EDITORIAL With the Me Too Movement and other recent developments, it seems that every organisation (with the notable exception of the Liberal Party) has been falling over each other and scrambling to be seen to address this issue - particularly funding bodies and festivals (APRA/AMCOS introduced aspirational 60/40 targets into their funding agreements last year, and the always 'politically correct' Australia Council jumped on this 'bandwagon' long ago). The gender issue is a very complex one in music, and it will not simply be solved by quotas. And, having travelled extensively and attended both jazz and classical performances in the USA and Europe, I can attest that the gender balance is seemingly a larger problem there than in Australia. Paradoxically, some of the more prominent female voices demanding more opportunities do not always have a great record of supporting other women artists by either employing women in their own bands, or even attending gigs by other women. One artist to whom this accusation can never be levelled is drummer/bandleader Sonja Horbelt (pictured), who is always a quieter, but reasoned and balanced voice for positive change, while backing up her viewpoint with action.
Employed (and mentored) by pianists Mickey Tucker and Bob Sedergreen, she has employed women instrumentalists and vocalists in her own bands, Caramel, and Kennedy Snow. Having unsuccessfully applied for funding for a Women's Jazz Festival, I founded the Melbourne Women's Jazz Festival back in December 1997 at very short notice, as a way of utilising some "top-up" State funding that we had received for that year. At that time, Horbelt was the drummer in the all-female quintet, Morgana (founded by Fiona Burnett). In following Festivals, I formed an advisory board of all women artists to have input into the event. Horbelt was the one person who was consistently committed to this over the next few years.
When I handed over full control and management of the Festival to the Board in late 2004, Horbelt was amongst its members. As they soon moved on due to various other commitments or interests, Horbelt was largely left with the bulk of the work (and responsibility). Always one who wants to strenuously avoid any hint of self-promotion or nepotism, she soon co-opted Brisbane-based Lynette Irwin as Artistic Director. As a former Queensland Jazz Co-ordinator and long-time jazz promoter/philanthropist, Irwin facilitated the participation of many Brisbane-based artists over the years (through State funding, or her own support).
The Festival adopted the phrase "International" in 2002 when U.S. vocalist Sheila Jordan appeared via State funding. 2007 saw the most fiscally ambitious Festival with Japan's Satoko Fujii Trio combining with the Bennetts Lane Big Band, but other international artists have included Norwegian saxophonist Froy Agaare and Canadian pianist Emie R Roussel with her Trio.
The Festival was not staged in two of the past 22 years due to funding issues (with the City of Melbourne introducing a policy of only funding every second year of a Festival).
At times, Horbelt and Irwin have put in their own funds (as well as countless hours of unpaid work), but it has somehow kept surviving through some lean years (producing a very impressive list of special presentations over its history).
So this year's event is the actual 20th. Festival, and it is again being run on the most modest of budgets.
Even so, Horbelt and Irwin have delivered some interesting performances to catch, as well as offering two free performances.
I hope that listeners of both genders get motivated to support - and appreciate - the wonderful efforts of the indefatigable Sonja Horbelt and Lynette Irwin in a diverse program over 8 consecutive nights. Lastly, it is good to see Adrian Jackson again using some of his talents and knowledge to write about jazz in some form. ▪ Martin Jackson Martin Jackson is, of course, the older brother of Adrian Jackson. | Sunday, December 2, 8.30 pm-10.30 pm, at The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick $20 & $15 con. Co-presentation with the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival Drawing their inspiration from the vast ocean of Turkish music, Melbourne based group Bashka
are creating a new genre, which explores the contrast between east and west, composed and improvised, original and traditional, acoustic and digital. The group was created in late 2014 by Murat Yucel and Alisha Brooks (Unified Gecko, BaroBanda), both of whom have toured extensively throughout Turkey,
Europe and Australia. They joined forces with MC ELFTranzporter in 2016 and their live performances are energised with a truly new sound combined with the delicacy of traditional Turkish instruments and master players. Live samples and loops merge seamlessly with ancient acoustic and modern western instruments to create music, which brings to life old folk songs, gypsy ballads and dance music from the dirt streets of old Turkey. The band comprises Murat Yucel (electronic soundscapes, beats, loops, vocals, guitars, production); Alisha Brooks (soprano saxophone, EWI, production); Elf Tranzporter (Emcee, vocals, beatboxing); Onur Puza (guitar); Iskender Ozan Toprak (bağlama, vocals, yaylı tambur); Matt Stonehouse (darbuka, davul and req); and, Onur Puza (guitar). Their debut album, “Fihi Ma Fihi”, was critically acclaimed, and they have already toured internationally.
