Colbourne Ave started after musician Spike Mason was travelling around Europe in 1996. He went to some beautiful jazz concerts that were acoustic, and more like concerts than he was used to in the Sydney jazz scene. One of these was in the round, and it was so moving and intimate that he decided to try and recreate the experience in his own scene back home. After much searching, he found that the church in Glebe he was working for had perfect acoustics for listening. From 2000 to 2009 the venue was called "eight oclock sharp", the name of the first ever series - a season of the play Waiting For Godot with five jazz piano concerts. There was a very strict 'no talking during the music' rule, and the promise that the music would start exactly on time - eight oclock sharp!

Over the years, and with help from Andrew, Barney, and the CafeChurch community, the concert series grew from half a dozen performances a year - almost always acoustic, often in the round with great musicians and respectful audiences - until in 2008 they organized their third 'Jazz Piano Master Series' with sixteen solo pianists over four weeks. It was so good they decided they had to do it every week!  Over the next couple of years we managed to organise a consistent series of concerts, and changed our name to Colbourne Ave.

  • 16 Feb 2012
    Feel the Manouche

    Manouche is a term derived from the Romany gypsies of Europe, what we in Australia call gypsy jazz.

    This fine band has been put together by it's individual members as an exercise in small group swing.

    Feel the Manouche has a 'world music' feel. Through it's use of double bass, guitar, accordion & fiddle, the band

    achieves a strong melodic groove that can take on gypsy waltzes, swing jazz, choro and many other flavours of music from

    our diverse planet. We invite you to sit back and 'Feel the Manouche'.

     

    The return to Colbourne Ave of George Washingmachine on violin, ukelele & vocal, with Arthur Washington on guitar, Clare O’Meara on acccordion, violin & vocal, and Stan Valacos on double bass.

    Read 3680 times Read more...
  • 23 Feb 2012
    John Harkins / Brendan Clarke

    John and Brendan, both steeped in the jazz tradition, great improvisers who have worked together for years, will perform this very rare duet show.  2 sets of Jazz and Bebop compositions, mixed with Standards from the Great American Songbook.

    Read 5381 times
  • 02 Mar 2012
    Spike Mason / Matt McMahon

    Spike Mason on sax, Matt McMahon on piano.  Two great musicians with a long history of playing together and a deep love of improvised music.  Matt and Spike can both draw from a huge catalogue of standards and each has a long list of original compositions.  It is an important day for me, and I know it will be a perfect night of music.

    Read 4047 times Read more...
  • 09 Mar 2012
    Judy Bailey Trio

    Possibly Australia's most influential living jazz musican, Judy has taught and performed with generations of performers, helping to create the sound and culture of Sydney's jazz scene.  It's more than two years since they last played for us, and the ABC has just released a 4CD box set of Judy's recording projects.  She will play for us with her long-time trio : Craig Scott on bass and Tim Firth on drums.

    STOP PRESS! Tim Firth has injured his arm, so it's another duet!

    Read 3646 times Read more...
  • 15 Mar 2012
    Steven Barry Trio

    “Steven Barry, a young New Zealander, has brought his dazzling skills as a pianist and composer to Sydney. He shrugged aside cliche, deployed scintillating articulation, and gave his colleagues such ingenious raw material as the Bartok-inspired Clusters. Boneham's solos were a lesson in how vigour may be harnessed to sensitivity, while Firth layered rhythmic puzzles into the grooves without rendering them academic, and soloed with panache...” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

    Steve Barry crossed the ditch in early 2009 and has quickly become one of Sydney’s most sought-after pianists, having worked with many prominent Australasian and international artists including John Hollenbeck (USA), Theo Bleckmann (USA), George Coleman Jr. (USA), Arun Luthra (USA), Tricia Evy (FRA) and the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra.

    Joined by the heavyweight rhythm section of Alex Boneham on bass and the incredibly sympathetic Cam Reid on drums, the Steve Barry Trio focuses on lyrical melodies, deep grooves and group interaction, and demonstrates a unique collective rapport.

    Steve Barry (piano) Alex Boneham (bass) Cameron Reid (drums)

    Read 4591 times
  • 22 Mar 2012
    Fritz Hauser with Synergy

    Fritz Hauser is a German improvising drummer - solo drumming, theatre shows, compositions for orchestras and ensembles, architectural projects, dance and film.  To get an idea of his scope, you can watch a fantastic concert he performed with 22 percussionists and a massive scaffold : youtube.com/watch?v=iBiEw-5VdDQ.  Hauser's music is equally at home in intricate compositions and spectacular improvisations. His work is thought provoking, subtle and highly distinctive, so it's no surprise that synergy has been collaborating with him since 1998.

    this concert will feature the sydney premiere of 'second thought', hauser's new marimba trio written for synergy in 2011 as well as some hard-hitting improvisation.

