding from mid-2021-mid-2022. Vorticity Music has become a Patron Supporter of our Live Recording Project with 3PBS-FM | |
