melbourne women's international jazz festival

FESTIVAL LAUNCH  1-4pm  FREE EVENT Saturday Nov 29th 
Melbourne Arts Centre Forecourt – Mousehole Stage

Andrea Khoza and the Secrets

Andrea Khoza - vocals / Adrian Sherriff - trombone & shakuhachi / Fran Swinn - guitar / Tamara Murphy - electric/double bass / Ben Hendry - drum kit / Annemarie Sharry - Vocals / Special guest Valanga Khoza guitar / kalimba

 In 1996, Andrea Khoza began studying for a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts. This kick started her career as a singer/songwriter performing with mentors such as Bob Sedergreen and Alex Pertout. Andrea co-founded the all female vocal quartet, Akasa, who have recorded three successful original albums, two of which won the Contemporary Acappella Recording Awards in the USA for Best World/Folk Album. She has sung and recorded with many other musicians such as Valanga Khoza and King Marong. After extended trips to South Africa to host music and cultural tours with her husband Valanga Khoza, Andrea has a deep connection to South African music. With these varied influences, Andrea has recorded and released her first debut album, Dreaming In Blue, in 2013. Working with talented musicians such as Fran Swinn, Tamara Murphy and Ben Hendry, she has managed to capture a sound that is peppered with jazz, world and roots. 

 http://khozaentertainment.com/

Listen to tracks

________________________________________________________________

Julie O’Hara Band

Julie O’Hara - Vocals / Elijah Futi - Keyboard / Craig Fermanis - guitar / Chris Bekker - bass / Sam Bates - drums

A magical brew of jazz and grooves, vocal dexterity and poetic lyricism, inspired by everything and anything. Featuring original works by Julie O'Hara

 http://julieohara.com/

________________________________________________________________

South of the River Gospel Choir - Directed by Annemarie Sharry

South of the River is a Melbourne based community choir celebrating diversity and harmony through a shared passion for singing. Under the direction of Annemarie Sharry for 12 years, the choir explores the music and rhythms of Africa, traditional African American gospel and original Australian compositions. Since forming in 2002 the 25 voice a cappella ensemble has firmly established itself in the Melbourne Music scene, as regular festival performers and finalists in the 2006 ABC CLASSIC FM “Choir Of The Year” Awards. Their latest CD “HOMEBREW” was recorded “LIVE” at The Armadale Baptist Church in 2011, and launched to a sell out audience at “Chapel Off Chapel”.

http://www.southoftheriverchoir.com/

Listen to tracks

Grant St Theatre
Victorian College of the Arts

Things She Said

Concept, Direction and Music by Nilusha Dassenaike

Images and Text by Barbara Hanrahan

'Things She Said' is a captivating blend of song, spoken word and still imagery. Singer and composer Nilusha Dassenaike has crafted eight new works based on the writings of Australian printmaker and novelist Barbara Hanrahan. The multi-disciplinary performance features an exceptional gathering of some of Australia’s finest musicians. The performance is enveloped by the enigmatic artwork of Hanrahan, which is projected onto a screen as the compositions unfold. A true celebration of Australian art.

Vocals: Nilusha Dassenaike / Chantal Mitvalsky / Gian Slater

Wintersweet Vocal Ensemble: Catherine Saliba / Marley Warren / Kathy Hinch / Marlene Ting / Cathy Menezes

Alex Pertout - world percussion

Rob Clarke - vibraphone

Geoff Hughes - guitar

Frank Di Sario - bass

Miroslav Bukovsky - trumpet and flugelhorn 

Artist and novelist Barbara Hanrahan passed away in 1991 at the age of fifty-two. Born in South Australia in 1939, she studied at the Central School of Art in London during the sixties. At the time of her death, Barbara Hanrahan had approximately twenty-four solo exhibitions of her prints and published 15 novels and short stories. Her art was inimitable and her writing drew interest for venturing into new literary ground.