    "Fritz Hauser is simply one of the greatest drummers alive" New York Times
    synergypercussion.com

    fritzhauser.ch

     

    Read 3259 times
  • 30 Mar 2012
    Steve Barry / Eamon Dilworth

    One of those perfect, rare duets that work so well in the Cafe Church space and are almost impossible anywhere else.  Following on from Spike and Matt's sax/piano duet, this piano /trumpet duet will provide the perfect environment for these two best mates to bring everything they have to the music.  Original, improvised, new Sydney jazz.

    Steven Barry

    Eamon Dilworth

    Read 3924 times Read more...
  • 05 Apr 2012
    Bassmen

    Craig Scott and Brendan Clarke

    Double-bassists.  Double double bass.  The gentlemen of the F clef.

    It's the last in our explorations of improvising duets, and we're finishing on a low note.  Expect the resonant deep tones and sit back and enjoy the vibrations.

    You heard it right folks, it's a duo of double bass.

    Read 4061 times
  • 12 Apr 2012
    The Magical Mystery Group with Mike Nock

    A very exciting one-off performance which we have been hoping to confirm for months:

    A Magical Mystery Group with Mike Nock and two unnamed guests ( both recently recorded duo CDs with Mike )

    ( Clues from Mike )....... Think the legendary Jazz Co-op - Think Monk Pies - Jazz Studies course 1973-76 .......

    http://mikenock.com/

    Read 2906 times Read more...
  • 13 Apr 2012
    Hugh Wilson

    A Friday night gig

     

    Even if you don't know who Hugh Wilson is - you've definitely heard him... his powerful voice has been one of the most used sounds on Australian television - from tv commercials to aussie dramas. He first grabbed the attention of the media with his win of the StarSearch contest ( similar to Australian Idol ) in the early 1990s. He now lives in New York, and when he's not producing albums, he's writing and recording jingles for Sprite and Microsoft, or touring with Lenny Kravitz and AeroSmith.
    This concert will be a one time opportunity to hear Hugh in an acoustic and intimate setting - playing his own songs - with long time friends Andrew Massey on drums and Spike Mason on bass. Expect some special guests to sit in too...

     

    http://www.hughwilson.com/

     

     

    Read 3502 times
  • 19 Apr 2012
    Adjective Noun

    More sculptural than musical,
    more conceptual than actual.

    It's the Rolling Stones and Stormy Monday,
    it's Hot Gossip and the Bad Seeds,
    It's Blue Note and the Yellow House, the Blau Reiter and Black Sabbath.
    It's Cold Chisel and the Stone Roses, Pink Floyd, the White Stripes, Bad Religion and the Dirty Three.

    It's Adjective Noun, the free improvising quartet born from a decade of the event known as Free For All.  So free that the quartet may have two or four or six members, and may even include the audience.  So free that the only rule is that there must not be any rules.  A performance directed by an open ritual, developed over years of rehearsals in collaboration with hundreds of musicians and onlookers, refined to create a jazz music unrestricted by the rules of jazz...

    Read 4109 times
  • 26 Apr 2012
    Date Brothers

    The Date Brothers are well known for their guitar acrobatics in recreating the vibe and music of Django Reinhardt, the great French gypsy guitarist from the 1930’s.  Ian is regarded as one of the finest guitarists to have emerged from Australia. He has a long history of making music with many of the greatest musicians in the land as well as in Europe, where he is now based.  Nigel, also on guitar, has brought some outstanding bands to Colbourne Ave in recent years.
    Their last concert for us, late last year, left a very happy audience.  Ian is back in Australia for a short time and we are lucky to have him one more time.  This promises to be an exciting, excellent night of fine, swinging music.

    Read 3467 times
  • 03 May 2012
    Guy Strazz Eastern Blues CD Launch

    Guy Strazz: acoustic & electric guitars
    Aaron Flower
    : electric guitar
    Hugh Fraser
    : bass
    Toby Hall: drums

    Innovative master guitarist & composer, Guy Strazz, is in fine company for the launch of his new CD, Eastern Blues, with players such as Aaron, Hugh and Toby. This synergetic band will present a type of cross-cultural art-music improvisation and composition derived from  Latin jazz, funk and Indian music; influences that are integral musical expression of the Strazz World Jazz sound.

