Artists Profiles (Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Acoustic)

Aaron Choulai - Born in Papua New Guinea. A pianist who has recorded with top New York musicians such as James Genus and Clarence Penn. Performs with his own sextet and takes influences from Motuan chants, traditional Jewish and classical musics. Aaron Flower  - Guitarist and composer of intellect and beautiful melodic qualities. Collaborator with Vince Jones and Elana Stone. Flower blossoms however leading his own groups and presenting his own original compositions. Adam Pache  - Adam's passion, professionalism and knowledge of the various jazz idioms have kept him in high demand, having performed and recorded with many of Australia's most respected musicians, including Don Burrows, Mike Nock, Dale Barlow, Janet Seidel, Emma Pask, Bernie McGann, James Muller, Jonathan Zwartz and Barney McCall, as well as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. In the pursuit of greater knowledge and experience, Adam has spent a great deal of time studying in New York City, where he now resides, with drummers Carl Allen (Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard), Greg Hutchinson (Betty Carter, Ray Brown) and Rodney Green (Christian McBride, Greg Osby). Alex Compton - currently leading a jazz duo named "C'est si bon", singing in French a number of French songs, as well as some Jazz and Bossa Nova classics.(Alex grew up in France and after 21 years returned to Sydney in 1993). Alex Compton, on upright bass, vocals and hi hats, and Trevor Gascoigne on guitar. Alex Legg  - Foot-stomping rhythms, rolling syllables are evident in Alex's performances, and in particular in his unique approach to guitar playing. Fed by many musical rivers since those early times on the farm, his influences include The Rolling Stone, Beatles, Kinks, Johnny Cash and Kris, Willie and Prine. Alex now writes songs that transcend genre and will take you through a picture-book of experience, past a country-song take on love and commitment, and into the Motown-rhythm of 'You Gotta Laugh Sometimes' then onto a funk-folk, 'Come Sit Ye Down Awhile'. A harmonica-laced 'Seven Creatures' swing by, walking their blues-tinged dogs! Alex Silver - Trombonist who studied in Switzerland and was a finalist in the James Morrison Scholarship at the Mt Gambier Jazz Festival. She leads her own quartet which is a showcase for her own original compositions. She is a graduate of jazz studies Course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2006 Alex won the inaugural Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and performed at the Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival. Adrian Cunningham Quartet  - Originals and standards led by the young and versatile Adrian Cunningham. Bebop and beyond. Aside from being a gifted Saxophonist, Clarinettist, Flautist and Pianist, he is also an accomplished composer, arranger and bandleader. In the last few years, Adrian has risen to become one of the most versatile and sought after musicians in Sydney as a freelance musician and featured soloist. Read more... Trio Apoplectic  - A piano-less ensemble made up of Dave Jackson on alto, Alex Masso on drums and Abel Cross on bass having emerged out of the Sydney Conservatorium, the trio have built upon the foundation of the Bernie McGann trio but individual passages of free-form improvisation embellishes their sound along with lesser known compositions from Mal Waldron and Thelonious Monk. Adrian Klumpes  - "Klumpes proves to have a distinct voice in the genre of modern electro-acoustic piano music, and when he gets it right you don't forget it easily." - BOOMKAT. Adrian is also the pianist in the electro-improvisational trio 3ofmillions. Aerobleu  - Known for the party vibe they create in their shows Aerobleu combines soul, funk, reggae and R&B, with honest, original song-writing with Simon Relf - Guitar/Vocals Bob Kirkpatrick - Trumpet/Keyboard/Vocals Marc Llewellyn - Bass Alex Masso - Drums. Afro Moses - Nine piece African multicultural band Al Davey  - Plays trumpet in his own group the 'Monstars'. Studying under James Morrison, Roger Frampton, Paul McNamara and Judy Bailey etc he developed a firm grounding in the more modern styles of jazz. With recognition as one of the truly versatile musicians in Sydney, Al is at home playing authentic 'trad' jazz, be bop and beyond, latin, and is an established lead trumpeter in big band sections. Capable of reaching 'James Morrisonesque' high notes on the trumpet. Read more... Alcohotlicks - Defying modern Jazz conventions in search of a fresh approach, the trio have forged a sound all of their own. Their original compositions are influenced by all areas of guitar music from folk and blue grass to heavy rock and Indian. Two guitars and cajon. A trio lead by Evan Mannell, Aaron Flower and Ben Hauptmann. Read more... Alister Spence  - unique original piano compositions by one of the most influential and distinguished piano players in Australia. Anchor of Clarion Fracture Zone and Australian Art Orchestra. 'A Spence tune is immediately substantial, broad in its possibilities and cerebral and earthy at the same time' Shane Nichols, AFR. Read more... Allan Browne - Drummer Allan Browne has been leading bands since 1960 (The Red Onions amongs others), and was a member of the Paul Grabowsky Trio for 20 years. Remarkable ability to cross between jazz genres seamlessly. Andrew Dickeson  - One of the world’s great post bop drummers. A finalist in the 1991Thelonious Monk competition and the first choice for many visiting international jazz players. Able to create melodic and edgey solos reminiscent of Philly Jo Jones, Art Taylor and Art Blakey with one of the most relaxed and effortless techniques. Andrew exemplifies the jazz drumming text book. Has supported such heavyweights as Branford Marsalis, Lee Konitz and Johnny Griffin. He is currently the Principal Lecturer of Jazz Drums at the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the same time being one of the country’s most sourt after jazz drummers. Andrea Keller  - Since winning the inaugural Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2001, an ARIA award in 2002 for her CD Thirteen Sketches, a Bell Award in 2003 for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album and the ARIA award for Best Jazz Album in 2004, pianist composer Andrea Keller has become recognised more widely as an original voice on the Australian jazz scene. "One of this Country's most daring and fascinating composers" - Leon Gettler. Read more... and more... Andrew Robertson  - Tenor saxophonist from the school of Lester Young but keen to explore the extensions of Hard-bop. Read more... Andy Fiddes  - Trumpeter/composer of 'joyful and creative exuberance, showing some of the fresh and musically exciting possibilities remaining to be explored within the jazz tradition' Mike Nock. Leads the band 'Survival of the Fiddes' formed in 2000 as a showcase for Andy's compositions. Andy has performed with The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, Phil Slater's Very Very Interactive Band and Adrian Klumpes Four Degrees. After graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium, Andy lived in the UK in 2003 and 2004, where he worked with musicians Seb Rochford and Larry Bartley, winners of the BBC Jazz Rising Star award. He also performed as a headline act for the 'Australian Jazz' section of Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome. Read more... and more... Andy Firth - Andy is not only one of the finest clarinet and saxophone players in the world today, but he is also a gifted composer and a dedicated educator. Wherever he performs, he leaves critics and fellow players gasping in awe of his ability to either dazzle with his blindingly fast, fluent technique or his soulful, beautiful tone. Andrew Robson   - Hard swinging and direct, with a jumping, danceable melodic quality that references Ornette Coleman. Now a solid member of the iconic group Ten Part Invention and The World According to James. Andrew has a style on alto saxophone heavily weighted in the post bop genre. In 2003 Andrew was awarded the Freedman Jazz Fellowship. His trio subsequently performed at JazzFest Berlin to great acclaim. Anita Mahon  - Irish born Anita Mahon is a vocalist/ actress and vocal tutor. She has spent most of her creative life living and working in the West of Ireland. Although the theatre has been her home away from home, the path of discovery to the inner voice has been one of her life's most important quests. This journey has lead to her studying and collaborating with many musicians, performers and body workers and to the exploration of a wide variety of singing styles including jazz, choral, traditional Irish and Asian chant. Anita has worked with a number of choirs and formed and directed a number of vocal ensembles namely, Danú-sa, the Swingettes and the Clarinbridge Singers. Anita Pollard -www.anitasong.com Anita Spring  - Sydney talent Anita Spring, is