EDITORIAL

Both the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Stonnington Jazz have recently released their full programs. And the respective Artistic Directors, Michael Tortoni and Chelsea Wilson, appeared together as guests on ABC Radio's Conversation Hour on April 3rd. in a joint promotion of jazz.
The MIJF has again delivered a broad program, ranging from an icon in Herbie Hancock, to the Australian premiere of emerging artists such as U.S. guitarist Miles Okazaki.
From my personal perspective, I have mostly found the MIJF programs to be very "safe" in recent years, so it is pleasing to see a more adventurous element in this year's roster (although, frustratingly, most of these artists are programmed on the same night, with an impractical distance to between the CBD and Brunswick venues, if one was attempting to catch both concert).
Since their initial debut performances in Australia - trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire at the 2009 Wangaratta Festival, and pianist Vijay Iyer at 2006 Stonnington Jazz (via Helen Matthews' initiative at the Fremantle International Jazz Festival) - both have achieved significant acclaim, won numerous awards, received accolades from the critics, and featured in magazine cover stories.
Although not quite on the same level of broad recognition, bassist Linda Oh's obvious list of achievements (such as touring with Pat Metheny, and recording with Dave Douglas, etc.) should ensure strong audience numbers for her too. Still, it is a positive development for the Festival to be programming them (although, as the Education Partner, Monash University is a very significant initiator and supporter of Iyer's tour here). Together with the club dates of Okazaki (performing all-Monk repertoire as a solo guitarist), and the Rafiq Bhatia Trio, these gigs should satisfy those seeking more adventurous music-making.
Akinmusire's latest album on the Blue Note label, Origami Harvest, is enjoying high profile success, with its imaginative combination of writing for a classical string quartet, hip hop, spoken word, funk, and political protest.
His bass-less quartet with a rapper will be joined by Melbourne's Silo Quartet in what should be a Festival highlight (although I am unsure of the suitability of the venue, 170 Lonsdale, having caught a gig there last Festival).

Chelsea Wilson, who has been appointed for another 3 years at Stonnington Jazz, has delivered a very similar template to last year's festival, with some quite solid programming. However, the positive aspect is that she has chosen the groups of several emerging female instrumentalists: Flora Carbo's trio; Kathleen Halloran's trio and Koi Kingdom (with Cheryl Durongpisitkul). It is also noteworthy that the MIJF has also increased the number of groups led by women instrumentalists (compared to past programs), with Linda Oh; a large ensemble directed by Cheryl Durongpisitkul; Angela Davis; and Claire Cross (as well as composer/vocalist Gian Slater).

Everyone is asking, but tickets for The International Jazz Day concert at Melbourne's Hamer Hall are not yet on sale. I would also strongly recommend checking out the great 'smorgasbord' of local talent on offer at the Jazz Roots Festival (a mini-Wangaratta like event).
In the interim, I suggest booking early for some MIJF club dates (such as Bill Frisell Trio) which will sell out quickly, I suspect.

Pictured: Ambrose Akinmisure on the cover of Downbeat magazine

JAMIE OEHLERS /JULIEN WILSON QUINTET (Perth-Melbourne)

Sunday, April 7, 8.30 pm-10.30 pm, at The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie Street, Brunswick $20 & $15 con.

Two of Australia’s most-acclaimed tenor saxophonists, Perth-based Jamie Oehlers and Julien Wilson, join forces one again to present a collection of their original music, combined with some of their eclectic favourites from the jazz canon, that will pique anyone’s interest. With an unparalleled exploratory rhythm section in Steve Magnusson (guitar), Chris Hale (bass) and the recently returned expatriate Felix Bloxsom (drums), this music will literally go anywhere and everywhere – and is sure to land somewhere magical. Oehlers won the 2003 World Saxophone Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and was named 2007 Australian Jazz Musician of the Year in the Bell Awards, while Wilson received the 2008 Bell for Musician of the Year (having won the 1994 National Jazz Saxophone Award at the Wangaratta Festival).

AUSTRALIAN JAZZ 'BELL' AWARDS:

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN

Nominations by Australian Jazz Academy members for the 2019 Australian Jazz Bell Awards will opened on April 3, and close at midnight on Friday, May 3. Winners will be announced in Melbourne at a function at Bird’s Basement in July. Celebrating its 17th year in 2019, the Jazz Bell Awards are the only jazz-specific awards in Australia to acknowledge excellence in performance, creativity and presentation, with each award carry $5,000 prize money.
To join the Australian Jazz Academy (or renew your membership), or to make a nomination, visit here.

Stonnington Jazz Festival

May 9-19

Press Release:
The award-winning Stonnington Jazz Festival returns for its 14th year, presenting world-class Australian artists over 11 days, right in the heart of Melbourne’s jazz beginnings in the Chapel Street precinct. The festival runs from Thursday 9 to Sunday 19 May, and Chelsea Wilson returns as Artistic Director for a three-year appointment.