    Currently completing a PhD on improvisation, his stellar career has seen him perform at national and international jazz festivals and receive APRA, AIR and IAP nominations and an APRA award as well as the Australia Council Music Fellowships. Read more at guystrazz.com, or check the great story while you listen at myspace.com/guystrazzmusic.


    Performance time: one set only, followed by CD signing party afterwards
    (BYO) anything you like - dinner, snacks, beverages, friends (glasses provided).

    We hope that you can join us to celebrate this special occasion.

    Featuring

    Read 3207 times
  • 10 May 2012
    Spike's Farewell Gig

    Spike's Farewell Gig
    This will be Spike's last Sydney gig before he moves with his family to Tasmania.
    Spike will be joined by long time musical friends Barney Wakeford on piano, Aris Kartsonas on guitar, and Gabe Hons on percussion.
    They will be playing their favourite jazz standards, a few original tunes, and completely improvised pieces.
    Come along and hang with Spike as he does what he does best, and listen to some great music and a few stories too.
    If you're a muso, bring an instrument and sit in with the band. If you're not a muso, I'm sure we'll be able to find a tambourine for you if you like...

    Read 4609 times
  • 17 May 2012
    John Harkins Trio

    Another great night from John Harkins, the Chicago-born piano player who inhabits the time when Jazz and the Blues weren't different yet. He'll bring us the same swinging vibe he carries wherever he goes, but with all new material and arrangements.

    Read 3649 times
  • 24 May 2012
    Feel the Manouche

    Manouche is a term derived from the Romany gypsies of Europe, what we in Australia call gypsy jazz.

    This fine band has been put together by it's individual members as an exercise in small group swing.  Feel the Manouche has a 'world music' feel. Through it's use of double bass, guitar, accordion & fiddle, the band achieves a strong melodic groove that can take on gypsy waltzes, swing jazz, choro and many other flavours of music from our diverse planet. We invite you to sit back and 'Feel the Manouche'.

     

    The return to Colbourne Ave of George Washingmachine on violin, ukelele & vocal, with Arthur Washington on guitar, Clare O’Meara on acccordion, violin & vocal, and Stan Valacos on double bass.

    Read 3518 times
  • 31 May 2012
    Gavin Ahearn trio

    Last week, as i rode my pushie home through the glistening streets, i was thinking about this thing that we create together every thursday night.

    A generous community, a warm aesthetic, a space which invites an active engagement with a [ free/sophisticated/intuitive/embodied ] music. A vibe which perfectly marries a beautiful space, an energised audience, and excellent musicians.

    Barney and Andrew (that's me) do this without material reward, because Cafe Church allows us to use their space without strings attached, and to attach our own strings might break the magic.  It's a lot of work, choosing next week's musicians from the hundreds of great players we know, and letting all of you know about them.  But every Thursday night it's worth it.

    And as i thought these things, riding up the Annandale rise, i realised that i hadn't written anything for Gavin next week, and that he (like George last week, and Dave MacC who photographed this band the last time they played) is a perfect example of everything we have tried to do.  So without further ado, ladies and gentlement, Gavin Ahearn and his incredible trio.

    Read 3845 times
  • 07 Jun 2012
    John Blenkhorn trio


    John Blenkhorn returns to colbourne ave to do a final trio show  before jetting off to Ascona switzerland to play at the jazz festival there with an all australian band featuring emma pask and bob henderson.

    John is one of Sydneys finest guitarist and has performed and recorded with the likes of George Washingmachine and US trumpet giant and Harry Connick Jnr band member,  Leroy Jones.
    Tonight John will perform with Barney Wakeford (piano) and Tom Wade (bass), playing original arrangements of repetoire by Wes Montgomery, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Kenny Burrell.

    Read 5021 times
  • 14 Jun 2012
    Peter Locke Trio

    Peter grew up listening to early swing recordings, and by the time he was ten he fell in love with Bunny Berigan's trumpet.  He grew up to become a piano player, and there are few musicians today who can move so seamlessly from interpretations of the works of Bix Beiderbecke and Duke Ellington to Be-Bop and beyond.

     

    Read 4824 times
  • 21 Jun 2012
    Yellow Daze Trio (Susan Gai, Carl Dewhurst, Bernie McGann)

    this is what i wrote last year, and i can't think of anything better...

    Susan Gai changed the way i understand jazz singing.  She's a pillar of the Sydney jazz scene, and her generosity of spirit glows through every song she selects.