 Sri Lankan born vocalist/composer Nilusha Dassenaike has the unique distinction of obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Improvisation and a Bachelor of Fine Art in Printmaking from the Victorian College of the Arts. Since graduating from music school Nilusha has established a career in the Australian contemporary jazz and popular music scenes and has had the pleasure of recording and working with artists such as Mike Stern, Paul Grabowski, Hossam Ramzy, Hugh Jackman and James Morrison on her original projects and television/studio session work. Her artworks are heavily influenced by the work of Barbara Hanrahan, Allan Mitelman, Antony Tapies and Cy Twombly. Nilusha has exhibited her work in countless group exhibitions and was mentored by celebrated Melbourne artist Geoff Lowe and DAMP. Nilusha completed a Master of Philosophy at the ANU in Sinhala Folk Music and vocal improvisatory traditions and is an Honorary Fellow of the Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne. She is currently recording a second album for her project ‘Alex & Nilusha’ with renowned percussionist Alex Pertout.

www.nilusha.com

Sunday Dec 7 8.30pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $35

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Emma Pask Band (Syd) 

The greatest gift to Australian Jazz Vocals in the last decade is how James Morrison, Australia’s most awarded jazzman, describes Emma Pask. Her talent was spotted by James Morrison during one of his regular visits to high schools when she was just 16. She first sang with his band that night and has been touring with Morrison around Australia and overseas, ever since. While Emma’s voice and style are unique, and individually her own, her performances are reminiscent of the classic era of jazz, when swing was top of the charts.

In 2006 Emma was awarded the Mo Award for “Jazz Vocalist of the year”. Emma has been a regular guest on national TV shows like Hey, Hey Its Saturday, the Midday Show, Good Morning Australia, the Today show, and has also sung to VIP audiences including the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Princess Mary of Denmark, and the Prime Minister of Australia. She has performed to audiences of up to 80,000 people, Sung in London at The Queen Elizabeth Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra, In China with The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, In Auckland with the NZ Philharmonic, With Barbara Morrison, Don Burrows, Ed Wilson, Conductor Sean O’Boyle, With the WA Symphony Orchestra, Recorded with the BBC Big Band in London, Performed at the Phillips International Jazz Festival in Kuala Lumpur, At the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, In Cape Town S.A with the Darius Brubeck Trio, Toured her band ‘The Emma Pask Qunitet” through Laos and Singapore Performed in Rome Italy, And has preformed at the Sydney Opera House, guesting alongside James Morrison with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Following the enormous success of her first 2 albums, “Emma” and “This Madness called Love”, Emma has released her third solo album, “Some other Spring”.

Emma Pask - Vocals / Sam Keevers - Piano  / Marty Holoubek - Bass  / Craig Simon - Drums 

http://www.emmapask.com/

Listen to tracks

Sunday Dec 7 9pm Bennetts Lane Small Room $18/$15 

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Lazercatz 2000 and Surface  (Listen to tracks)

Lazercatz 2000 is Lena Douglas - Piano / Felix Watson - Trumpet / Jimmy Bowman - Trombone / Maria Moles - Drums / Darvid Thor – Guitar

Formed in early 2013, Lazercatz 2000 are an improvising group from Melbourne, led by piano player Lena Douglas. The group features young instrumentalists Maria Moles, Felix Watson, Jimmy Bowman, and Darvid Thor playing their own original compositions. Influenced by a variety of musicians including the likes of Kenny Wheeler and Andrea Keller, they incorporate both contemporary jazz and pop elements into their music. Lazercatz 2000 released their debut album in May 2014 to a sell out room at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club. 

"A new generation of creative musicians, Lazercatz are making an exciting contribution to contemporary improvised music in Melbourne." - Andrea Keller

https://soundcloud.com/lazercatz2000
 http://lazercatz2000.bandcamp.com/

Surface is  Liam Werrett - Alto Saxophone / Lachlan Hensey - Guitar and effects / Daniel Mougerman - Keys / Claire Cross - Electric Bass/Compositions / Cameron Sexton – Drumset / Guest artist Julian Banks (Tenor Saxophone)

 Claire brings together this group of remarkable young musicians to present her original project “SURFACE”.  Having been nominated as a finalist in 2012 and 2014 for the Monash University Jazz Prize in Composition, Claire is emerging on the Melbourne music scene as a strong and individual composer, bringing a unique approach towards her music that incorporates influences from contemporary artists including Kneebody, Dave Binney, the Brian Blade Fellowship and Skúli Sverrisson.

