Three hundred and thirty five Artists and seventy four events over ten Days in June
The 2016 Melbourne International Jazz Festival celebrates jazz as a constantly-evolving art form, ranging from golden-age icons to genre-bending innovators.
Bringing together artists from Australia, Ethiopia, Israel, Italy, Poland and the USA, this year’s Festival program features headliners such as Wayne Shorter, intimate club gigs with internationally acclaimed artists such as Shai Maestro, late-night jams, close encounters, workshops, family events and free concerts.
Michael Tortoni, Melbourne International Jazz Festival Artistic Director, explains that there have been a number conversations and interactions when shaping this festival, “Jazz is such an eclectic and evolving artform and I want to present a ‘unique moment in time’ – like a live improvisation that is influenced by what is being played around you in real time. This Festival profiles the relevancy of this artform – it captures the current moment in jazz’s ongoing evolution.”
“The Festival embraces the ongoing connections between different generations – it sees emerging legends interacting with some of the greatest musicians. For example, Wayne Shorter recently wrote a showcase for the young gifted bassist and vocalist, Esperanza Spalding, called ‘Gaia’ which they performed together with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” explained Tortoni.
Modern Masters
Gary Bartz Quartet (USA / Australia)
Esperanza Spalding presents: Emily’s D+Evolution (USA)
Robert Glasper Trio (USA)
Mulatu Astatke and Black Jesus Experience (Ethiopia / Australia)
Tomasz Stańko Band (Poland / Finland)
Hiromi: The Trio Project featuring Anthony Jackson and Simon Phillips (Japan / USA)
Van Morrison’s Masterpieces featuring Vince Jones and the Astral Orchestra (Australia)
Children of the Light Trio (USA)
Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet (USA)
José James: The Music of Billie Holiday (USA)
Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade (USA)
Explorations in Jazz
Confrontations World premiere of the 2016 PBS Young Elder of Jazz Commission (Australia)
Lionel Loueke and The Vampires ( USA / Australia)
Monash University Jazz Futures featuring Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet (Australia / USA)
Snarky Puppy (USA)
Stu Hunter: the migration (Australia)
Kristin Berardi Band (Australia)
Monash Art Ensemble featuring Tomasz Stańko (Poland / Australia)
Peter Knight’s Way Out West (Australia)
Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life (USA)
Club Sessions – Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Voyage to Sardinia (Italy / Australia)
Songs of Friends (Australia)
Robert Glasper Trio (USA)
A Tribute to Allan Browne (Australia)
Shai Maestro Trio (Israel / Peru)
Keyon Harrold featuring Twi-Life (USA)
Angus / Anning / Hoenig (Australia / USA)
Late Night Jams with the Hue Blanes Trio (Australia)
Club Sessions – Dizzy’s Jazz Club
Tribute to Blue Note
Sarah Maclaine in Concert
Wilbur Wilde’s Blowout
Adam Dunning with the Roger Clark Quartet
Dizzy’s Big Band
David Rex Quartet
Craig Schneider Trio
Nichaud Fitzgibbon Quartet
Club Sessions – Uptown Jazz Café
Mark Fitzgibbon Trio
Paul Williamson Quartet
Hetty Kate Quintet
Andrea Keller’s Transients IV
Stephen Magnusson Trio
The Ross McHenry Trio
Ithaca Bound
Bopstretch
Tal Cohen Trio
Jamie Oehlers / Paul Grabowsky Quartet
Jamie Oehlers Quartet
James Muller Quartet
Sam Keevers’ “Red Fish Blue”
Special events
Beatbox & Beyond
Vocal Adventures
An Evening with Paolo Angeli
Jazz Out West
30/70 Collective
Jazz-a-Bye Baby featuring Mister Ott
Soundwalk
Paolo Angeli
Wallace
Free events
Juilliard Free Lunchtime Jazz
Soundwalks
The Cave
Opening Celebration Concert
Transitive Cycles
Los Cabrones at the Winter Night Markets
Riverside Jazz Club
Sound Portraits
Close Encounters
Shai Maestro (Isreal)
Ari Hoenig (USA)
Kristin Berardi (Australia)
John Patitucci (USA)
Jazz Panel What’s in a festival?
Marcus Strickland and Keyon Harrold (USA)
Mulatu Astatke (Ethopia)
Artist Workshops at Monash University
Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet (USA)
Tomasz Stańko Band (Poland / Finland)
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
3 – 12 June 2016 melbournejazz.com