    Susan will sing with Carl Dewhurst on guitar - an incredibly versatile player of jazz, funk, glitch, grindcore, theatre and anything improvised.  Another great supporter of the jazz community, Carl has played everywhere and with everybody.

    And Bernie McGann on saxophone.  A legend of Australian jazz, one of our most awarded, most recognised, most original musicians.  He'll be bringing home fifty years pushing the boundaries of the alto sax.

    Three icons of Sydney jazz, distilling decades of experience into their totally distinctive jazz standards and original songs.

    Have a look at a video and some photos from their last show here.

    And if you still aren't sure... here's an invitation from Susan Gai herself!

    .

    Read 4470 times
  • 28 Jun 2012
    The Field

    The Field’s music is a meeting place of styles. You can hear jazz, blues, country and Celtic influences throughout. There are hints of Ry Cooder and Bill Frisell as well as Little Feat and the more obscure Celtic leanings of Pentangle and Richard Thompson. Here’s how Sydney music critic John Shand described their sound after hearing them play at the venerable Side On Café a few years ago:

    “The Field's music is immediately friendly, drawing the listener in with its obvious warmth and drawling geniality. With greater familiarity we find that, while it is by no means urban music, nor is it quite country. Perhaps it may best be described as Arcadian, given its pervasive stillness and radiant sense of contentment.”

    Shand’s comment is unwittingly correct, given that Bruce Reid’s birthplace is the eastern maritime provinces of Canada, the birthplace of Arcadian music. Despite many years in Australia, the influences are still evident. The slide guitarist is The Field’s founder and main writer, as well as being a member of Sydney’s renowned jazz group The Catholics.  He is also guitarist with Oz rock legends, Dragon and worked in that capacity with singer Wendy Matthews for over a decade.  

    On bass, Lloyd Swanton - one of Australia’s foremost jazz musicians. Swanton founded and still leads The Catholics. He is also a founding member of The Necks, perhaps Australia’s most successful jazz export.

    Guitarist John Stuart is an accomplished jazz guitarist, a respected composer and arranger and also a fine steel guitarist (See the Snaketown Rattlers). John is also a fine percussionist and was a member of the great Jackie Orszaczky Band during their historic 6 year residency at the Rose of Australia in Sydney. He is a producer and engineer (Pugsley Buzzard, Kate Rowe) and  his studio, Sound Heaven, situated in John’s hometown of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, is one of the busiest in the region.

    Drummer Hamish Stuart is a legend in this country. He was a mainstay with the late Jackie Orszaczky for several decades. He maintains an incredibly busy and diverse schedule these days, playing with The Catholics, Ian Moss, Lucie Thorne, Tina Harrod, Andrew Robson and Tim Rollinson. His discography is a veritable whose who of Australian Jazz, Rock and R&B.

    The Field have two critically acclaimed albums out, a self titled first CD and the second, News From Home, both out on Sydney’s prestigious jazz label, Rufus Records. They have just recorded their third release entitled Merle Takes a Holiday - they are not officially launching it until August so this will be a preview of the new songs.

    Listen to a few songs here : facebook.com/pages/The-Field/140177029388749

    Read 3608 times
  • 12 Jul 2012
    Francesca Prihasti

    Originally from Indonesia (in 2005, she led her quartet in the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival) and currently based in Sydney, Pianist Francesca Prihasti is studying under Mike Nock at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and comes to Colbourne Ave having recently played with Dale Barlow in his Sidewoman project. Her six piece band featuring drumming dynamo Nic Cecire, Bassist David Groves and guitarist Nic Vardanega, will be playing original compositions and arrangements of standards, imbued with Prihasti's poise and crystaline focus.

    Read 3920 times
  • 26 Jul 2012
    Barney Wakeford Trio

    Barney Wakeford is a truly innovative pianist and improviser. Catch his trio in the intimate surrounds of Colbourne Ave. Expect the unexpected.

     

    Read 3462 times
  • 09 Aug 2012
    Invenio

    Formed by the gifted singer/composer, Gian Slater in 2010, Invenio is large ensemble of improvising and contemporary singers who experiment and extend upon the typical vocal group or choral environment through conceptual composition, extended vocal technique, fluid improvising, choreographed movement and inventive performance. Their debut CD, Gone, without saying, was comissioned by the Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival.  It is a remarkable large-ensemble work. Since then, they have premiered Gian’s second large work ‘Us and Others’, with Speak Percussion (2011).