responsible for the hit ‘Blink (Stay A Little Longer)’… With an uplifting and soulful sound, Anita’s jazz vocals are unique. Whether performing with a big band or the glitz of a grand piano, there are few finer examples of Australian vocal talent. Ant - A saxophone trio formed by Mathew Clare, using concepts as the core to songs, Ant chews bits of ideas until hammer time comes. Armandito Y Su Trovason  – High energy original Afro-Cuban band led by Armando Garcia Perez. Their repertoire includes some of the most popular rhythms of Cuba including son, danzon and bolero. Aronas  - Led by Aron Ottignon, this quartet has two drummers and has a huge percussive and bass sound but sufficient space for the keyboard of Ottignon to improvise through. The band has developed somewhat of a cult following amongst in Sydney's youth, appealing to grunge rockers and art music lovers alike. Aron Ottignon  - Aron made an impact on the Australian scene at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival when he won second place in the National Jazz Piano Competition at the age of 16. He has since built a considerable reputation working with James Morrison, Jackie Orszaczky and his own trio. Ashley Turner  - Bop based double bass player who studied with Ron Carter in New York City in the 1990's. Performs with his own Quartet and an in demand side man. Arrebato  - – Led by guitarist Greg Alfonzetti, Arrebato is an original musical work of contemporary Flamenco featuring cello, mandolin, bass, guitar and drums. Attaclapse - 9 piece Afrobeat Orchestra Balcano - Led by George Doukas, Balcano crosses cultural boundaries to perform an exciting fusion of everything from traditional Greek and Balkan tunes to Bulgarian and Hungarian Gypsy music, and contemporary Serbian songs. The group blends the bouzouki, guitar, baglama, tzoura, percussion, drums, bass, and keyboards with clarinet, saxophone and trumpet. Balcano’s performance delivers a big sound with great dance rhythms. Balcan Quartet - Formed around the guitar duo Pera & Pera, the Balkan quartet play a fusion of Serbian, Gypsy, Slavic and Eastern European music. Experience this popular fusion of sounds created by these four highly-experienced and talented musicians that comprise the Balkan Quartet. Banda Mundo - Groovy fresh original Brazilian Jazz dance music infused with influences from all over the world. Featuring top musicians from the Brazilian, Jazz, Pop and Gypsy scene, these guys really know how to play and entertain! Band of Five Names - Formed in 1998, BOFN has become one of the most important and renowned free Jazz groups in Australia. Their music evolves out of a blend of composed structures and free improvisation defying categories as it draws together many influences from contemporary Jazz to Western classical music and from traditional music to modern electronica. Bellhops - 6 piece rhythm and blues band. . Bellhops were the 2003 Australian Blues Awards (the Chain Awards) Band of the Year and had Album of the Year for their release 'No Reservations'. They were runner up for the 1999 album of the year with their debut release 'Room Service'. Ben Jones  - – Tenor saxophonist in the tradition of greats Ben Webster and Scott Hamilton. Benny's Boys - Led by Trevor Rippingale, the Band celebrates the music of the King of Swing, Benny Goodman Ben Waples  - Young bass player of choice who has the rare ability of making his instrument sing in a variety of modern settings. Ben Winkelman - Diverse, dynamic, hard-hitting, free-thinking, the Ben Winkelman Trio is a contemporary jazz piano trio that draws on diverse influences, which range from Herbie Hancock to Jelly Roll Morton, Brazilian music, Afro-Cuban music, gospel and Bartok. Bernie McGann  - One of the most distinctive alto players in the world. Hard Bop at it's best. Bernie's unique alto saxophone voice, now as well recognised in Europe and the US as here in Australia. 'there is no more instantly engaging nor distinctive alto saxophone sound on the planet than McGann's' John Shand. Performs with his quartet including Warwick Alder, Andrew Dickeson drums and Brendan Clarke bass and often in the Susan Gai Dowling Band. Bernie has performed at the famous Ronnie Scott’s club in London. In 1992, 1995 and 1997 Bernie won ARIAS for Best Australian Jazz Album. Bill Dudley's New Orleanians - New Orleans style Jazz with cornet, trombone and clarinet Bill Risby  - One of the most versatile keyboardists in the country. Bill performs with his own trio, the Adrian Cunningham Quartet and a number of other contemporary jazz bands. With a background in both jazz and classical, Bill Risby has performed extensively in Australia, played with many international artists, including Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and Julio Iglesias, a diverse array of Australian popular artists from Marcia Hines to Daryl Braithwaite and recorded six albums to date. Blaine Whittaker  - Blaine is undeniably one of the most sought after saxophonists in Australia with his band, GrooveBag, and as a freelance musician. In 1990, Blaine graduated from the Brisbane Conservatorium. In 1991, Blaine received the top prize at Generations in Jazz, the James Morrison scholarship, recognising him as the most promising new Jazz artist in Australia. Since that time, he has become a permanent member and featured soloist of the James Morrison Sextet touring nationally and internationally. Bob Barnard  - probably Australia's most internationally respected traditional/mainstream Jazz musician. Barnard has made an art of original and logical improvisation on the trumpet especially in the mainstream genre. Bob has received the Order of Australia, two Mo Awards was the 1997 Jazz Performer of the Year and has been the featured artist on many occasions at London's Ronnie Scotts. Interview... Bob Bertles - integral member of Ten Part Invention, Bertles is a master of the saxophones and flute. Bob is one of the founders of the Sydney hard-bop scene of the late 1950's and early 1960's when he played jazz in his spare time and in the horn sections of bands like Johnny O'Keefe's to pay the bills. His quintet has the feel of classic hard bop. He remains just as important to that scene today. His quintet enjoys the wonderful talent of trumpeter Warwick Alder. Bobby Gebert  - One of Australia's foremost post bop pianists.. There is little doubt that Bobby Gebert is one of Australia's elite jazz musicians, with over 40 years of outstanding achievements here and abroad, a pianist renowned for his excellent interpretation of Thelonious Monk, creativity and command of bebop based idioms. Now fronting a rhythm section of younger musicians well known on the Sydney scene, he continues to search for new musical territory, creating inspiring solos from compositions from the standard jazz repertoire (Monk, Ellington) to lesser known pieces and his originals ' swing, elegance of phrase and improvisational flair are Gebert's trade marks. Bobby Singh   - Studied tablas in Bombay with the legendary Nikhil Ghosh, and now divides his time between India and Australia, where he has quickly become a 'must see' performer on the world music circuit as well as the Indian Classical scene. He has performed with Ashok Roy, Shubha Mudgal, Aneesh Pradhan, Slava Grigoriyan, Joseph Tawadros and Flamenco Dreaming . He is currently working with The Bird, Circle of Rhythm and Dha. Bob Henderson Jazz Band  - ex Graeme Bell Allstars with Louis Armstrong influence. Graeme Bell invited him to join the All Stars in 1979 and during the 80's performed extensively throughout Australia and internationally. Currently he is involved with the Graeme Bell Reunion Band organised to celebrate Graeme's 90th. Bob Montgomery  - Internationally recognised trumpeter who has performed with Sammy Davis Jr, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Clark Terry and Nancy Wilson. Bob Sedergreen - www.bobsedergreen.com Bonnie J Jensen  - Performs in solo, duo and trio on piano. Vocal Jazz standards and pop tunes with a Jazz sensibility Read more... Brandon O’Donnell  - – Having played Australia wide and also Internationally Brandon O’Donnell has made his mark as a versatile and respected bassplayer. Brandon has played with many of Sydney’s best artists, musicians and bands and has studied under some of the countries best bassplayers including Steve Hunter, Mark Costa and Andrew Meisel. With a vast array of local, national and international tours under his belt, playing in all manner of musical situations Brandon O’Donnell’s ability to slip into any scenario has made him a highly sought after bass-player and one to watch. Brendan Clarke   - Brendan has built a reputation as one of the most in demand bass players on the Sydney scene. He's worked with Sandy Evans, Dale Barlow, Bobby Gebert, James Morrison, Bernie McGann, Don Burrows and George Golla. Brett Hirst   - Brett's ability to play creative bass over a wide range of styles has lead to him becoming one of the most sought after bass players in the Australian jazz