More than 55 events
Five world premieres
Nine Australian premieres
Four Festival commissions
Five Australian/international collaborations
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
April 26 to May 2, 2009
Venues Around Melbourne
Ticketek, Ticketmaser, Moshtix, Melbourne Recital Centre
In a week of unparalleled musicianship--26th April to 2nd May--the streets and theatres of Melbourne will come alive with the dynamism, excitement and diversity of jazz music during the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Under the artistic direction of Michael Tortoni and program direction of Sophie Brous, the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival features some of the most legendary, iconic and innovative artists in a distinctive program defined by unique collaborations, musical partnerships and world-class artistry.
The Festival program moves seamlessly from contemporary jazz to swing, avant-garde, modern improvisation, art music and beyond, with a rollcall of greats to headline this year's program. Featuring twenty-three international and 183 celebrated Australian artists, the 2009 MIJF program explores the full breadth and range of jazz music as an art form, incorporating film, art, dance and poetry.
Some of the internationals Tortoni and Brous have courted to Melbourne include the incomparable jazz legend from the USA Charlie Haden, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell, free jazz luminary Cecil Taylor and saxophonist Joshua Redman. Leading Australian artists include Paul Grabowsky, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano and The Choir of Hard Knocks in an exclusive Festival commission presenting their own interpretation of Billie Holiday's oeuvre.
New interdisciplinary programming streams include NGV Jazz Walks, the ACMI Film Program and the Australian premiere of The Poetry of Cecil Taylor. Free concerts and Masterclasses will also feature. Melbourne's best venues have been engaged including The Forum, Melbourne Town Hall and the Melbourne Recital Centre in its first Festival presentation.
Charlie Haden--a collaborator with the likes of Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, Nick Cave, and Pat Metheny, will be setting up residency at the Festival, appearing across all facets of the program in a number of interdisciplinary guises, such as masterclasses, Q&A sessions and collaborations with other seminal jazz masters.
Launching with a free Opening Night concert at Federation Square (Sunday 26th April), all of Melbourne--young and young at heart--is invited to get dancing to the 1930s sounds of the Mell-O-Tones swing orchestra and the wonderfully raucous musical melange of Actis Dato (Italy). Topping the bill is the Festival's very special artist-in- residence, jazz icon Charlie Haden and his Liberation Music Orchestra in a one-off event featuring a first-time collaboration with Australian musicians including Paul Grabowsky, Jamie Oehlers and Scott Tinkler.
The free concerts continue every day of the Festival at Federation Square (12pm & 5pm), highlighting some of the brightest emerging stars of Australian jazz--The Hoodangers, Virus, The Vampires, Flap!, Melbourne Jazz Ensemble and VCA Jazz Ensemble providing a tantalising entrée into the Festival flavour for both the uninitiated, as well as jazz lovers.
In a convergence of sound, improvisation and visual art, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival presents free Sound Walks at the NGV International. In small, guided walks, Bum Creek, a local trio of young multi instrumentalist performers will reframe your experience of art as they weave a musical response to the NGV permanent collection. Internationally renowned new music innovators Nels Cline and Oren Ambarchi will be Festival guests for the NGV art chat discussing their music and performing together for the first time.
At Hamer Hall, Melbourne's remarkable community street choir, The Choir of Hard Knocks, will celebrate life and song as they perform the world premiere of their Festival commission Let's Do It, The Music of Billie Holiday, along with special guests Kate Ceberano and Carl Riseley. Australian multi-award-winning songstress Katie Noonan presents her beautiful take on the Lennon/McCartney songbook under the guise of Blackbird Project with a band of Australia's finest jazz instrumentalists.
At Melbourne Town Hall, the City of Melbourne and MIJF are proud to present the Australian premiere and second ever live performance of the iconic Charlie Haden/Bill Frisell/Ethan Iverson Trio (USA). As a part of this incredible evening of music, Paul Grabowsky presents the world premiere of his own special Festival commission--an extraordinary new work for the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ featuring virtuosic recordist Genevieve Lacey. At Melbourne Recital Centre, Charlie Haden appears with the Australian premiere of Charlie Haden Quartet West (USA). One of the inventors of free jazz, Cecil Taylor (USA) teams up with free drummer, Tony Oxley, for his first performance in Australia for 30 years. And, son of Dewey Redman, virtuosic tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman (USA), performs with Reuben Rogers (bass) and Gregory Hutchinson (drums).
At the Forum Theatre, the question “what is jazz?" is posed with the inclusion of Australian “jazz-punk" legends Laughing Clowns. Performing their first show in Melbourne since 1985, Laughing Clowns features the original line-up of Ed Kuepper and Jeffery Wegener, saxophonist Louise Elliott, bassist Biff Miller and keyboardist Alister Spence. In an Australian premiere, three of the most respected, new jazz creative musicians in the world Nels Cline/Tim Berne/Jim Black Trio (USA) play a double bill with jazz icon Bill Frisell Trio (USA). And yet another new generational double bill/Australian premiere takes place with Australian saxophonist Julien Wilson Quintet and New York drummer Jim Black (USA), on the same bill as post-modern New York pianist Ethan Iverson's Cocktail Hour.