Purchase tickets online or at the door

https://soundcloud.com/clairecrossbass/your-honour

https://www.facebook.com/surfacemusicmelbourne

 Proudly co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Co-op

Monday Dec 8 9pm Bennetts Lane Small Room $18/12

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Keller/Murphy/Browne (Listen to tracks)

Andrea Keller – Piano / Tamara Murphy – bass / Allan Browne - drums

Allan Browne, Andrea Keller & Tamara Murphy formed their trio in 2003 for the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival and made magical masterpieces sound like the easy climbs of the Everest they have become as a trio. Continuing on with intermitent performances on Monday nights, they have managed to lay their tender tapestries down in an album that seems to know the B-line to the beating heart of your ear. Andrea Keller, the multi-award winning composer/pianist along with talented and awarded bass-playing Tamara Murphy bring the feminine and the poetic of Allan's playing into the fore.  Carried By The Sun is the luminous debut CD from the Keller/Murphy/Browne Trio.  All are highly-regarded bandleaders in their own right. This trio however, has no leader; it is a genuinely collaborative enterprise.  Featuring compositions by all three members, each piece unfolds like a three-way conversation, the focus shifting subtly from player to player without the need for bombast or empty technical displays. (Listen to tracks)

http://www.andreakellerpiano.com.au

http://www.tamaramurphy.com

http://allanbrowne.bandcamp.com

7.30pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $15/$10 Purchase tickets  online or at the door

Student night featuring - Stonnington Youth, Genazzano, Ringwood Secondary College, Lowther Hall AGS.

Young students from Melbourne will deliver patrons insight to the jazz stars of the future at the Bennetts Lane student night.

Tuesday Dec 9  8.30pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $25/20

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Kellie Santin CD launch (listen to tracks)

Kellie Santin Saxophone / Gerry Pantazis – drums / Simon Fisenden – bass / Phil Turcio – keys / Simon Hosford – guitar/ Phil Binotto percussion / special guest Carmen Hendricks – vocals

 A prolific performer in the Melbourne music scene, Quintessence is the debut recording from saxophonist, Kellie Santin, as band leader. The album features a rhythm section led by groove master drummer Gerry Pantazis and super funky bassist Simon Fisenden who will be joined on stage by heavy-weights, Phil Turcio on keys, Guitarist, Simon Hosford, Phil Binotto on percussion, with special guest, 2014 UK soul chart-topping vocalist, Carmen Hendricks.

http://www.kelliesantinmusic.com

Tuesday Dec 9 9pm Bennetts Lane Small Room $18/15

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Nat Bartsch Trio

Nat Bartsch – piano / Tom Lee - acoustic bass / Daniel Farrugia  - drums

Over the past few years, pianist Nat Bartsch has cultivated a distinctive piano trio sound; focusing on tonal, contemporary, ambient composition and improvisation. Three recordings and tours to Japan and Europe cemented the trio's reputation as an exciting emerging Australian ensemble. Joined by Tom Lee (acoustic bass) and Daniel Farrugia (drums), their 2013 release "To Sail, To Sing" was widely acclaimed by both audiences and critics alike. This performance will mark the end of the trio for the foreseeable future – don’t miss this opportunity to savour the trio's beautiful music.

www.natbartsch.com

 Proudly co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Co-op

Listen to tracks

Wednesday Dec 10 9pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $20/15

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Emie R Roussel Trio - Canada

Emie R Roussel  - Piano / Nicolas Bédard – bass / Dominic Cloutier – drums

Emie R Roussel burst onto Quebec’s live music scene in 2007, and has shared the stage with such leading talents as Terry Clarke, Mike Gauthier, Éric Lagacé, Alex Bellegarde, Dave Watts, Michel Berthiaume and Norman Lachapelle.

In 2010 she founded the Emie R. Roussel Trio and released two original albums, Temps inégal (2010) and Transit (2013), both of which rose to third place in the Top 5 jazz albums of the year named by sortiesJAZZnights.com. With Nicolas Bédard on double bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums, the Trio is a prime example of Quebec’s contemporary jazz sound: resolutely young, rhythm-based, and infused with straightforward rock and pop harmonies. This fast rising trio performs the compositions of pianist Emie R Roussel with passion, creativity and sensitivity, driven by the desire to create original and innovative jazz. They received a special mention from the jury of the 2013 TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and won the People’s Choice award at the 28th annual Festi Jazz International de Rimouski. At times introspective, romantic or impressionistic, at others modern, energetic and catchy, these three musicians have an undeniable chemistry. They easily transport audiences to their musical world by delivering modern, but accessible jazz, skillfully blending European and North American influences. In 2011 Emie joined the faculty of the Jazz-Pop program at the Cégep de Rimouski, and in 2014 she was named one of Radio-Canada’s “Discoveries of the Year.”