scene. In 2001 he qualified as one of 10 national finalists at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz National Jazz Awards Bass Competition. Brett Spokes - Saxophonist has earned himself an impressive reputation as both a performer and arranger across a diverse range of genres including Jazz, Classical and Fusion. As a session musician in Melbourne, Brett worked with a number of headline acts such as Peter Sullivan and Billy Cobham. He is actively involved in Music Ministry as a performer and arranger, and as a leading Music Educator. Brett and his wife Rebecca are the directors of Faith City Academy of the Arts, Wodonga. He has studied saxophone with leading Australian saxophonists Barry Cockcroft and Lachlan Davidson. Brett's influences include artists such as Michael Brecker, David Leibman, Everette Harp, and Dave Koz to name a few. He has performed regularly with Funk Bands in and around Melbourne and is constantly exploring new directions in music performance. Bridge City Jazz Band - Dixieland Jazz for dancing. Expect the unexpected sit in. Cafe Society Orchestra - Reproducing the classic Jazz era. Paul Whiteman to Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman & more. Calle Macondo - Calle Macondo plays an exclusive repertoire of Latin American classic musical styles and rhythms covering cumbia, salsa, son, bullaranga, danzon and more. Beautiful melodies and poetic lyrics inspired by people and their sacred landscapes blend with the magical flavour and hypnotic powers of the drum and its African roots in a performance that will make you want to dance! Calvin Turner - Originally from New Orleans, this 21 year old has played bass with BB King, Kenny Loggins, Larry Carlton and the Temptations. He now plays drums and is based in Sydney. Cameron Undy  - Performs with his own group 20th Century Dog. Electronic Funk and Groove. Cameron Undy, originally from Canberra,Cameron has played with many notable Jazz artists in Australia including Mike Nock, Roger Frampton, Ten Part Invention, Dale Barlow, Paul Grabowsky and Bernie McGann. He has also worked with overseas artists Don Pullen, Sam Rivers, Eddie Aklaff and Vincent Herring. Read more... Cam McAllister  – Trumpet player/composer from Melbourne, Australia. Some of the musicians/bands he has toured or played with include: Alice Cooper, Natalie Imbruglia, Roger Daltrey, Jimmy Barnes, Petula Clark, Peter Frampton, Hugh Jackman and Joe Camilleri's JazzHeads, Gordon Brisker, Jamie Oehlers, Rumberos and the Melbourne Jazz Orchestra. In addition, Cam is writing for and leading his own quintet involving some of Australia's premier jazz musicians including: Dave Rex, Mark Fitzgibbon, Tamara Murphy, Ben VanderWal. Cam is currently in the Melbourne Navy Band and gigging around Melbourne. Carl Dewhurst  - Exciting and Funky Groove Based Post Bop Guitarist. It should be no surprise that Carl is a member of the Australian Art Orchestra. His Quartet is exciting and very funky in the best sense of that over used term. Carl has an extensive performance resume both in Australian and internationally. He was a finalist at the Wangaratta guitar competition and is currently working with James Morrison's band and with Paul Grabowsky's Australian Art Orchestra. Think John Schofield and John McLaughlin. Also plays in the Susan Gai Dowling Band. Read more... Carlitos Orchestra  – ten piece salsa band led by Colombian composer Carlos Naranjo. Their music is a fusion of traditional Puerto Rican salsa and Colombian rhythms, a strong influence of Cuban guajira and charanga, with an added tinge of jazz. Carrie Lakin  - A dynamic Sydney singer performing the best of Jazz, Blues, Pop and Soul. Carrie recently returned from a successful six-month gig in Tokyo and was featured at the 2005 Tauranga (NZ) Jazz Festival. Read more... Casanova - Led by Miguel Guzman, Casanova has over the years presented both Afro-Funk and Latin American music, incorporating various line-ups according to each style. Casanova often features well known local jazz musicians and tonight’s concert is no exception with Jason Gubbay - piano/keyboards, David Seidel - double bass, Stuart Crocks – drums, Richard Booth – saxophones/flute, and Miguel Guzman – vocals, guitar and percussion. Cassandra Eager - smooth jazz vocalist. Carol Ralph - Jazz vocals with a New Orleans twist. Performs with a number of traditional bands including her own quartet. Carbon7 - Funky soul jazz, 70s rare groove, 80s remixed with loops and some craziness...Featuring Taline Kalaidjian on vocals, Carbon 7 takes on the greats...Nina Simone vs Jimi Hendrix, The Doors vs Buddy Rich, Massive Attack vs Herbie Hancock. Joined by Jeremy Craib on keys, John Maddox on double bass/fx and Ivan Jordan on kit. Catherine Hunter  - beautiful alto vocalist of mainstream Jazz standards. Read more... ...and more... Charlotte Jane  - – Jazz , funk & soul, ft. Charlotte Jane on vocals and violin, along with husband Shami on guitar and some of Sydney's finest on keys, bass & drums. Original grooves, classy funk and quirky arrangements of classic jazz. Charlotte Rose - – Former singer with Sydney blues band Smallfry. Charlotte studied under renowned Jazz singer and Eastside radio host, Paula Langlands. She sings with her own band covering a combination of jazz, funk and soul classics, as well as her own original material. Charmaine Ford Trio - One of New Zealand's true piano masters. Studied with Fred Hersch and Danilo Perez at 24 yrs Charmaine Ford has an exciting future ahead of her. Chris Abrahams - One of the most distinctive keyboardists Australia has produced. Chris currently performs with cult band 'The Necks', Melanie Oxley and the Hunting Party and is one of Sydney's most in demand session players. He has released three highly acclaimed solo piano albums. Chris Robinson - Christopher Paul Robinson, Electric/Acoustic Guitarist & Composer) has performed with artists including David Friesen, Kai Eckhardt, George Brooks, Trilok Gurtu, Alan Pasqua throughout the United States and Europe. He grew up in Hornsby, NSW, and studied with various guitarists in the Sydney area (including Leon Stenning & James Muller during his early teens). He later attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Jazz Performance) until he re-located to the United States. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Chris Stewart  - With a keen interest in West African Drumming, 1920s American Blues, 1930-50s Afro-Cuban (Cuban Son), alt country and the Gypsy Rumba of Southern Europe; Chris' songwriting has no doubt made an immense transformation from his former rock influence. With the sensibilities of artists such as Sting, Simon and Garfunkel and Dave Matthews Band (who similarly draw from World music traditions), Chris ties together the soul, groove and contagiousness of these styles with a western and rock approach to his compositions. Chris is currently playing live gigs in pubs and bars Sydney wide. Chuck Morgan  - Long time guitarist with Sydney singer Janet Seidel’s trio. Plays with a superb restrained touch in a support role and impeccable taste when soloing. Chuck Yates Trio - Swinger with tremendous energy on piano. Bebop at its best featuring the great John Pochee. Cin Cin - (pronounced chin-chin) is led by jazz violinist/vocalist Melissa Cox. This unique lineup brings a fresh colour to the standard jazz repertoire. Coffin Brothers Quartet   - Original Australian Jazz with a groove. Read more... Col Loughnan - Col is one of Australia's most respected wind instrumentalists, performers, arrangers, session musicians and teacher. He's supported the creme de la creme of local and international Jazz artists. . He joined the Faculty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as Lecturer in Jazz Saxophone in 1979. He has toured and recorded in the USA with his own group Ayers Rock in 1974 and 1976. Col Nolan   - a legendary figure on the Australian Jazz scene, and the undisputed master of the Hammond Organ. The piano and keyboards swing to life when he's at work. His many bands have supported visiting artists such as Benny Goodman, The Modern Jazz Quartet and Dave Brubeck. As a member of Galapagos Duck he led the most exciting rhythm section in Australia. Col was a foundation member of the Daly Wilson Big Band. Cooks River Jazz Band - features Ray Martin on bass, Mal Francis on piano, John Wright on trumpet Dave Jensen on sax and Len young on drums. Groovey Swingin Jazz. Craig Calhoun  - - ' Australian for bass funk. Leader of the Brothers of Oz. Craig Scott - Craig has been one of Australia’s leading bassists for over 25 years. He began his career in 1979 with the Keith Stirling Quartet. Since then he has been a member of many other groups such as Don Burrows, James Morrison, Julian Lee, Kerrie Biddell, Paul McNamara, Steve McKenna, Judy Bailey and many others. He leads his own quintet featuring Warwick Alder, Paul Cutlan, Tim Firth and Tim Fisher. As Chair of Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and co-ordinator of the Master of