At BMW Edge at Federation Square, the charismatic heroes of the Italian jazz scene, Actis Dato Quartet (Italy) will take centre stage with their raucous blend of jazz, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music, Afro and funk rhythms, Caribbean and old Italian folk songs. BMW Edge will also host the unique master classes presented by the Festival--Cecil Taylor, Katie Noonan, Charlie Haden, Joshua Redman, Ethan Iverson, Tim Berne and Bill Frisell. Masterclasses are a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging and established musicians to learn about the music, technique and psychology that inspires some the most accomplished jazz professionals working in the world today.
At Bennett's Lane, a series of Club Sessions take place nightly across the Festival, including Harry James Angus, Tim Berne's Adobe Probe Melbourne (USA/Australia), Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra (Sydney) with Bert Joris (Belgium), and Judy Carmichael (USA). Bennett's Lane Late Night Jam Sessions occur every evening with Marc Hannaford leading off a series of spontaneous performances, embodying the true spirit of jazz.
At ACMI, Jazz on Film is spotlighted with an exciting program of features--Sun Ra Space is the Place, Charlie Haden: Rambling Boy, Jazz on a Summer's Day, Touch of Evil and Let's Get Lost. And at the CUB Malthouse, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Matthias Pintscher and featuring Tristram Williams on trumpet, performs Metropolis Concert 1: Osiris in what promises to be a magical experience. Jazz for Kids featuring Andrea Kellar, Zac Hurren Trio and Adam Simmons will entertain and inspire, with interactive concerts for the young and young at heart. The Festival invites children and families to engage with these musicians as they perform and chat about their music. Jazz for Kids is the perfect opportunity to introduce everybody to the joys and spirit of music and improvisation. Get involved, ask questions and sing along!
With a focus on interactivity, accessibility and philanthropic endeavours, such as the Future Leaders MIJF Jazz Award (supporting emerging musicians in Years 10, 11 & 12), this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival is more than just a spectator event--it's about being completely submerged in jazz music and ensuring a healthy, continuing lineage well into the 21st century and beyond. BE MOVED and experience a celebration of music and artistry at the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Five world premieres
Nine Australian premieres
Four Festival commissions
Five Australian/international collaborations
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
April 26 to May 2, 2009
Venues Around Melbourne
Ticketek, Ticketmaser, Moshtix, Melbourne Recital Centre
In a week of unparalleled musicianship--26th April to 2nd May--the streets and theatres of Melbourne will come alive with the dynamism, excitement and diversity of jazz music during the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Under the artistic direction of Michael Tortoni and program direction of Sophie Brous, the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival features some of the most legendary, iconic and innovative artists in a distinctive program defined by unique collaborations, musical partnerships and world-class artistry.
The Festival program moves seamlessly from contemporary jazz to swing, avant-garde, modern improvisation, art music and beyond, with a rollcall of greats to headline this year's program. Featuring twenty-three international and 183 celebrated Australian artists, the 2009 MIJF program explores the full breadth and range of jazz music as an art form, incorporating film, art, dance and poetry.
Some of the internationals Tortoni and Brous have courted to Melbourne include the incomparable jazz legend from the USA Charlie Haden, Grammy Award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell, free jazz luminary Cecil Taylor and saxophonist Joshua Redman. Leading Australian artists include Paul Grabowsky, Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano and The Choir of Hard Knocks in an exclusive Festival commission presenting their own interpretation of Billie Holiday's oeuvre.
New interdisciplinary programming streams include NGV Jazz Walks, the ACMI Film Program and the Australian premiere of The Poetry of Cecil Taylor. Free concerts and Masterclasses will also feature. Melbourne's best venues have been engaged including The Forum, Melbourne Town Hall and the Melbourne Recital Centre in its first Festival presentation.
Charlie Haden--a collaborator with the likes of Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, Nick Cave, and Pat Metheny, will be setting up residency at the Festival, appearing across all facets of the program in a number of interdisciplinary guises, such as masterclasses, Q&A sessions and collaborations with other seminal jazz masters.
Launching with a free Opening Night concert at Federation Square (Sunday 26th April), all of Melbourne--young and young at heart--is invited to get dancing to the 1930s sounds of the Mell-O-Tones swing orchestra and the wonderfully raucous musical melange of Actis Dato (Italy). Topping the bill is the Festival's very special artist-in- residence, jazz icon Charlie Haden and his Liberation Music Orchestra in a one-off event featuring a first-time collaboration with Australian musicians including Paul Grabowsky, Jamie Oehlers and Scott Tinkler.