“A heady Aussie Eurasian ride and a true international collaboration. Surprisingly, it just might please both Middle Eastern traditionalists and dance floor fans alike, and that’s quite an impressive accomplishment’ - Seth Jordan, Songlines Magazine (UK)
“There’s definite method in Bashka’s musical madness, with well considered arrangements, permutation of instruments and vocal interludes creating breathing space and dynamics, thus allowing the music to slip between East and West with relative ease” - Tony Hillier, The Australian | SANDY EVANS (Sydney), SAI-SARANGAN RAVICHAND-HIRA & TRIPATAKA - Heart | Rhythm | Love- Premiere Friday December 7, 7pm, at The Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre $30 & $25 concession Co-presentation with the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival This is a special collaboration of Sydney’s Sandy Evans and Melbourne musicians to perform a world premiere of the major work, Heart|Rhythm|Love (composed by Evans, with the assistance of an Australia Council Fellowship). This work takes the listener on a beautiful, thrilling and dynamic journey, seamlessly interweaving influences from Indian music and jazz in a joyous celebration. It is written and performed in honour of the late mridangam virtuoso Guru Kaaraikudi Mani (whom Evans worked with in the Australian Art Orchestra) in gratitude for his brilliance, wisdom, inspiration, guidance, generosity and friendship in music and in life. Sydney-based Sandy Evans (soprano and tenor saxophones) joins with Sai-Sarangan Ravichandhira (mridangam) and Tripataka (whose members are longtime students of Indian music): Adrian Sherriff (bass trombone), Jonathan Dimond (electric bass guitar), and Adam King (drum set). Visit Sandy Evans & tripataka
Tickets | Sunday, December 9, 8.30 pm, at The Jazzlab. $20/$15 con. Presentation with the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival Winners of the 2017 MWIJF Recording Prize, Lijuka return to the MWIJF to celebrate the release of their debut single ‘Registaan’. A young vocal/saxophone/drums/guitar combo, their unique sound swings from ambient drone-based musings to jazz-infused grooves. The trio will be playing a selection of original songs which feature acoustic and electronic sounds, combined with live-looping and real-time sound manipulation, to create a rich aural landscape. They will be playing songs from their recent audio-visual work ‘Macro/Microcosm’ which debuted at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, along with tunes from their back-catalogue. Featuring Katrina Owen (saxophone/ vocals), Libby Ferris (guitar/vocals) and Julia Bebenek (drums/vocals).
“Girls Do Jazz” is a jazz ensemble comprised of current Jazz & Improvisation students at the Victorian College of the Arts. The ensemble is led by Andrea Keller, Lecturer in Jazz & Improvisation at the VCA/MCM. From varied musical backgrounds, the members of Girls Do Jazz unite in celebration of female musicianship, with an emphasis on Australian contemporary jazz repertoire. Featuring Bella Winter (alto & soprano saxophone); Jade Nye (alto saxophone); Steph Fels (trombone); Alex Rindfleish (piano); Ross Anderson (bass) and Ollie Cox (drums), they will perform an opening set. | 2018 MELBOURNE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL This year’s Festival (curated by Sonja Horbelt,with Lynette Irwin) will be staged over December 2-9 at The Jazzlab (with one concert at The Salon, MRC). Featured artists include Sandy Evans (Sydney), Andrea Keller’s Composer’s Circle with Angela Davis, Lijuka (Single launch), Alisha Brooks (with Bashka), Jam Jar CD launch, Fem Belling’s Kon Shes (Aus/Sth Africa/Korea), Harriet Allcroft CD launch, Claire Cross - Moving Targets, and Merinda Dias-Jayasinha Trio (Brisbane). The schedule features:
Sunday Dec 2 8pm $20/15
BASHKA feat Alisha Brooks (Aus/Turkey)
See above for details Monday Dec 3 8pm $15/10
Andrea Keller’s Composer’s Circle - Live Recording
Original works with Angela Davis (alto saxophone); Carl Mackey (tenor saxophone); James Macaulay (trombone);
Andrea Keller (piano);
Sam Anning (double bass) and James McLean (drums). Tuesday Dec 4 7pm $20/15
Student Night
The festival student night features an exciting group of young musicians that plays big band music from traditional to more contemporary styles. This year the line up features performers from MacRobertson Girls High School, Ruyton Girls School and Sienna College. Wednesday Dec 5 8pm $20/15
Double Bill
Merinda Dias-Jayasinha Trio (Qld)
Claire Cross – Moving Targets
Brisbane vocalist Merinda Dias-Jayasinha presents a set of original music (with a standard or two thrown in) exploring streams of consciousness, and the states between reality and dreams. Her trio features Theo Carbo (guitar) and Isaac Gunnoo (double bassist).