Music (Jazz) Degree and frequently gives master classes at other tertiary institutions around Australia and NZ he is deeply involved in jazz education. Craig Simon - Original compositions by a young slick classic instrumentation quintet line-up led by the drummer Craig Simon. Crop Duster - Spontaneous composition. Crop Duster utilizes elements from all genres, showing them little or no respect. Crop Duster is irreverent, funny, obnoxious and introspective. Dale Barlow   - Australia's most internationally respected modern Jazz musician who was a working member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and the Cedar Walton Band. Dale has developed his own unique sound on the saxophone and flute. Dale has the technique and imagination to be convincing in a broad range of musical contexts from Jazz to Jazz/rock and Afro/Jazz-Funk but many would say that in front of a really hard swinging rhythm section he is at his most formidable. Dan Barnett   - Dan Barnett is acknowledged as one of Australia's most accomplished and professional performers. His powerful voice and swinging trombone form the backbone of the Dan Barnett Big Band. Held in high regard by his peers, Dan has assembled a collection of the very best musicians in the country.Swing, Mainstream and Bebop. Read more... Daniel Weltlinger  - – Born in Sydney in 1977 and of French-Hungarian-Israeli-Jewish descent he is predominantly a violin player with an ear and an eye for a mix of Gypsy-Swing, East-European-Klezmer and Experimental music and is world-renowned for his distinctive sound and improvisational approach to these musical genres. His main Australian-based projects "Asthmatix" and "Zohar’s Nigun" fuse Jewish themes and kabbalistic-inspired improvisation within the contemporary framework of Hip-Hop and Jazz while his collaborative efforts with German-Sinti guitarist/composer Lulo Reinhardt fuses Latin, Jazz and Gypsy-Swing performing to audiences around the world. One of the original co-founders of the award winning Monsieur Camembert, musicians and ensembles he has performed and/or recorded with have included Nadya and her 101 Candles Orchestra, Fuego Lento, Ian and Nigel Date, Edouard Bronson, Buddy Bolden Revival Orchestra, On The Stoop, Menino, I Gitanos, Mike and Moro Reinhardt, Swing de Gitanes, Waiting For Guinness, Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, Zero Hour, Glass, Swing Bien Sur, The Jews Brothers, Chris Tanner and Virus, Flap, Straightback Fellows, Peppermint T, Doch, Reuben Derrick, Oscar Jiminez, Bobby Singh, Slava Gregorian, Joseph Tawadros, Al Slavik, Neill Duncan, Clayton Thomas, Claire Cooper, Adam Sussman, Ilan Kidron, STC Actor’s Company, Belvoir Street Theatre Company, Theatre Of Image, Aerialise.. Read more... Darren Jack   - R&B band leader. But don't miss it, when he plays the acoustic guitar and sings blues alone. Darren Moore - New Sydney drummer who performs with his own trio offering original compositions full of freely improvised interplay and soundworlds. David Blenkhorn - Acclaimed singer and guitarist who is a regular on the European Jazz Festival circuit. Dave Goodman  - True ‘player’ of the drum kit who is just as commanding in a hard-bop setting as he is with the avant-garde. Dave Levy - toured with Jimmy Witherspoon in 1965. Founding pianist with The Last Straw and held piano chair in Galapagos Duck. He demonstrates the exceptional gift of being able to adapt any idiom yet remains fully creative and distinctive. Dave MacRae   - pianist who plays with his own trio. Dave has played with the Buddy Rich Big Band and British jazz rock group Nucleus. Dave Panichi Septet - Panichi has played with such luminaries as the Buddy Rich Big Band, Maria Schneider, Sarah Vaughan and Dave Liebman. 'Panichi is really one of Australia's best players. His sound is powerful and intense, filled with conviction' Jasmine Crittenden Drum Media. Read more... David Longo - David has been playing professional guitar for 14 years working in various musical situations. He studied at Southern Cross University under the tutelage of guitar virtuoso Jim Kelly. Since 1995 David has lived and worked in Sydney and has subsequently performed with various outstanding musicians including: Daryl Aberhart, Lily Dior, Mark Williams, Nick Cecire, Bill Risby, Victor Rounds, Leon Gaer, Mathew McMahon, Brett Hurst, Fabian Hevia, Jess Ciampa, Anthony Kable, James Greening and Gordon Rytmeister to name only a few. David McLeod Quartet - McLeod's singing draws upon several admitted influences in the world of jazz and R & B. His singing is persuasive and he admirably textures his interpretations of lyrics. Dave Pudney - Dave began his musical career in a small band with the Morrison brothers in the late 70’s playing piano first then electric and double bass. A meeting with Don Burrows in 1981 saw him begin touring Australia with Don and James and later with George Golla in various small group settings led by Don. A scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium in jazz studies saw him graduate with merit top of his year in 1984. Dave is currently playing with the Don Burrows Quartet, the Kevin Hunt trio, the Marie Wilson Quartet, the Joy Mulligan Quartet Saxanova and the Sydney All Stars Big Band. David Rex - Alto saxophonist whose speed of execution can be breathtaking. 'There were times when Rex achieved his effects with a combination of ingenuity and passion that was quite astonishing. He really is a great player' John Clare. David Symes - Jazzgroove drummer who works in his own band 'Exotica' and with artists beyond the boundaries of jazz such as Darren Percival and Jackie Orszackzy. David Theak  - Saxophonist who reached the 2005 Freedman Fellowship finals. Leads the award-winning band Theak-tet. Theak-tet plays original, harmonically inventive, melodic compositions that provide a platform for flowing improvisations Davood Tabrizi – Iranian composer Davood, has worked extensively in Australia, Iran, Canada and the U.S. with a fusion of Persian, Flamenco and Arabic music on kamancheh, violin and Persian percussion. D.E.D. Trio  - Regularly finds the lines between traditional Jazz and modern music. Daniel Falero multi-instrumentalist, Ed Rapo Double Bass, Dan Biederman Piano. Delilah  - Sultry Soul Singer, Delilah, a born performer she was entertaining neighbourhood kids in her backyard in Baltimore Maryland at age 4. She's the spirit of the blues, a little Ella, a little Aretha, a little Lou Rawls. Di Bird - Perfect for any occasion Di Bird and her trio Red, Hot & Blue have been performing together since 1996. Di was the winner of the "Sydney Jazz Club Vocalist" award in 1994. Red, Hot & Blue were voted most popular band at the 2003 Lindeman Island Food and Wine Festival. In a recent review Andrew Tucker, in the Queensland Jazz Newsletter, said of Di that: "her voice and delivery are like mixing the soft personal characteristics of Blossom Dearie with the range and quality of Linda Ronsdstadt". Didi Mudigdo - The quintessential singer's pianist, with sensitivity in accompaniment that attests to his first jazz piano influence, Nat King Cole. His playing is moreover imbued with a humour and playfulness that makes each performance a delight to audiences. Didi has performed in Indonesia and NZ and is currently a resident jazz pianist at the Sydney Four Seasons Hotel. The Dili All Stars - High-energy seven-piece funk, ska, and reggae band fronted by the smooth vocals of Paulo Almeida and backed by a wicked rhythm section of percussion, bass, drums and keyboards. The ensemble possesses a strong social conscience and use music to highlight the problems faced by the people of East Timor, pushing for International justice on their behalf. Singing songs in English, Tetum and Portuguese, the band's gigs are always high-energy and guaranteed to get bodies moving. Dinner with Mum - Sydney's most original covers band. An eclectic repertoire spanning the 60's, 70's to contemporary music. A magical blend of pop, jazz and soft rock with Caroline Flood – Vocals, Michael Henshaw – Bass Julian van Leer – guitar, Tom - Drums. Dlivr - Urban Groove Fusion with infectious funk and jazz grooves. Dog Walking Backwards  - Formed in 2005. Eclectic musical tastes with original material, ranging from songs about spurned love and health sector workforce planning to the Sydney sewerage system. Dog Walking Backwards is Kerry Thompson, Anna Schneider, David Small and Chris Kearns. Don Burrows - Australia's Jazz Living Legend of clarinet, saxophone and flute. Don has been at the forefront of the jazz world for almost 60 years. Don was the first Australian jazz artist to win a gold record, the first to play Europe's famed Montreaux and the USA's Newport festivals, the first to play in China, the first awarded a Creative Arts Fellowship, the first inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, the first Director of a Jazz Studies course. He has also found time to host his own television show, The Burrows Collection, for six years on ABC TV, has