DEC 7 LUCY CLIFFORD

(Jann Rutherford Memorial Award winner)

with support MWIJF Little Big Band directed by Ellie Lamb - guest artist Madison Foley

Evening Show 7.30PM

Co-presented with The Melbourne Jazz Co-op and The University of Melbourne

The Jazzlab Wednesday Dec 7

doors 7pm Show 7.30pm

Tickets HERE $25/20 Bookings essential

Lucy Clifford

Winner of the 2022 Jann Rutherford Memorial award, Lucy Clifford presents a set of her original music, giving listeners a glimpse into what's in store for her upcoming 2023 debut album release. As a bassist who has dedicated many years to accompanying artists of different kinds and fostering spaces for dialogue, Lucy’s original music places that same value and care in encouraging space for exploration, via way of raw grooves, lyrical arrangements and igniting spirit. Although rooted in Jazz expression, this band explores beyond the fringes of genre, building symbiotic rhythms and pulses that interlock with all things motion, stillness and freedom in between. Co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Co-op.

Lucy Clifford-bass

Ashley Ballat - trumpet

Phil Noy - Tenor Sax

Andrea Keller- Piano

Darryn Farrugia - drums

Originally from Sydney’s South Coast, Lucy Clifford received her B.A in Jazz Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before relocating to Boston USA to attend Berklee College Of Music. There she studied under bassists including Lincoln Goines, Ron Mahdi and Anthony Vitti. Upon graduating from Berklee, Lucy became immersed in New York City’s vibrant music community, working with internationally esteemed artists such as Grammy winning Nella, Javier Limon, Mariza, Maher Beauroy, Alita Moses and Mighty Mystic among others. An active and invested member of the Australian music community, Lucy joined Kate Ceberano’s band in 2022 for her national ‘Sweet Inspiration’ Tour, and has worked alongside artists Urthboy and Emily Wurramara. With an unwavering passion for championing the importance of music education and an advocate for women in music, Lucy has previously taught at numerous schools, such as Berklee College Of Music’s Groove School alongside bassist/educator Victor Wooten, and is the founder of Sisters Of Sound, a music education collective for young women.

opening set: MWIJF Little Big Band

Co-presented with the University of Melbourne

Featuring Tertiary students from Monash University, Melbourne Polytechnic and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music playing the music of Australian composers Vanessa Perica, Jenna Cave, Andrea Keller and Nadje Noordhuis.

Directed by Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Take Note 2021 winner, trombonist, vocalist, composer and arranger Ellie Lamb.

Ellie Lamb is a trombonist, vocalist, composer and arranger living in Naarm / Melbourne. They play a range of styles from pop and soul to big band and free improvised music. In 2021 Ellie was the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Take Note Leader, a role which included the commissioning of a new work for the festival. The work, a suite entitled Between Worlds, was an “emotional highlight” of the festival, exploring themes of identity, particularly in relation to being transgender and feeling adrift between musical genres. Ellie also performs regularly with the Jazzlab Orcheztra, and is a session musician who has performed at various events including RocKwiz Live at the Bowl and the ABC’s NYE broadcasts.

Madison Foley has been playing trumpet professionally since the age of 16. Having studied Improvisation at the Victorian College of the Arts, she pursued a career in commercial and pop music for many years, joining Architecture in Helsinki in 2013 and performing/recording with artists such as Ash Grunwald, Big Scary and Bobby Fox amongst others. She currently writes, records and performs with the ground-breaking 13-piece original rock/blues/soul outfit FOOLS. In 2018, Madi also returned to her jazz background, and has since performed in small group settings with musicians such as John McAll, Nina Ferro and John Thorn, as well as appearing regularly in some of Melbourne’s finest big bands including the Jazzlab Orcheztra, Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra and Jack Earle Big Band.