Co-presented with Pinnacles Music Restless and rhythmic, Claire Cross’ project ‘Moving Targets’ explores the experiences of stress, love, lust and loss through lyrical and unpredictable compositions. A blend of folk idioms with rich contemporary jazz harmony is woven throughout, with the band moving seamlessly from brisk intensity to immersive melancholy performance, underscoring the theme of how transient our feelings can be, never frozen in time. My desire is a Moving Target.
Claire Cross (electric bass and compositions); Tom Noonan (alto saxophone); Harry Cook (keyboards); Tommy Harrison (drums). Thursday Dec 6 8pm $20/15
Jam Jar - CD launch
Jam Jar are a highly energetic Melbourne-based trad jazz band. With influences ranging from the masters, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, to local bands The Red Onion Band and The Hoodangers, they combine the sounds of New Orleans and Melbourne in their upbeat repertoire of original songs and beloved standards. Their debut, self-titled album is a lighthearted commentary on the apathy and anxieties of modern life and a yearning for a romanticised past, all wrapped up in toe tapping tunes you can’t help but dance to.
Ellie Lamb (trombone & vocals); Lauren Mullarvey (clarinet & vocals); Bryce Turcato (horn & vocals); Fiona Steele (banjo); Tom Young (double bass) & Sean Newell (drums) Friday Dec 7, 7pm $30/25
Sandy Evans – Heart/Rhythm/Love (Sydney/Melb)
See above for details Friday Dec 7 8pm $30/25
Kon Shes - World premiere (Aus/Sth Africa/Korea)
Top Shelf, 21st Century, woke jazz, straight out of Melbourne.
Fem Belling brings 5 of Melbourne's finest to a new project where live performance, political prose and the primal magic of music music combine to increase the visibility of women in music in Australia.
Through the power of original, all female Australian jazz and groove, Kon Shes contributes to a larger voice of a social conscious movement through music.
Deeply rooted in jazz, groove and prose - flavoured with heavy beats.
Fem Belling (vocals & electric violin); Mina Yu (piano); Tamara Murphy (bass); Chelsea Allen (drums) and Angela Davis (alto saxophone). Saturday Dec 8 8pm $30/25
Harriett Allcroft - CD launch – “Archie”
Vocalist Harriett Allcroft launches her keenly anticipated debut album Archie. Recorded with James Bowers (keyboard), Tamara Murphy (bass), Kieran Rafferty (drums) and Shaun Rammers (tenor sax) earlier this year, the quintet has been eagerly awaiting its release. Saturday Dec 8 11pm free
Festival Club – Jam and Hang
Jam session and general hang!
This is a chance for female and non-binary musicians and vocalists to play in the jam session, or just plain hang out and connect with other musicians. Sunday Dec 9 3.30pm free
Girls Do Jazz Secondary Program Concert
The Girls Do Jazz workshop series, lead by Andrea Keller, ran monthly over five Sundays in semester 2, 2018. Along with MCM alumni tutors, and undergraduate volunteers, the students engaged in jazz and improvisation studies covering musics ranging from free improvisation, to tunes from the American songbook and those by contemporary Australian jazz musicians. This free concert showcases what they’ve been up to! Sunday Dec 9, 7pm $20/15
Double Bill
Lijuka - Single Launch
Girls Do Jazz - VCA
See above for details | ADRIAN JACKSON'S NEW ROLE at BIRD'S BASEMENT, including WRITING REVIEWS Adrian Jackson has recently commenced a new role at the Bird's Basement venue, which includes writing some reviews (as well as involvement with booking of some local artists). He has reviewed Frank Gambale's Soulmine, as well as Barney McAll's Force Field (pictured at Bird's) here
Adrian Jackson was the jazz critic for The Age from 1979-1999. Other publications he has written about jazz for include Rhythms, The Bulletin, Limelight, Australasian Jazz, The Wire and Down Beat. | MJC MEMBERSHIP FILM OFFER 2018 & 2019 MJC Members are being offered a double pass to a preview screening of the new film, Green Book, about an early 1960s tour of the Deep South by jazz pianist, Dr. Don Shirley. The screening will be held on Wednesday, December 12, at 6.30 pm. | Expressions of Interest are now open for the Australia Council International Residencies Program. If you have dreamed of an international residency, we invite you to immerse yourself in a new arts context, market, community and culture, and experience your art across borders through our international residencies program. Through our international partnerships, we have developed a suite of residencies that enable the growth of individual artists, arts mediators, groups and organisations.