released close to forty albums, and regularly tours here and abroad, including South and North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. And just look at this who's who of great recording and concert partners - Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Stephane Grappelli, Tony Bennett, James Morrison, George Golla, Cleo Laine, Frank Sinatra, Kate Ceberano, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and hundreds more. (courtesy of the Australian Jazz Agency) Don Rader - Trumpet and flugelhorn. Don has played with just about every jazz heavyweight you could imagine, Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Diana Ross, Louis Bellson, Benny Carter, Supersax, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Read more... Dr Dons Double Dose  - blues and roots duo: Don Hopkins on keyboard, vocal and Rob Grosser on drums. Eclipse Alley Five - traditional and mainstream Jazz lead by trumpeter Bruce Johnson. Eddie de Brazil & Friends – Five piece Brazilian band with styles ranging from samba, pagoda and axe to forro and the classic bossa nova. Eddie De Brazil and Friends is a genuine Brazilian band led by multi - instrumentalist and arranger Ednaldo Ignacio. The group’s repertoire showcases the country’s vast musical variety featuring the best of MPB (Brazilian popular music). Ed Gaston – Born in North Carolina, Ed played the clarinet for 13 years in High School and Army bands and then switched to double bass. In 1957 he landed a job with the Australian Jazz Quintet who were touring the US Jazz circuit. Ed has backed many well know jazz stars such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Stephan Grappelli, Sonny Stitt to name a few. He was a member of the Don Burrows Quartet for 10 years and performed at the Montreaux and Newport Jazz Festivals in 1972. Edouard Bronson  - born in the USSR and significant figure on the Russian Jazz scene before moving to Israel in the late 60's. He then moved to Sydney in the early 70's and became a key voice in Serge Ermoll's free improvisation ensemble. In the late 70's Bronson travelled to the US and studied with Dave Liebman, Bob Berg, Steve Grossman and Elvin Jones. Edwin Duff - Edwin Duff was born at Forfar, a stone's throw from Glamis Castle, Scotland – home of "the other Queen Mother" – on 4th June 1928. Edwin has now been a professional jazz vocalist for 66 years. His formative years were spent in Dundee where his mother worked in the picture theatre. By the time he arrived in Australia in 1939 hundreds of songs had been indelibly imprinted on his memory. On the ship to Australia he sang with the orchestra and created such an impression that on arrival he went straight to the local radio station to make a broadcast. By 1940 he was on National Radio performing Frank Sinatra's songs at the same time as Sinatra himself was introducing them. The singer of choice with the best bands of the day, an Edwin Duff Fan Club was formed and he found himself with his own legion of bobby-soxers. He toured and recorded successfully with the Jack Brokensha's Australian Jazz Quintet, continuing his career in the States for another decade until the mid-60s. Having worked with the crème of musicians including Buddy Rich and Art Tatum, in the Australian jazz world he is widely considered one of our best vocalists. This feeling is perhaps best summed up in the words of Freddie Wilson, sax player and long-time jazz educator who first worked with Edwin at the Galleon's Coffee Lounge, Melbourne 55 years ago: "I don't think I have ever heard Edwin Duff sing a wrong note. The reason is that he is too particular to do that. I have always thought him to be a very clever, great singer." Edwin is still singing at 78, and is presently working on his bio: "To Think I Did All That". Eilean Mor  - Celtic World Music group Eilean Mor offers a haunting and thrilling mix of original and traditional songs and tunes. Their music is based on the Scottish Gaelic tradition, uprooted to Australia during the Highland clearances. The band is singer/songwriter Ruth Lee Martin, guitarist Bill Grose, Jon Jones on percussion, Bill Williams double bass and Chris Stone fiddle. Eilean Mor's musical focus is on original songs from the pen of singer Ruth Lee Martin and traditional songs and tunes interpreted with roots, jazz, world, and hypnotic-minimalist musical leanings. Mouth music, waulking songs, rowing songs, laments and hot fiddle tunes are all part of the repertoire. Also in the repertoire are rare songs written in the Gaelic language in Australia during the 19th century by exiles forced to leave their homes during the highland clearances. Drawing on the Scottish Gaelic tradition, the band has its own unique Australian flavour. Elana Stone - 'Sydney's favourite young jazz singer' Daily Telegraph. Her sense of humour and spirit make Elana a magnetic performer and ideal band leader. Elana is a Sydney based vocalist. She completed her Bachelor of Music, Jazz Major in 2002 and is currently making waves on the Sydney scene. Her primary influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Clark Terry, Ray Charles, Betty Carter, Nina Simone, Bobby McFerrin, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Dr John, Joni Mitchell, Rufus Wainwright, Stevie Wonder and Sting. Performs in her own quartet, the Rhino Factory and with the Mark Isaacs trio. Winner of the 2005 National Jazz Awards and currently making waves on the Sydney scene, Elana is a magnetic performer whether singing jazz standards or her own originals. Elizabeth Geyer  - 'Elizabeth stands apart from our other artists simply because of her incredible talent and diversity as a magnificent vocalist, pianist, trumpet and flugelhorn player and last but not least as a composer...' - Leslie Moore, director Australian Jazz Agency Emmanuel Schmidt  - One of the finest guitarists in Sydney who leads his own quintet with Nick Bowd on baritone saxophone. Nick plays his original compositions along with modern jazz standards with authority and intensity. Elixir - Combination of vocal delights from Katie Noonan, soulful saxophone of Isaac Hurren and the rich poetry of Martin Challis. Elliott Dalgleish - Idiosyncratic and deliberately provocative saxophonist and clarinettist. Emma Pask  - "Whilst it's fashionable to be a jazz singer these days, it's so good to work with someone who's the real thing!" James Morrison. EON Beats Project  - Groove Based electronic music lead by saxophonist Rick Robertson who improvises through and over the beat. Errol Buddle  - In the mid 1950' he formed the Australian Jazz Quintet eventually becoming one of the top five most popular Jazz groups in the US preceded only by Louis Armstrong, George Shearing, Dave Brubeck and Gerry Mulligan in that order and sharing billing with the Miles Davis Quintet. He was placed three years running in the prestigious Down Beat Poll in the tenor sax section and miscellaneous instruments section. He's worked with Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday Errol Renaud & Caribbean Soul  Combining the sounds of the steel drum, sweet reggae music and the happy beats of Calypso and Soca. Errol Renaud and Caribbean Soul will take you to the caribbean through a repertoire made up of reggae hits, original music with a taste of conscious lyrics and, of course, hot calypso and soca music. E Type Jazz - Voted 'Best Australian Live Jazz Act ' at the 2002 & 2003 Australian Live Music Awards, with 5 albums under their adult contemporary belts. Evan Lohning - Evan Lohning is an extremely versatile and accomplished pianist in Jazz, rock, world music, blues, classical, Latin. In 1998 he formed the Evan Lohning Jazz Orchestra from what he considers to be some of the best Jazz players in Sydney. Exotica - Dave Symes leads his collective through an exotic journey through funk, soul and world sounds. A collective of talented jazz and funk musicians creating unusual and exotic music borrowing grooves, colours and textures from cultures all around the globe. The group creates lush instrumental layers with a heavily percussive persuasion. Extended Family - Think swamp blues meets funk, throw in soul, a smattering of reggae and African, mix with lashings of urban style and you begin to get the Extended Family picture. A grand finalist in the SBS Blues Performer of the Year Award 2005 and MusicOz Awards 2003 (blues), Extended Family is a high-energy five-piece band at the forefront of contemporary funk blues in Sydney. Fabian Hevia  - Chilean born who migrated to Australia in 1975. A graduate of the Wollongong University and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. One of Australia's foremost percussionists and drummers whose credits read like a who's who of Australian jazz. He's played most major European jazz festivals and is a long term member of the ARIA award winning band Wanderlust. Farfinkel  - Formed in 1992 and performs mostly original compositions. Mike Nock said 'Already showing a musical maturity behind their years, these young musicians are tomorrow's