Now in its ninth year, Stonnington Jazz has developed a reputation for combining the talents of the country's most loved jazz musicians. This is 100 percent Australian jazz by artists ranging from the emerging to the legendary.
In 2013 Stonnington Jazz won the Award for the Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event in Victoria at the Australian Event Awards consolidating its position as one of the most admired jazz events in the country. Stonnington Jazz venues include Malvern Town Hall, Chapel off Chapel and a variety of interesting spaces across the City.
This year two truly inspiring jazz singers return home to open Stonnington Jazz. Chris McNulty has been based in New York since 1988, working alongside such notables as Mulgrew Miller, Jeff Watts, Gary Bartz and Paul Bollenback. Her highly personal approach to the art of jazz singing saw her win the Bell Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album of 2013. Sarah McKenzie has been winning fans at home and abroad in recent years. Sarah won the 2012 ARIA Award for her album Close Your Eyes. She was offered a scholarship to study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston and has performed at the Umbria Jazz festival in Italy.
This year the Stonnington Jazz festival celebrates two phenomenal music families. Australia's most popular jazz musician, James Morrison will perform with his sons William and Harry in the James Morrison Inheritance, and highly respected clarinet player Denis Ball pairs with son, trumpeter Eugene in the Dennis Ball - Eugene Ball Sextet.
The great Vince Jones is performing with Monash University Jazz, an ensemble comprising students which features Rob Burke (saxophone) and Paul Grabowsky (piano).
Festival hit, The Melbourne Rhythm Project is a collaboration between The New Sheiks and a group of dancers, led by dancer-choreographer Ramona Staffield. Delight in watching the dancers draw inspiration from the band, and vice versa.
One of the most individual artists on the Melbourne music scene, pianist-singer-composer Martin Martini presents his suite ‘Vienna 1913' which draws inspiration from the art and lives of the major modernists of the time, like Schiele, Klimpt, Koskoschka and Hoffmann.
One of Australia's best and best-loved traditional jazz bands, The Syncopators celebrate their 30th anniversary with one special concert at Malvern Town Hall.
The festival is again directed by Adrian Jackson who is also Artistic Director of Australia's largest jazz festival, Wangaratta Jazz. Stonnington Jazz patron, Allan Browne is always developing fresh ideas with various combinations of colleagues, new and old. For the 2014 Stonnington Jazz festival Allan will be joined by brilliant saxophonist Phil Noy and bassist Tamara Murphy.
For devoted jazz fans, and music lovers who are curious to find out more about what jazz has to offer, there is so much to enjoy in this year's Stonnington Jazz program.
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BOOK NOW Phone 8290 7000 or go to www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For full program information go to www.stonningtonjazz.com.au
AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS 2013 STATE WINNER
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