26/8/2010 Birdland on the
Move Again
Birdland Records have moved
to the Dymocks Arcade.
The new address is:
Birdland Records
# 3, Level 4, 428 George Street (Dymocks Arcade), Sydney 2000
new phone # 9231 1188
11/8/2010 Hauptmann wins
Freedman Fellowship
Tuesday August 10: The Music
Council of Australia and Freedman Foundation are delighted to announce Ben Hauptmann
the winner of the 2010 MCA/Freedman Fellowship for Jazz.
Ben Hauptmann (jazz guitar)
studied music at the A.N.U. Canberra School of Music (1998 - 2002) receiving a B.Mus.
with 1st class honours in Jazz performance. Ben moved to Sydney where he became
involved in a number of projects including the bands Bertie Blackman, The Alcohotlicks,
The Translators, King Curly, Wanderlust, Sydney All Star Big Band, John Morrison’s
New Generation and James Morrison’s Band. In 06 Ben moved to London spending eight months playing, recording and teaching. He performed in Paris, Amsterdam, Jerez and Granada as well as travelling to New York to perform at the 06
Bass Player Live convention with the Tal Wilkenfeld Trio. In 2007 Ben finished 2nd
in the National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. In 2008 Ben relocated
to Melbourne where he worked for a season with the Bell Shakespeare Company at The
Malthouse Theatre, performing with Michelle Nicole, Gian Slater & Gerry Hale
among others. In 2008 Ben co-released The Alcohotlicks debut album ‘You, You’ at
The Basement in Sydney to much acclaim. Ben will begin playing with Katie Noonan
and The Captains and Lior in September/October.
Ben intends to use his Fellowship
to represent his personal musical vision, but also develop a culture that brings
musicians from Sydney and Melbourne into a dialogue and regular exchange. He says,
“I have never released an album under my own name. The proposed project presents
a unique opportunity to create a recording that presents my musical personality
not only by accessing my different musical communities, but also the different instruments
I have made a part of my creative identity; guitar, mandolin, banjo, pipa, saz and
charango. As well as this wide palette of sound I would also like to include; two
drum kits, two basses, saxophone, voice, keyboards”.
The judges for 2010, Steve
Elphick, Phil Slater and David Theak observed, “The standard of all performances
were exceptional. Ben Hauptmann is our choice because the beauty of his music shone
through in a very individual performance. This is a very personal and mature voice,
revealed both in his playing and in his musical vision for his ensemble.”
Dick Letts, Director of
the MCA said, “The thing that was most striking about the Freedmans this year was
the diversity among the candidates: Gian Slater’s new vision for the jazz voice
both through her own solo singing and the writing for jazz choir; the driving force
of Perth composer Mace Francis’ writing for big band; the high sophistication of
Jackson Harrison’s piano playing and the tight ensemble with his trio partners,
the Waples brothers; and finally the quite unique invention of winner Ben Hauptmann
and his sextet – beautiful music with a surprise around every corner”.
The prize money for the
Fellowship, inaugurated in 2001, is $15,000 cash and consultations to assist with
non-musical aspects of career-building, as well as active support from Music Council
personnel during the Fellowship period.
The purpose of the Fellowship
is to assist performers up to 36 years of age to further their careers and enhance
their abilities as a jazz artist. Nominees propose a specific project to pursue
their career objectives, either overseas or within Australia. Part of the judging
process involves a public concert at the Sydney Opera House as well as an assessment
of their proposed project.
Established in 1998 by Laurence
and Kathy Freedman, The Freedman Foundation also supports visual artists, Australian
youth projects, and scientific and medical research. The Music Council of Australia
is a national music organisation representing the entire breadth of music in Australia.
27/7/2010 AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER JAZZ FESTIVAL INVITES KURT ELLING BACK
The lineup was announced
today for Australia's premier jazz event, the Wangaratta Jazz festival, which will
be staged over the pre-Melbourne Cup Day weekend of Friday 29 October –
Monday 1 November.
Heading a huge lineup of
international and Australian talent will be Grammy Award-winning US jazz singer
Kurt Elling, now established as the most accomplished and acclaimed jazz singer
on the international circuit. He performed at Wangaratta in 1998 on his first visit
to Australia.
The Festival's artistic
director, Adrian Jackson said, "One of the great things about this Festival
is that we've been able to invite many international artists here who aren't necessarily
well-known in this part of the world, and that was the case when Kurt came here
in 1998. He made a huge impression. Audiences loved him, critics and musicians saw
that he was the real deal, and he has since toured Australia regularly, winning
more fans with every tour.
"It's been pleasing
to see his career take off the way it has, and I have often thought that it would
be great to present him at Wangaratta again, if we could make it work financially.
We have managed to co-operate with the Sydney Opera House and some other promoters
to set up a national tour, and I'm sure the audiences will be delighted to see him
at Wangaratta, which is the only place he will perform in Victoria on this tour."
He adds, "I suspect
that Kurt will be surprised to see how much bigger the festival has become over
the last twelve years, and I'm sure he will enjoy performing in the new Wangaratta
Performing Arts Centre Theatre, which we used for the first time last year."