    Invenio have featured in performances with singer/songwriter, Lior and the with the Black Arm Band, Ricki Lee Jones, Mavis Staples, Archie Roach and Joss Stone.  In 2011, they performed and recorded for NY pianist/composer, Barney McAll’s Graft project.

    gianslater.com/invenio-singers/

     

    Featuring

    Read 2243 times
  • 16 Aug 2012
    Ultrafox

     

    ULTRAFOX   EAST COAST TOUR  AUGUST 2012

    From the musical melting pot of Melbourne comes ULTRAFOX, a three piece combination of musicians that draw their inspiration from the music of Django Reinhardt , among others, and present their music with the spirit , knowledge and experience that is the touchstone of its creation.

    Formed over 3 years ago, ULTRAFOX features the sparkling acoustic  guitar playing of Peter Baylor and Jon Delaney ,underpinned by the solid swing of Kane Borlase on double bass. The Band presents tunes and songs that have been overlooked by the standard performance repertoire and add their own twist to arrangements of familiar tunes as well as a host of originals. They deliver all this with the driving, muscular acoustic guitar technique of the gypsy swing style .Listeners to the band will be treated to an exciting musical journey with a very swinging dynamic sound.

    Well known to Australian and international audiences for his playingand singing  in a wide variety of styles such as Western swing, Rockabilly and various jazz styles, Peter Baylor has played professionally since 1980. Some of the bands he has played in include The Dancehall Racketeers,Blue Drag,  The Baylor Brothers, Mic Conways Whoopee band, Sweet Atmosphere, The Stringbusters, The Starliners , Doug Parkinson to name but a few in his long career. He has toured  overseas to Japan, The United States and Europe on several occasions and has shared the stage and supported international acts such as Bob Dylan, The Stray cats, Robert Plant, Dale Watson, Ronnie Dawson, Mike Compton,Lulo Reinhardt, Wayne Hancock, Deke Dickerson, Flaco Jimenez , Dan Crary and Rosie Flores.

    Jon Delany is fast emerging as one of the more gifted and robust guitar players on the Australian scene. A VCA graduate Jon has taken to the gypsy style of playing like he was born for it. He has played extensively throughout Europe and Canada , and in 2011 undertook studies with the great gypsy jazz stylist Fapy Lefertin. His guitar work can also be heard in contemporyjazz combo’s in  Melbourne   as well as  “La mavaise Reputation”that plays French chanson as well as gypsy swing among other contempory jazz .

    Kane Borlase is in demand for his swinging bass playing and has has a strong track record with some of Melbourne’s best jazz and roots based bands such as Duck musique, Ken Shroeder trio and The Brunswick blue shooters.

    The band have a new cd out “ Chasing Shadows” recorded with some of Australia’s finest jazz Musicians including Michael Mcquaid on saxophone and Clarinet, Peter’s brother Andy Baylor on violin, and Julie O’Hara on Vocals. It will be available at the gigs.  “ Beautifully crafted….Unless some other band comes up with something really out of the box this would be my choice for the winning Australian jazz record of 2012” Jane La scala  jazz  lines  www.jazzramble.com

    For more information please visit www.ultrafoxswing.com or www.peterbaylor.com or contact Peter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0430 484 373.

    Ultrafox play Colbourne avenue Church café Glebe with special guest Daniel Weltlinger on violin.

     

    Read 3112 times
  • 23 Aug 2012
    Nic Jeffries Quartet

    Come farewell everyone's favourite beaming drummer Cam Reid before he heads overseas, and cheer him on with the NIC JEFFERRIES QUARTET, with Jono Brown on bass and Tim Fisher on Piano.

    “... this guys KNOWS WHERE IT’S AT!” Kurt Elling, Grammy Award winning Jazz Vocalist

    “Nic has that natural groove that draws the audience into a song, to hear Nic is to feel good!” James Morrison, 2012

    “... one of a select few who’s path to serious recognition throughout Australia as a highly respected Artist is ASSURED!” Peter March, FM99.3

    Read 3544 times
  • 30 Aug 2012
    John Maddox  with Nadyas 101 candle orchestra

    John Maddox, the bass/kazoo player of a hundred bands.  He's played a dozen times at Colbourne Ave, he must have spent hundreds of hours busking on King St, and he's played all over Sydney, Australia and the world with Mr Bamboo, Bellyache Ben, Charlie and the Maddox Factory, Djangoholix, Glitch Jukebox, and so many more.  But until now he has never recorded under his own name.  Come and hear the genius, the inspiration, the amazing, the brilliant, the eccentric, the maestro [i found those words by searching the web for john maddox bass] John Maddox.