Listen to tracks

 http://emierroussel.com

 Proudly supported by Fraser Place Melbourne

Thursday Dec 11 9pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $25/20

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Andrea Keller & Miroslav Bukovsky's The Komeda Project 

Andrea Keller (Melbourne) – piano, composer, co-leader
Miroslav Bukovsky (Canberra) – trumpet, composer, co-leader
Erkki Veltheim (Melbourne) – violin
Andrew Robson (Sydney) – alto saxophone
James Greening (Sydney) – trombone
Ben Hauptmann (Sydney) – guitar
Jonathan Zwartz (Sydney) – double bass
Evan Mannell (Sydney) – drums

Originated by Peter Rechniewski, the Komeda project is a response to, and reinterpretation of, some of the music of Komeda by two leading Australian jazz composers and instrumentalists of Eastern European heritage who have been strongly influenced not only by the music Komeda wrote, but by the spirit in which he wrote it.

Canberra based trumpet player/composer/improviser Miroslav Bukovsky, and Melbourne based pianist/composer/improvisor Andrea Keller, will co-lead an ensemble of eight Australian contemporary musicians in the Komeda Project.

Bukovsky and Keller will each compose new works inspired by Komeda’s music. Taking both his jazz and film music as inspiration, including his pivotal jazz release ‘Astigmatic’ (1966), and film scores ‘The Verdict’ (1962), ‘Knife in the Water’ (1962), ‘Cul-de-sac’ (1966), ‘The Fearless Vampire Killers’ (1967), Le Depart (1967) and ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968). The works will serve as an artistic response to and an exploration of the music of Krzysztof Komeda, rather than mere rearrangements.

 http://www.andreakellerpiano.com.au

Friday Dec 12 9pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $28/25

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Michelle Nicolle Fretet 

Michelle Nicolle – vocals / Tom Lee – Bass / Ronny Ferella – Drums

Guitars: Geoff Hughes / Stephen Magnusson / Sam Lemann/ Craig Fermanis

 Michelle Nicolle is undoubtedly one of the most talented, creative and original jazz voices Australia has ever produced.  For the last 15 years the Michelle Nicolle Quartet has been Michelle’s main baby.  Through seven CD releases and touring extensively throughout Australia and internationally, Michelle has realised the only thing better than one guitar in the band is......... four guitars in the band!

Introducing the MN Fretet, with the unique lineup of voice, bass, drums and four of the most talented and individual guitarists in the country, this group takes familiar songs to places before unknown. Geoff Hughes, Stephen Magnusson, Sam Lemann and Craig Fermanis, with long-standing group members, Tom Lee (double bass) and Ronny Ferella (drums.)

 http://michellenicolle.com

Listen to tracks 

Saturday Dec 13 9pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab $30/25 

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Kristin Berardi Band (Bris/Syd/Melb)

 Kristin Berardi – vocals  / Greg Coffin - piano / Carl Morgan - guitar / Brett Hirst - bass / Danny Fischer – drums

Kristin Berardi returns to the MWIJF with her newest ensemble, featuring some of Sydney and Melbourne’s finest musicisians: Greg Coffin (piano), Carl Morgan (guitar – recent winner of the Wangarrata National Jazz Award), Brett Hirst (bass) and Danny Fischer (drums).

Now at 33years old, Kristin is one of Australia's first calls for Jazz concerts and festivals. She was the winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival's International Vocal Competition in 2006, supported Al Jarreau and George Benson at Montreux Jazz Festival 2007 and also toured Europe with James Sherlock. Other career highlights include the Freedman Fellowship 2007, the Bell Award for the Best Jazz Vocal Album for 2010 and 2013, and the National Jazz Award for Voice at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival 2012. Kristin has released six albums in Australia, and was hand picked by Jon Gordon for his album Evolution, for American Label ArtistShare in 2009.

While Kristin is in high demand as a performer, she loves teaching, especially in the tertiary level. She has been on staff at the Australian National University and also at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music. She guest lectures around the country and since 2013 has been on staff at the Brisbane Conservatorium.

Listen to tracks

 http://www.kristinberardi.com

Sunday Dec 14 9pm Bennetts Lane Jazz Club $20/15

Purchase tickets online or at the door

Fox Force Five

Kristin Berardi – vocals
Audrey Powne - trumpet
Andrea Keller - piano
Arlene Fletcher - bass
Sonja Horbelt – drums

The MWIJF promotes the work of female composers, band leaders, arrangers and instrumentalists, and celebrates the important contribution and investment women make to the cultural identity of Australia. Each year the festival features a sextet of leading female musicians who come together to collaborate for the festival’s final performance. This year sees award winning Brisbane vocalist Kristin Berardi making her debut with the group in a program that features original works by all members.

 Proudly co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Co-op