The free concerts continue every day of the Festival at Federation Square (12pm & 5pm), highlighting some of the brightest emerging stars of Australian jazz--The Hoodangers, Virus, The Vampires, Flap!, Melbourne Jazz Ensemble and VCA Jazz Ensemble providing a tantalising entrée into the Festival flavour for both the uninitiated, as well as jazz lovers.
In a convergence of sound, improvisation and visual art, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival presents free Sound Walks at the NGV International. In small, guided walks, Bum Creek, a local trio of young multi instrumentalist performers will reframe your experience of art as they weave a musical response to the NGV permanent collection. Internationally renowned new music innovators Nels Cline and Oren Ambarchi will be Festival guests for the NGV art chat discussing their music and performing together for the first time.
At Hamer Hall, Melbourne's remarkable community street choir, The Choir of Hard Knocks, will celebrate life and song as they perform the world premiere of their Festival commission Let's Do It, The Music of Billie Holiday, along with special guests Kate Ceberano and Carl Riseley. Australian multi-award-winning songstress Katie Noonan presents her beautiful take on the Lennon/McCartney songbook under the guise of Blackbird Project with a band of Australia's finest jazz instrumentalists.
At Melbourne Town Hall, the City of Melbourne and MIJF are proud to present the Australian premiere and second ever live performance of the iconic Charlie Haden/Bill Frisell/Ethan Iverson Trio (USA). As a part of this incredible evening of music, Paul Grabowsky presents the world premiere of his own special Festival commission--an extraordinary new work for the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ featuring virtuosic recordist Genevieve Lacey. At Melbourne Recital Centre, Charlie Haden appears with the Australian premiere of Charlie Haden Quartet West (USA). One of the inventors of free jazz, Cecil Taylor (USA) teams up with free drummer, Tony Oxley, for his first performance in Australia for 30 years. And, son of Dewey Redman, virtuosic tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman (USA), performs with Reuben Rogers (bass) and Gregory Hutchinson (drums).
At the Forum Theatre, the question “what is jazz?" is posed with the inclusion of Australian “jazz-punk" legends Laughing Clowns. Performing their first show in Melbourne since 1985, Laughing Clowns features the original line-up of Ed Kuepper and Jeffery Wegener, saxophonist Louise Elliott, bassist Biff Miller and keyboardist Alister Spence. In an Australian premiere, three of the most respected, new jazz creative musicians in the world Nels Cline/Tim Berne/Jim Black Trio (USA) play a double bill with jazz icon Bill Frisell Trio (USA). And yet another new generational double bill/Australian premiere takes place with Australian saxophonist Julien Wilson Quintet and New York drummer Jim Black (USA), on the same bill as post-modern New York pianist Ethan Iverson's Cocktail Hour.
At BMW Edge at Federation Square, the charismatic heroes of the Italian jazz scene, Actis Dato Quartet (Italy) will take centre stage with their raucous blend of jazz, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music, Afro and funk rhythms, Caribbean and old Italian folk songs. BMW Edge will also host the unique master classes presented by the Festival--Cecil Taylor, Katie Noonan, Charlie Haden, Joshua Redman, Ethan Iverson, Tim Berne and Bill Frisell. Masterclasses are a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging and established musicians to learn about the music, technique and psychology that inspires some the most accomplished jazz professionals working in the world today.
At Bennett's Lane, a series of Club Sessions take place nightly across the Festival, including Harry James Angus, Tim Berne's Adobe Probe Melbourne (USA/Australia), Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra (Sydney) with Bert Joris (Belgium), and Judy Carmichael (USA). Bennett's Lane Late Night Jam Sessions occur every evening with Marc Hannaford leading off a series of spontaneous performances, embodying the true spirit of jazz.
At ACMI, Jazz on Film is spotlighted with an exciting program of features--Sun Ra Space is the Place, Charlie Haden: Rambling Boy, Jazz on a Summer's Day, Touch of Evil and Let's Get Lost. And at the CUB Malthouse, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Matthias Pintscher and featuring Tristram Williams on trumpet, performs Metropolis Concert 1: Osiris in what promises to be a magical experience. Jazz for Kids featuring Andrea Kellar, Zac Hurren Trio and Adam Simmons will entertain and inspire, with interactive concerts for the young and young at heart. The Festival invites children and families to engage with these musicians as they perform and chat about their music. Jazz for Kids is the perfect opportunity to introduce everybody to the joys and spirit of music and improvisation. Get involved, ask questions and sing along!
With a focus on interactivity, accessibility and philanthropic endeavours, such as the Future Leaders MIJF Jazz Award (supporting emerging musicians in Years 10, 11 & 12), this year's Melbourne International Jazz Festival is more than just a spectator event--it's about being completely submerged in jazz music and ensuring a healthy, continuing lineage well into the 21st century and beyond. BE MOVED and experience a celebration of music and artistry at the 2009 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
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