    yumyumtree.com.au/john-maddox

    ... and ...

    joining him will be one of his most long-term bands, Nadya's 101 Candles Orchestra.  Nadya Golski has led this unique gypsy/jazz/pacific/klezmer band to success throughout Australia and Europe.  Regularly filling the fabulous room at Qirkz, this will be their first appearance at Colbourne Ave.

    nadya.com.au

    ps check out this Eastside playlist for a few of John's influences

    Read 2808 times Read more...
  • 06 Sep 2012
    The League of Rosebud

    Forged in the searing desert sands of the Persian Gulf, The League of Rosebud has groovy restraint yet bluesy swing - picture Ahmed Jamal, Ray Brown, and Paul Motion in an oasis in Abu Dhabi.

    Barney Wakeford on keys, Steve Lee on drums Nick Hoorweg on bass.

    and special guest, Con Campbell on sax for the second set.

    Read 3572 times
  • 07 Sep 2012
    Jimmy The Fish

    "I went to the Jimmy The Fish Troubadour concert at this year’s National Folk Festival on the strength of Frencham’s reputation alone. What I discovered was lovely laidback show showcasing some beautiful bluegrass-tinged folk songs. Liz Frencham is joined in Jimmy The Fish by Robbie Long (Mic Conway, The Lawnmowers) and Pete Fidler (Bluestone Junction, The Somervilles, Bill Jackson) but rather than it being just a folk-festival-supergroup, the band have created a sound that will appeal to fans both new and established.

    Fidler’s slide guitar is by far the most distinguishing feature of Jimmy The Fish, giving the band their bluegrass/country feel. Add to this Robbie Long’s expert guitar skills and Liz Frencham’s smooth voice and bass and the group really comes together."

    ~Timber & Steel folk music blog 2011

    Read 3347 times
  • 13 Sep 2012
    Mike Nock / Laurenz Pike 'Kindred' album launch

    On the piano: a jazz legend, a man who has been at the coalface of Australian improvised music for decades. On the drums: his former student, and a recording artist for one of the world’s most prestigious electronic labels alongside the likes of Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus, Autechre and Grizzly Bear.

    Two generations of Australian music come together in the music of Mike Nock and Laurenz Pike. It’s a musical conversation across the years, united by a commitment to storytelling through improvisation and the tradition of music as a spiritual, emotional, communicative art form.

    Come and join these two distinct musicians celebrate the release of this special album in a debut live performance in the round, in the intimate and relaxed space of Glebe's Colbourne Ave.

    Read 3744 times Read more...
  • 19 Sep 2012
    Janet Seidel “I LOVE A PIANO”

    IT'S A WEDNESDAY!

    Popular Australian singer and pianist, Janet Seidel has a new and unique Australian tour coming up starting in September. The tour will see her trio perform at venues, large or small, country or city, as long as they have a real piano - that valuable instrument that seems to be joining the list of endangered species.  In the not so distant past, musicians plied their trade in venerable community establishments like Town Halls, theatres or Schools of Arts.  Often with wooden interiors, suitable for purely acoustic music of any genre, and always possessing a piano, the music could be simply presented, whatever the style.

    Having just returned from the best part of 2011-2012 working in the UK and Europe, Janet noticed that an even longer tradition in England seems often to be falling below par, due to the same cause – a common lack of real pianos as they seem to disappear from venues that used to maintain one.  So, as a positive show of appreciation Janet’s well travelled trio will travel far and wide to showcase the pianos kept with love, by venues with the good taste to keep them on.

    Though she is happy to acknowledge the description bestowed by Penguin’s Guide to Jazz on CD (UK) as “Australia’s first lady of jazz singing”, Janet’s trio in fact presents quite a variety of the music they love, a happy circumstance, which seems to help reach new fans every time they perform.

    Featuring

    Read 7702 times
  • 20 Sep 2012
    Harry Sutherland Trio

    Harry Sutherland is one of Australia’s most promising young jazz pianists. In 2010 he won the James Morrison Scholarship at the Generations in Jazz festival in Mount Gambier. He recorded a set of music for ABC Jazz digital radio and had a track played on Jazztrack with Mal Stanley. He plays with Geoff Bull and the Finer Cuts, Mike Rivett, Matilda Abraham and A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Orchestra among many others.