leaders'. One of the most distinctive bands in Sydney. Led by Peter Farrar and Dale Gorfinkel, the trio plays with an outgoing energy where individual improvised ideas of grooves, textures and colours co-exist. Fiona Boyes and the Fortune Tellers - leader Fiona Boyce, the winner of famous Memphis Blues Challenge, recorded several very successful CDs in USA, played with living greats as Hubert Sumlin and others. Feather Gatherers - The Feather Gatherers play a selection of folk and Gypsy music from the Balkans and surrounding areas including Bosnia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Russia and Romania. The Group specialises in Gypsy music and features vocals, guitars, bass and accordion. Finn - Jim Finn's four-piece blues band, the winner of 2004 SBS Blues Performer of The Year. Fiona Burnett - Soprano saxophonist who has recorded and released 5 albums as leader. Based in Melbourne and works with her own trio. Flamenco Crew  – Traditional flamenco with contemporary elements in graceful harmony between Middle Eastern and jazz influences. Flight-Flight  - An engaging diversity of jazz, funk and ethnic musics and sounds, spanning deep chill to infectious exhuberance, featuring the wild child of flute and sax Emanuel Lieberfreund - flutes, saxes, percussion, vocals, Ziggy Mirza - guitar, bass, vocals Maurice Henler - drums, djembe. Flying Four - Quartet led by drummer John Morrison playing mainstream jazz standards. Franky Valentyn   - From rock'n'roll to swing, cabaret to disco, ballads to Broadway, as a piano man, guitarist or just a man on the mic, Franky has a show that covers nearly every taste. Freedivers - original group improvisation. Mathew Clare has found a unique interaction with the equally individualistic Cameron Deyell on guitar and Josh Green on an array of junk percussion. Punk-jazz meets free metal as the lines of ideas crash against each other forming, jarringly beautiful plateaus of sound and song. Freshwater  - Christine Wheeler (vocals flute, whistle and guitar) and Cliona Molins (harp). Christine is an Australian-born singer and wooden flute player who studied for extended periods in Ireland. Many of you will know from her role as lead singer in the award winning Sydney band Wheelers and Dealers. Cliona Molins is Dublin-born and studied harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. More recently she has set about immersing herself in the Latin harp repertoire from Mexico, Venezuela and Paraguay. F Sharp and the Theory of Nostrils - A sober exploration of this, drunkenly proposed theorem through many time zones. Funky, loopy, jazz, electricky. Galapagos Duck - Australia's most famous Jazz Band featuring mainstream and popular tunes. Gary Holgate - Bassist who has performed and recorded with many of Sydney’s finest musicians. He has been a member of the Kevin Hunt Trio for over 20 years. Gary has also had long associations with Grace Knight, Rhonda Burchmore, Bill Risby, Joy Yates & Dave MacRae. Gary completed the Assoc Dip Jazz Studies course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1982. He returned to the Conservatorium in 2006 to undertake a M. Mus. (Perf) Degree, focusing on contemporary jazz performance but also studying with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s coprincipal bassist, Kees Boersma. Geoff Haymes - Guitarist from Sydney, Geoff also studied Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium and has been performing professionally for 16 years. He has worked as a session guitarist while in Sydney performing in various Rock, Blues, Funk and Jazz bands such as Smokehouse, Nerkep, The Squids and The Black Rose.Geoff moved to Melbourne in 2002 and was arranger and Musical Director of the successful 10-piece Funk/Soul band The Soup Doctors. Geoff Bull's New Orleans Jazz Band - New Orleans style Jazz without the airfare. Geoff Power's Jazz Band - Dixieland Jazz. Geoff plays cornet, trombone, tuba and sings. He has his own quartet which plays classic Jazz of the swing era. George Doukas & Friends – An electric ensemble led by George Doukas performing music from Greece, the Balkans, Turkey and West Africa. George Golla  - – Golla was born in Poland and migrated to Australia in the 1950’s. He commenced studying guitar in 1955 after having played clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and bass. He began his professional life in 1956 with the advent of television and subsequently appeared on Bandstand for 28 years. He then commenced a 40 year musical relationship with Don Burrows when the Don Burrows trio was formed. George is greatly admired for his technical mastery of the guitar, his swinging style and Latin influences. He has been recorded on over 100 albums. George Washingmachine   - think Stephane Grapelli and Hot Club of France. George is in constant demand all over Australia for his ability to entertain as a singer and a musician Gerard Masters  - Since making his presence felt on the local scene, Masters has developed in several interesting ways. The solos are more terse but not at the expense of essential detail. The self confident flamboyance is only just below the surface to reveal itself when the music is most intense and barely under control. Leads his own trio and also a member of Mosaic and EON Beats Project. Read more... Gervais Koffi & African Diaspora  – Electrifying West African rhythms, zouk music from the French Caribbean and salsa from latin America. Gest 8 - A new improvising ensemble comprising 8 of Sydney's leading Jazz musicians under the direction of Sandy Evans and Tony Gorman. The band explores the interface between improvisation and composition. The result melds Jazz, free improvised music, traditional Japanese and Korean music, computer music, funk, rock, contemporary classical, circus music and folk. Read more... Giant Steps  - Bebop at it's best led by legendary pianist Bobby Gebert. Glenn Henrich - Glenn started playing music 50 years ago in New York, but moved to Sydney in 1982. A gifted multi-instrumentalist performing on vibes, Fender Rhodes, electric piano and saxes, he was an important addition to seminal bands led by Tom Baker and James Morrison. Glenn recorded his first CD Vibes with Jim Pennell, Steve Elphick, Craig Scott, Natalie and John Morrison and Fabian Hevia in 1999. Gongi - Guitarist Mike Price's new project featuring originals inspired by his world travels in 2004. Contemporary jazz with a blues/rock edge. Gordon Rytmeister  - drummer with rock like power and intensity. One of the most adaptable drummers on the Sydney scene. Fixture in the Adrian Cunningham quartet and many others. Grace Chung   - Originally from Hong Kong, Grace Chung first began singing jazz more than ten years ago in Sydney Australia, where she grew up. Since then, she has led her own trios and performed with big bands in Sydney, Hong Kong, New York, Boston and Washington DC. "Her creativity is astounding - a song never sounds the same from night to night, yet always finds the emotional resonance that moves a listener. Her arrangements are astute and original. Her ability to transform a song, bend a genre and evoke an emotion is unmatched." Owlsong Productions Read more... Grahame Conlon - Grahame has worked with Ricky May, Billy Fields, Tom Baker, Keith Hounslow, Anita Thomas, Kenny Powell and John Morrison's Swing City and is in demand as a freelance Jazz guitarist. His ability to adapt to different music styles has made him an audience favourite. Greg Coffin   - pianist who has been a member of the Java Quartet since 1995. Greg always astonishes both player and audience with the potency of his vision and the musicality of his approach. Greg has a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) at the Sydney Conservatorium. Interview... Greg Englert – Sydney based Professional trumpeter, guitarist, singer, arranger, composer. Greg has played with most of Australia’s top Dixieland, Traditional and Swing musicians including Bob Barnard, Len Barnard, Dave Dallwitz (Lead Trumpet in the Dave Dallwitz Sydney Big Band on the ABC TV Burrows Collection), Ricky May, Paul Furniss. Greg runs his own bands Ozz Jazz (Dixieland) and Rhapsody (Swing) as well as has numerous recordings released both as a leader and as a side man. Gregg Arthur - Smooth slick swinger who although is young is a singer with a mature sensibility who pays respect to the songwriters and a repertoire which is filled with splendid love songs. Greg Poppleton & the Bakelite Broadcasters - Greg Poppleton is Australia's only 1920s & 30s-style Swing singer. His band, the Bakelite Broadcasters, draws on some of the best in local jazz musicians who can play in the 1920s & 30s style, including Bob Henderson, Ray Aldridge, Dieter Vogt, Dave Ellis, Eric Holroyd, Laurie Bennett, Joel Davis and more. Guy Strazzullo   - Guitarist who's work leans more to the 'world beat' area bringing together influences by North Indian, Brazilian and Afro Cuban music. Guy Strazz plays guitar with a brilliance, passion and energy which has seen him