This festival continues to punch well above its weight in terms of the quality of musicians and diversity of jazz styles, as well as the one-off collaborations, special concerts and commissioned works for which Stonnington Jazz has become renowned. With its unique combination of performances, community events and professional development summit, the program caters for music lovers and musicians of all ages and stages.
The program includes three shows at Chapel-off-Chapel: Lance Ferguson's The Arrow of Time; the Australian Art Orchestra performing Peter Knight's The Plains on May 12; and, Barney McAll's Hearing the Blood on May 16. There is also a contemporary jazz series in The Loft at Chapel-off-Chapel, with Flora Carbo; Kathleen Halloran Trio; Koi Kingdom trio (with Cheryl Durongpisitkul); Sam Anning Sextet; and Origami.
There is also another Jazz Industry Summit, with international guest,Lilly Schwartz, Director of Programming for SFJAZZ, the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
The full program is available here http://www.stonningtonjazz.com.au/festival-program/

CLARITA LIEPOLT in AUSTRALIA & HORST LIEPOLT MEMORIAL SERVICE

Horst Liepolt's widow, Clarita Liepolt (pictured with him), came from New York to visit both Melbourne and Sydney, with A Memorial for Horst Liepolt (organised by Kaye Blum) being staged in the upstairs of St. Kilda RSL, Saturday, March 23. This was a memorable events, with a great slide show of photos, a performance by BLOW, and speeches by veteran musicians (and long-time friends) Ted Vining and Bob Bertles (who came from Sydney).
Ted Vining wrote a report on this, available on Eric Myers' website, here.
Eric Myers has written his own account of Clarita’s activities in Sydney (visit the link here). It includes the scattering of Horst’s ashes in Sydney Harbour, which was his wish and – what I think was the highlight of Clarita’s visit to Sydney - the lunch with one of Horst’s oldest friends, Leon Fink. She was also taken around by pianist David Martin, whose association with Liepolt goes back to Jazz Centre 44 in the late 1950s, when Martin was a member of the Brian Brown Quintet (as documented on the the group's 1958 LP on the 44 label).

Worldwide Celebration of International Jazz Day 2019, 30 April

Global Concert in Melbourne, at Hamer Hall, featuring over 30 World-Renowned Artists including Herbie Hancock, James Morrison, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling

UNESCO announced the programme for the 2019 edition of International Jazz Day, which will be launched in Melbourne, and celebrated in more than 190 countries around the world.

On 29 and 30 April, a wide range of jazz performances, education programmes and community service initiatives will be presented in partnership with the Melbourne Conservatorium, featuring more than a dozen celebrated jazz masters. The events on International Jazz Day itself (30 April) will culminate in an All-Star Global Concert at the Melbourne Arts Centre’s renowned Hamer Hall. It will be webcast via YouTube, Facebook, the United Nations and UNESCO to millions of viewers worldwide.

Iconic jazz pianist Herbie Hancock (USA) and acclaimed trumpeter James Morrison (Australia) will serve as artistic co-directors of the All-Star Global Concert, and John Beasley (USA) will serve as the evening’s musical director. The concert will feature performances by an international roster of artists from more than a dozen countries. Confirmed artists include: Cieavash Arian (Iran), William Barton (Australia), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), Till Brönner (Germany), A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russian Federation), Eli Degibri (Israel), Kurt Elling (USA), Matthew Jodrell (Australia), Ledisi (USA), Eijiro Nakagawa (Japan), Mark Nightingale (United Kingdom), Chico Pinheiro (Brazil), Tineke Postma (Netherlands), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Nathan Schreiber (Australia), Somi (USA), Lizz Wright (USA), Tarek Yamani (Lebanon). More artists are expected to be announced.

A series of jazz performances and outreach programmes will also take place in Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Sydney, Perth and other Australian cities. In the week prior to International Jazz Day, the celebration will kick off with a jazz education programme for student musicians in the indigenous community of Yarrabah in Far Northern Australia, to be followed by similar programmes in Sydney for students from New South Wales public schools.

Australia’s International Jazz Day celebrations will conclude with the “Generations in Jazz” youth festival in Mount Gambier, South Australia, led by James Morrison and Kurt Elling during the first weekend of May. With the participation of more than 6,000 high school student musicians, it will the largest youth jazz festival in the world.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR AAO'S CREATIVE MUSIC INTENSIVE

Applications now open for the 2019 Creative Music Intensive! Join us for ten days in Tarraleah, Tasmania with an amazing group of facilitators. Watch a video of the 2018 CMI here → https://vimeo.com/318908505
More information on 2019 here → http://www.aao.com.au/#/2019-creative-music-intensive/ … #CMI2019 #AAO

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.