    This newly formed ensemble will mainly play Harry's original compositions. It features Thomas Botting on double bass and James Waples on drums

    here he is at the ABC with another trio : abcjazz.net.au/features/abc-jazz-recording-harry-sutherland-trio

     

    Read 3051 times
  • 27 Sep 2012
    Ken Allars Trio

    Ken Allars is one of Australia’s most in demand young jazz trumpeters, performing regularly throughout Sydney with many of the finest musicians in the country. Winner of the 2011 Generations in Jazz Scholarship, Ken has recently returned from a semester on exchange at the Jazz Institute Berlin and is in his final year of study at the Sydney Conservatorium. Last year Ken recorded an album with the Mike Nock Trio Plus, entitled ‘Hear and Know’.

    Mike Nock has uncovered a formidable talent; a young trumpeter who thinks unique melodic thoughts.”

    He's playing with Mike at 505 on Wednesday night, and on Thursday you can hear his new trio featuring two of the country’s most outstanding young improvising musicians, Tom Wade on the double bass and Finn Ryan on the drums, this trio creates a unique blend of colours and textures through their distinctive compositions and thrilling improvisations.

    Read 2807 times Read more...
  • 04 Oct 2012
    3+2=5 quintet : Spike Mason
    "I only get to visit the mainland every so often, and I really wanted to play some new music with some old friends in my favourite venue. So I called some musos that I like playing with and asked them to come and play. Each person in the group will be writing and arranging new music just for this night so they'll be many beautiful new melodies and harmonies. It'll be a unique and special gig, and I hope you'll enjoy all the sounds as much as I will... Spike"
    Mike Kenny - trumpet, flugalhorn
    Matt Greubner - double bass
    Richard Maegraith - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
    Barney Wakeford - piano,rhodes
    Spike Mason - alto and soprano saxophones
    Read 3135 times
  • 11 Oct 2012
    The Monday Club + What It Is

    Two ensembles from the home of Sandy Evans and Tony Gorman - and it's Tony's birthday!

    The Monday Club

    The amazing improvising ensemble convened by Tony every Monday.  The topic of choice is free improvisation and happily the participants like listening as much as playing.  The pieces are open fields on which ideas gently intertwine into fascinating sound worlds.

    Tony Gorman : alto clarinet
    Mary Rapp : cello
    Stephen Morley : horn
    Boyd : contrabass clarinet

    mondayclub.com.au

    What It Is

    Three friends with a passion for creative dialogue through music

    Neville Whitehead - SASE Bass.
    Neville has played with Charlie Munro, Jean Luc Ponty and Sugarcane Harris, Keith Tippett, Gary Burton, Dusty Springfeild, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Nucleus, Sun Tredder, Caparius and Soft Machine. 
He has played before the Queen, Spike Milligan and Peter Ustinov to drop but a few names.
    www.nevillewhitehead.com

    Greg Johns - Drums.
    A diverse experience over a quarter century has given Greg a broad palette for his musical expression. 
From Jazz, African, Latin, Rock and commercial environments Greg’s stints within these genre’s and beyond perfectly suit the open improvisational expression of What It Is.

    Sandy Evans
    Sandy is well known for her work with the Sandy Evans Trio and Sextet, The catholics, the Australian Art Orchestra, MARA! Ten Part Invention, Bobby Singh, austraLYSIS,  SNAP, Waratah, GEST8 and Kim Sanders. Sandy has won many Awards including an OAM, AIR Best Independent Jazz Record 2011, Australian Jazz Musician of The Year 2003, and 3 ARIAs.
    sandyevans.com.au

    Read 5637 times
  • 18 Oct 2012
    TJ Eckleberg

    TJ Eckleberg returns from Berlin to Sydney for an intimate solo set showcasing songs spanning his career and work from recently released West & Lime.
    A journey spanning twenty years and five independent albums, TJ Eckleberg fuses soulful vocals, jagged guitars and urban grooves with holler blues, poetry and a willingness to push boundaries in independent soul and alternative rock.
    In 2012’s West & Lime ‘70s glam collides with cascading tremolo; tape echo bounces from buzz-saw bass and velvet overdrive; raucous organs grind like lovers in the backseat. It’s only the end of the world you know, only the end of the world... The guitar trembles and spits between fuzz and uncertainty – is it the end of the world? Or the world we once knew?
    West & Lime is available as a free download from http://www.tjeckleberg.bandcamp.com
    His recording career spans five independent releases: jazz-tinged Waiting Room (1997); the bright eyed pop of SUPERHYDRATED (2000); tone poem illumineon (2003); soulful When you get down to it (2008); and dirty rock trio West & Lime (2012).
    TJ's solo sets are rare, his music is always surprising.