The suite of International Residencies on offer in 2019-2020 are:
• Acme, London
• BR Whiting Studio, Rome
• Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
• EMPAC, New York
• HIAP, Helsinki
• ISCP, New York
• Keesing Studio, Paris
• Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
• Nashville Songwriters Residency, USA
*Expressions of interest will close on Tuesday 15 January 2019 at 11:59pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Visit our website to read about more international opportunities and to submit your expression of interest. For assistance with the International Residencies Program, please contact
Owen Leong on +61 2 9215 9077 or email: o.leong@australiacouncil.gov.au
Image: Caroline Garcia, 2017 artist-in-residence at EMPAC, New York. | CEPI KUSMIADI BENEFIT November 18 at Bar 303 Tenor saxophonist Julian Banks performed at the Wangaratta Festival with Balinese kendang player Cepi Kusmiadi (with whom he has recorded). Kusmiadi's son was recently hospitalised after developing rheumatoid heart disease, so Banks has organised a Go-Fund-Me campaign to cover hospital costs. There will also be a fundraising gig held at Bar 303 in Northcote on December the 18th to further assist Cepi and his family, to get back on their feet... this will feature:
Julian Banks Trio (with Christopher Hale)
Moreland City Soul Revue
La Nuit Blanche
and other very special guests!
Donate here. | ANDY SUGG, with KATE KELSEY-SUGG & BRETT WILLIAMS (USA) Bird’s Basement, Wednesday, December 19 Tenor saxophonist Andy Sugg performs with his daughter Kate Kelsey-Sugg and New York pianist Brett Williams. Kate Kelsey-Sugg is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist based in New York. Her Bird’s Basement performance finishes off a busy year, having toured the world with Kesha, performed at the Grammys in NYC and played with Cindy Lauper, Patti Smith and Ani DiFranco, along with many other high-profile engagements.
Brett Williams is a New York-based pianist and composer who plays with Snarky Puppy, Cory Henry, Robert Glasper, Omar Hakim and Joe Lovano to name just a few. In 2013 he began working with the multi-Grammy-award-winning bassist, Marcus Miller, and is featured on his latest Grammy-nominated recording, Afrodeezia.
This is William’s debut in Australia. They will perform original jazz, fusion, neo-soul, and some Stravinsky-inspired jazz that Andy Sugg played at the World Saxophone Congress in Europe in July.
Check the club’s website for details https://birdsbasement.com/show/615/the-andy-sugg-group www.andysugg.com
https://www.katekayes.com
http://www.brettwilliamskeys.com | BIRD's BASEMENT HIGHLIGHTS The Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience ensemble, led by jazz bassist Santi DeBriano, showcases the unique rhythms and melodies (such as ‘Manteca’ and ‘Tin Tin Deo’) of Gillespie’s oeuvre of Cubano-Bop which he developed with Chano Pozo in the 40s and 50s.
The musicians are drawn from the high-calibre pool of New York-based talent that frequent the Dizzy Gillespie™ Big Band and All-Star groups, such as trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, saxophonist Sharel Cassity, Brazilian pianist/ vocalist Abelita Mateus, drummer Tommy Campbell and percussionist Roger Squitero. Barney McAll performs on Friday, December 21 with his ensemble. | M.J.C. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: SUPPORT THE CO-OP & LIVE MUSIC IN MELBOURNE in 2019 MJC Associate Membership for 2019 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, $2 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, brochures, a range of discounts to sister businesses and 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 Renewals page, or new Membership page. | 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 | |