collaborate internationally with many of the greats including Krakatau, Vince Jones, Slava Grigoryan, the Calcutta Express Band and Mike Stern. Hammeriver - Ghostly jangling bells, sinewaves, spittle and aching strings mould the skeletons of Alice Coltrane's most sacred music. Hammeriver formed in 2003 and five musicians extract the most unexpected and undernourished voices from their chosen instruments. Helen Fenton  - – Sydney based a Jazz singer who leads the Sydney Sound Big Band which has a regular fortnightly Thursday night gig at Rockdale RSL. The band has been resident there for 8 years. Helen also sings with other big bands and small ensembles. She has performed at the Manly and Dubbo Jazz Festivals and many corporate events. She has recorded two albums: After Dark and The Simple Life – both on the LaBrava Label. The Sydney Sound Big Band: a 15 piece swing band modeled on the 40’s big bands. Its repertoire is vast encompassing tunes from the 20’s on. Swinging tunes from Basie, Ellington, Kenton, Barnett, Krupa, James, Shaw, Goodman, Dorsey and Miller predominate. A multitude of loyal dancers and music lovers are ever-present at each performance at Rockdale. Helen Aristedes – Modern Greek music blended with the traditions from other countries. Helen Rivero –  - Multi-lingual vocalist who plays with traditional tunes and contemporary improvisation. Voiceplay diva, Helen Rivero is an award-winning performer in the world music scene. Her singing style combines elements of jazz, cabaret, traditional music and experimental performance, sometimes described as intense and humorous. Harry Rivers - Harry arrived in Australia from Samoa via NZ. Latin percussion, Sinatra, Jarreau Gershwin and the Beatles are all featured in his repertoire. Heval – Heval (Kurdish for friends) bring together intricate rhythms, spontaneity and evocative melodies of both Indian and Kurdish cultures. Heval create and enticing musical hybrid that is true to it's traditional roots, yet open to the many influences present in multicultural Australia. Vigorously rhythmic, sometimes contemplative, Heval's music is vibrant. Hipnosis - www.hipnosis.com.au Holroydz Hotshotz - Lead by trumpeter Eric Holroyd, the Hotshotz perform hot mainstream and traditional Jazz. Hot Licks Jazz Band  - Bringing fresh faces to old jazz, the Hot Licks Jazz Band is a new-wave traditional jazz band from Melbourne. The Hot Licks Jazz Band combines the talents of some of Melbourne’s hottest jazz musicians with the licks to produce a sound that is lively, raw and sure to get your toes tapping. Band leader and Trombonist Glenn Jacobi and his crew of New Orleans aficionados present a program of hot jazz from the 1920’s and 30’s with swinging vocals, tight arrangements and a repertoire of classic tunes. Hugh Holliday - Bass player who has been playing bass since 2000 and although his passion lies within the grooves of funk and rock, he is also experienced in many other different styles of music. From Jazz, Big Band, Latin and Funk, to Rock, Progressive Metal and Pop, Hugh has studied and performed in all of these genres. Some of his influences include; Flea, Victor Wooten, Tim Commerford and the Brecker Brothers. Member of the group Subito. Ian Chaplin - Post modernist alto saxophonist who plays with immense fervour intensity and grandeur. Ian Pavletich - Performs with his band Slow Fuse. Ian loves singing the classic standards or arranging a popular song in a swing or latin beat and connecting with the audience individually. Ian performs either solo with his guitar or dual vocals with his wife Debbie - when in duet, trio or quartet mode, Ian is joined by some of Australia's best, in the past that has included such guests as John Morrison, Matt Baker, John Brown and others. Informal Troupe  - Bassist Dave Symes has performed with Missy Higgins & Sleepy Jackson whilst saxophonist Matthew Ottignon was nominated for the prestigious Freedman Fellowship in 2007. Drummer Hamish Stuart is a true legend on the scene. All three have worked for years under the leadership of Sydney music legend Jackie Orszaczky and have formed a strong musical bond. Invisible City - Extended bursts of colour and tortuous sensitivity, some slightly demented funk, and some palatable numbers as well. Jacam Manricks  - Sir Lankan/Portuguese Australian born saxophonist/composer Jacam Manricks was raised in an extremely musical family. His parents were resident classical musicians in the state symphony in his hometown of Brisbane, Queensland and his grandfather was a famous Portuguese jazz clarinetist and saxophonist in Sri Lanka. As a child Jacam frequently attended his parents’ symphony concerts and was introduced to jazz at home through his fathers’ jazz record collection. Due to these surroundings, Jacam was able to build a diverse musical foundation from a young age that combined jazz and classical music, two genres that continue to influence his music today. Jacam began studying piano at age 5 and the alto saxophone at 9. His formal musical training continued in New York in 2001, culminating with a doctor of musical arts degree in jazz composition/performance/ pedagogy from the Manhattan School of Music in 2007. Read more... Jacki Cooper - Sydney-based jazz vocalist, Jacki Cooper has been singing in Adelaide since 1990 and has recently relocated to Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice from Adelaide University. While working for a jazz workshop at Stanford University in the USA, Jacki studied with US jazz singers Mark Murphy, Kitty Margolis, Madeline Eastman and Nancy King, and gigged regularly with local musicians including John Morrison. Jackie Orszaczky - Hungarian Funk Soul and Jazz. Jackson Harrison - Winner of the 2006 National Jazz Awards for piano. Jade MacRae - Soul Diva. Jalsa Creole – Ten piece band with traditional instruments and exquisite dancers as they bask the audience in sega, the music of Mauritius that grew out of African rhythms and a music played only by Creoles. Jalsa Creole charms audiences with their blend of sega cabaret fused with reggae. James Morrison - Australia's most internationally accomplished multi-instrumentalist who has played on many international stages with many of today's jazz greats. James Greening - – James is a leading trombonist who, in the 1980’s developed his distinctive sound and style whilst working in a wide range of jazz ensembles, latin, R & B and television show bands. Over the past 20 years he has performed with bands such as the Orszaczky Budget Orchestra, The Godmothers, Jump Back Jack and the Hungarian Rapsadists. In 1992 he formed the band ‘The World According to James’ in which he stepped forward as both bandleader and composer. He is a member of Ten Part Invention, The Umbrellas, Wanderlust and the catholics. Jamie Oehlers   - Tenor saxophone virtuoso and winner of the 2003 White Foundation World Saxophone competition. Oehlers is one of this country's most outstanding jazz musicians. He won the prestigious 2006 Bell Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album for 'The Assemblers'. In the past few years Jamie's Melbourne based quartet has performed at international clubs and festivals worldwide. 'He has the facility to pour idea after idea into phrases that melt into a single, sustained line' The Age. James Muller   - Multi award winning guitarist, probably Australia's finest. Performs with his own trio and a number of Sydney bands. 'James Muller is a mountain of guitar virtuosity and invention. All the things that are most effective in jazz, rock, blues and country guitar emerge naturally at the right time in the right place, and it can give the listener shivers' John Clare. Read more... Jane Irving  – Accomplished pianist who at the age of 17 with influences from Sarah Vaughan to Mark Murphy started singing. Jane studied with both Kerry Biddell and Sheila Jordan and has fronted the acclaimed Evan Lohning Jazz Orchestra. A fine singer who has worked with some of Australia’s leading artists including Bobby Gebert, Matt McMahon, Kevin Hunt, Michael Bartolomei, John Harkins, Don Radar and John Morrison. Jane has just released her third album ‘Beams’. Interview... Janet Seidel Trio   - Australia's songbird who is influenced by Peggy Lee, Blossom Dearie and Julie London. Delightful pianist in the style of Shirley Horn and sings fluently in French. Jasper Leak Quintet - Appealing and non-confrontational original compositions drawing from global influences and led by the 22 year old bass player Jasper Leak. Read more... Java Quartet - Led by bassist Michael Galeazzi, the Java Quartet has become an institution on the Australian jazz scene since 1994. Representing Australia at the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival, the line-up now consists of Mathew Ottignon on tenor saxophone, Mike Quigley drums, Greg Coffin on piano and leader/bassist/composer Michael Galeazzi. The melodic and spare compositions this group performs are beautiful showcases for each of the artists improvisational skills. The Java