    Read 3790 times
  • 25 Oct 2012
    Adjective Noun

    More sculptural than musical,
    more conceptual than actual.

    It's Good Charlotte and Bad Religion,
    it's Crooked Fiddle and the Stiff Gins,
    It's Einstürzende Neubauten and the Dirty Three,
    It's Blue Note and the Yellow House, the Blau Reiter and Black Sabbath.

    It's Adjective Noun, the free improvising quartet born from a decade of the event known as Free For All.  So free that the quartet may have two or four or six members, and may even include the audience.  So free that the only rule is that there must not be any rules.  A performance directed by an open ritual, developed over years of rehearsals in collaboration with hundreds of musicians and onlookers, refined to create a jazz music unrestricted by the rules of jazz...

     

    read a discussion on our name on Steve Albini's forum

    Read 2982 times
  • 01 Nov 2012

    This Thursday, Barney and AnneMarie and Andrew all have other things to do.
    so the doors will be closed, and colbourne ave will be silent.

    we encourage you to see the beautiful 1920s  Gregory Page (with Liz Frencham) at The Vanguard,

    or the very funky Colours Tribute Band at 505

    or the gypsy jazz Chasing The Moon at Camelot

    or New Orleans piano legend Jon Cleary at the Basement

    or hear Kelly Joe Phelps play the blues at Blue Beat

    or see what's on at the Kinema (they haven't published their November program yet)

    Read 1533 times
  • 08 Nov 2012
    Gavin Ahearn trio

    I asked Gavin about the music.  He said it'll be more Jackson Pollock than Ken Done.

    these guys are heavy.

     

    Read 2773 times Read more...
  • 15 Nov 2012
    Francesca Prihasti quartet

    Francesca returns with a quartet - James Waples on drums, Alex Boneham on bass, and Nic Verdanega on guitar.

    Read 2791 times
  • 22 Nov 2012
    Floor van der Holst : 1st Floor album launch

    This is an exciting event. The first ever performance of new songs from Floor van der Holst upcoming release of her debut album “1st Floor”, produced by Philip South.

    Floors musical background is an exciting mix of classical singing and piano (The Netherlands), jazz singing (Spain) and Musicology (University of Amsterdam). To describe Floors music is simple. Harmonically the music is driven by vocals. Stylistically the music is driven by the story. Atmospherically the music is percussion driven. Metaphorically the music faces various characters.
    Remarkably, it still makes sense.

    “1st Floor” travels through many different musical styles. Jazz, Pop, R&B, Western Classical, Latin, Folk, Drum ‘n Bass and French Chanson are mapped out, whilst improvisation is the link to making all the styles come together to form Floors style. One could call it Social music, NuJazz, M-Base - if you like TJ Eckleberg you'll like Floor.
    www.floorvanderholst.com

    Read 2798 times Read more...
  • 29 Nov 2012
    Steve Crain album launch
    The long awaited album launch of the long awaited debut album from guitarist Steve Crain, featuring
    Darren Heinrich (organ/keys),
    Richard MaeGraith (sax),
    Pete Kohlhoff (bass)
    Andrew Massey (drums)
    Steve's compositions reflect his love of the Blue Note era, combining catchy melodies, sophisticated harmonies and infectious grooves. Music for your head, hips and heart!
    Read 2580 times Read more...
  • 06 Dec 2012
    Colbourne Ave Christmas party

    We'll drink.  We'll play.  We'll talk schemes and hatch plans and tell stories of great music that there was and great music to come.

    free entry

    open piano

    and i have a bottle of rye whiskey from John C Riley's rider which he has generously donated to our party.

    come on down and put your feet up.

    Read 1354 times
  • 13 Dec 2012
    Daryl Pratt sextet

    Six incredible musicians playing complex yet beautiful compositions influenced by recent developments in improvised music. Blending acoustic and electronic sounds, the band's repertoire is all new pieces written by Daryl especially for these outstanding musicians. Daryl Pratt has been Chair of the Percussion Unit at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 1991, and for decades he has worked at the forefront of Australia's new jazz as a memer of AtmaSphere, Synergy, and the Australian Art Orchestra.

    Richard Maegraith - saxophones
    Matt Mcmahon
    - keyboards
    Emile Nelson
    - bass
    Philip South
    - electronics & percussion
    Jared Underwood
    - drums
    Daryl Pratt - vibraphone

     

    Listen here : http://www.myspace.com/thedarylprattsextet

    Read 3135 times

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