Quartet has found a place where Australian original modern jazz is both artistically pure but also highly accessible. Read more... JazzGroove Mothership Orchestra - Featuring 3 National Jazz Award winners and 5 finalists this ensemble promises to be one of the most exciting big scale projects to hit the Australian scene for some time. Undeniably the most consolidated assemblage of highly respected new generation jazz talent in Australia. Read more... Jazz Nouveau - Fusion of jazz funk rock and pop led by guitarist Joseph Calderazzo. Jazzhoppers - Bebop to Hardbop featuring the talents of Col Nolan and Andrew Dickeson Jeff Duff - Sydney's answer to David Bowie or Iggy Pop.Performs with his trio, big band or in his cabaret show 'Ground Control to Frank Sinatra' Jenny M Thomas - Well known exotic violinist and composer Jenny M.Thomas has mastered the rare and difficult art of singing and playing the fiddle at the same time, learnt to play the spoons, constructed a lagerfonium and searched Melbourne for the sweetest sounding banjo-mandolin in order to record her exciting new album. Jeremy Borthwick   - His band Exposed Bone is made up of modern trombone playing backed by the Hauptmann family. Ben Hauptmann guitar, Zoe Hauptmann bass, and James Hauptmann drums. Exposed Bone is a high energy band which encompasses African, funk and blues as a basis for Jeremy's original compositions. Read more... Jeremy Sawkins - Began playing guitar in 1975. During 1981 studied with many formidable American players including John Scofield and Steve Swallow. During 1997 and 1998 toured Europe with Wanderlust and was awarded the 1998 Original Jazz Composition by the Jazz Action Society. Recently returning from Ireland and now leading a new project The Jazz Organism. Jess Green - Leads her own septet the Green Septet. Jess plays guitar and the band’s repertoire is made up of her own quirky yet enchanting compositions. The septet is made up of the likes of Matt Keegan on tenor, Simon Ferenci on trumpet and Evan Mannell on drums. Jess is a graduate of the Canberra School of Music ANU, majoring in guitar and gaining first class honours in her Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies). Jess has since developed her passion for composition, performing her works in many established Australian Jazz Venues and festivals. In addition, she composed original scores for theatre productions and founded several ensembles, two of which continue to perform regularly; The Jess Green Septet and rock outfit The New Dynamites. Jess spent part of 2004 in West Africa and explores African music in the group the Bamako 3. She was the winner of the 2006 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and was a Freedman nominee in 2006. Jim Kelly - Jim has firmly established himself as a leading Australian contemporary jazz guitarist, composer and educator whose reputation goes well beyond Australian shores. In 1975 Jim collaborated with keyboardist Michael J Kenny and percussionist Ian Bloxsom to form CROSSFIRE - Australia's most celebrated fusion group. Crossfire toured extensively, including a performance at The Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1982 and recorded seven albums, including a live album with U.S. vocalist Michael Franks. Crossfire also performed on collaborative tours with Lee Ritenour and Don Grusin as well as Randy Brecker. From 1975-87 Jim perfected the rigorous demands of the recording studio and became a highly sought-after session player performing on countless jingles, documentaries, film scores plus pop and jazz artists' albums. The 90s saw a change of lifestyle for Jim with a move to Northern NSW to lecture at Southern Cross University, Lismore where he remains Head of Guitar Studies. Since 1993 Jim has released six CD's as bandleader. Jim's electric guitar playing has now taken a back seat to his acoustic endeavours which include both steel and nylon-string guitars. His latest projects are a guitar trio (d'volv) with Peter Martin and Jon Fitzgerald (albums: d'volv and africussia) and a duo with bassist Greg Lyon (album: culia de capo) as well as solo nylon-string performances. Jim is a musician dedicated to the art of improvising, composing, performing and teaching and is always searching for new ways to expand his musical horizons. Jim Pennell - Flamenco guitar virtuoso. JJ Pereira - A unique musician and personality who came to Sydney from Mozambique via the world. He has played with hundreds of musicians from diverse backgrounds and the music he writes and performs reflects his myriad musical encounters. Joe Chindamo  ' "Chindamo is a pianist with a profound respect for melody'whose prodigious technique, which includes sweeping glissandos and effortless tandem runs, is never allowed to muddy or disguise the essence of a tune" Jessica Nicholas, The Age. One of Australia's greatest pianists/composers who has played with everyone from Michael Brecker to Ray Brown. His Live at Umbria Jazz 05 album (read our review) recently won the Bell Award for Best Australian Classic Jazz Album. Jo Fabro - In 2005 she was a top ten finalist in the National Jazz Vocal Awards a the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. John Hardaker  - – The John Hardaker Direction is a jazz-blues combo from Sydney, Australia. Built around the jazz-blues guitar and arrangements of John Hardaker, and the distinctive jazz flute of Crystal Moloney, the group was formed in January 2007. A veteran of the Sydney scene, John has been playing jazz, blues and soul all his life. He has brought them all together in his new group, The John Hardaker Direction. Over the last few years the music has evolved into a very soulful brew of blues-tinged jazz-funk reminiscent of Herbie Mann, Yuseff Lateef, Kenny Burrell and Larry Coryell. The JHD likes to keep one foot rooted firmly in the past while the other kicks a little at the envelope. John Harkins  - Leading Sydney piano exponent of the hard bop genre. Also an accomplished vocalist in a solo setting. Holds the piano chair in the 'Straight Ahead Trio'. Originally from Chicago, John has performed and recorded with jazz greats Barbara Morrison and Scott Hamilton. His technique has been compared with Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones. Read more... John Hibbard - Leading 'Sidecar', melancholic country jazz band. John Leigh Calder - Jazz and Blues and swings like crazy with Col Nolan on keyboards and Toby Hall on the drums. John Morrison  - John Morrison has delighted audiences for more than 25 years with his humor and dedication to sounds that swing. Equally at home in a small group or big band setting, his musical facility runs the entire spectrum from traditional jazz, swing, Bebop, R&B, Soul and commercial jazz rock. John Pochee  - Began his career in the El Rocco in the mid 1950's. He was personal drummer for Shirley Bassey on her 1969 and 1970 tours of Australia and NZ. As a Jazz musician he has played all over the world including Ronnie Scotts, two tours of Russian Jazz Festivals, India, Canada, US and Europe. As a bandleader he has accepted awards including Mo Awards for TPI in 1990, 1996 and 2000. Read more... Jonathon Zwartz  - Read more... Jorge Campano & Flamenco Soul – Using guitar and cajon, Jorge performs many of the traditional songs of Andalucia through to hot contemporary Spanish rhumbas. Joy Mulligan - delightful vocal trio Jazz. Joy Mulligan - Joy originally lived in Perth where she worked in television, radio and nightclubs. After arriving in Sydney, she was contracted to do her own weekly series of radio shows on the ABC, as well as guesting on television programs, such as The Don Burrows Collection on the ABC, The Midday Show etc. Joy has also supported Georgie Fame several times along with Don Burrows and George Golla at the original Supper Club. Her long residency was at the Bourbon & Beefsteak Bar in Kings Cross. Joy has performed at all the major Australian jazz festivals. Kevin Hunt and George Golla are members of Joy’s trio Mulligan Stew. Judy Bailey OAM   - Impressionistic piano. Judy enjoys the challenge of endeavouring to integrate the Classical and Jazz music genres. Her influences include Stan Kenton, Lenny Tristano and Horace Silver. Judy remains one of the key artists in the development of Australian jazz. Judy has won a MO Award and was chosen in 2008 as one of Sydney’s most influential people in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Magazine. While she leads her own trio with Ben Waples on bass and outstanding young drummer Tim Firth, she also has developed the youthful, impressive and dynamic Jazz Connection big band. Read more Judy Campbell  - Judy Campbell's MOSAIC brings together some of Australia's most accomplished jazz performers and composers to present a multicultural rainbow of 'world jazz'. With influences ranging from African to Jewish, Brazilian and American music, they celebrate musical diversity through the lens of contemporary Australian jazz, with a particular focus on vocal textures. Read more...