Other international artists
who will be at this year's festival (several of them exclusive to Wangaratta) include:
US saxophonist Oliver Lake
(a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet), who will perform with his Organ
Quartet, featuring organist Jared Gold, trumpeter Russell Gunn and drummer Chris
Beck
Gifted young Portugese vocalist
Sara Serpa, who will perform with guitarist Andre Matos and a rhythm section led
by pianist Aaron Choulai
Brilliant Belgian pianist
Jef Neve, with his Trio
Highly-regarded Dutch saxophonist
Yuri Honing, with his Quartet
Ornberg and trumpeter Bent
Persson, and featuring renowned British trombonist Roy Williams; Former Melbourne
pianist Aaron Choulai, now based in Tokyo, leading his new Japanese Quintet, Sisia
Natuna
US blues singer and guitarist Debbie Davies, who will co-lead the;Hot Licks
Blues Revue' with Australian blues singer and guitarist Fiona Boyes
Among the Australian jazz
artists at this year's Festival will be:
James Morrison, premiering
music from his new album with guitarist James Muller and bassist Phil Stack (both
former National Jazz Awards winners)
Internationally-acclaimed
pianist Mike Nock, leading his New Quintet
Pianist Andrea Keller and
her Quartet, performing with guests including Bernie McGann and Phil Slater; Piano
maestro Joe Chindamo with his Trio
Veteran saxophonist Bernie
McGann leading his Quartet
Drummer Allan Browne will
lead his Quintet through a suite inspired by the poetry of Artur Rimbaud Une Saison
En Enfer')
Bell Award-winning pianist-composer Stu Hunter with his Quartet, playing his
suite ;The Muse' ; and with his Ensemble, playing his suite The Gathering'
Bell Award-winning bassist Jonathan Zwartz with his Ensemble
Bell Award-winning vocalist Kristin Berardi, performing in a duo with guitarist
James Sherlock
Bell Award-winning young Perth-based composer-arranger Johannes Luebbers, with
his Dectet
Veteran Sydney trumpeter Geoff Bull, who will play classic New Orleans jazz with his Olympia Jazz Band
Bassist Lloyd Swanton with
his jazz-meets-world beats ensemble, The catholics
Young Melbourne singer pianist
Sarah McKenzie with her Sextet
Young Sydney trumpeter Eamon
Dilworth with his band, The Dilworths
Ten of Australia's leading trumpeters and trombonists will feature in the finals of the National Jazz
Awards, this year featuring Brass instruments
Mr Jackson pointed out,
"Along with the international guests, the program features artists from Melbourne, Sydney and Perth; across the broad spectrum from very traditional to very contemporary
jazz ; with some of the biggest names in Australian jazz, some outstanding young
talents, and some established artists who deserve wider recognition."
Likewise, the Blues Marquee
will host a great lineup of Australian talent :
Diesel, making his first
appearance at Wangaratta, will present a set focusing on his passion for the blues
Australia's leading blues band for the last two decades, The Backsliders
Veteran blues man Dutch
Tilders with his band
Exciting young-gun guitarist
and vocalist Ray Beadle with his band from Sydney
Sydney blues singer and harmonica star Continental' Robert Susz (The
Dynamic Hepnotics, The Mighty Reapers) with his Continental Blues Party
Guitarist and showman Jimi
Hocking with his Blues Machine
Acoustic guitar ace Nick
Charles in a solo set
Young Brisbane singer-bassist
Anni Piper with her rocking band.
Jackson said, "As
our audiences have come to expect, Wangaratta will be full of music lovers from
Friday night right through the weekend until the Cup Eve Concert. They can hear
some great music, catch up with friends or make some new ones, and enjoy the region's
renowned food and wines.
The festival's main program
features a schedule of over 75 events at 10 venues. Most of these events are covered
by the Festival Pass, which offers great value for three days of music, priced at
$180, or just $145 for 'early bird' orders before 30 September 2010. The Festival
Pass offers admission to all venues, however if patrons want to ensure they catch
a particular concert and avoid queuing, there is a allocated seating option for
shows in the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre Theatre. Also, as a commitment to
both youth and the development of jazz and blues music, the Festival has introduced
a student pass for patrons aged 16-25years for $100 or just $80 early bird'.
In addition to a great lineup
of jazz and blues performers, Wangaratta Jazz offers visitors the chance to enjoy
the quality wines and gourmet foods for which the surrounding region is renowned,
whether at street stalls in town over the weekend, or meals at venues like Brown
Brothers Epicurean Centre, Baileys of Glenrowan or the Wangaratta Gateway.
It all adds up to Wangaratta
Jazz 2010 being an event that no music lover can afford to miss!
Tickets are on sale from
28 July 2010.
For tickets go to the Festival's
web site
www.wangarattajazz.com or write: Wangaratta Jazz,
PO Box 860, Wangaratta VIC 3677.
For accommodation information
call the Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre on 1800 801 065 or go to
www.visitwangaratta.com.au
20/7/2010 Ever Wanted to Sing in a Choir?
Ever wanted to: Sing in
a choir? Sing with a talented group of singers? Sing a wide range of musical styles?
Sing in quality public performances? Sing in four-part harmony? Now you can!
Vicki Dwyer, the Musical
Director of Circular Keys women’s chorus and Sydney Harmony men’s chorus is teaching
an Introductory Harmony Singing Course on six consecutive Monday evenings from
Monday 16th August 2010 at norths Leagues’ Club, Abbott St. Cammeray. This is the
4th annual course and it provides an excellent opportunity for men of all ages to
try their hand at harmony singing. It will be held in the "Kameraigal Room"
from 7.30-10.30pm. At the end of the course you will be invited to sing in a concert
in the club for a public audience.
The total course cost is
only $90 - remarkably good value for 18 hours of tuition. There will be no auditions
or embarrassing solos, and the emphasis will be on having fun with no pressure to
perform.
Sydney Harmony established
itself as Sydney’s leading male voice chorus by winning the McDonald’s Performing
Arts Challenge (MPAC) community Choir Competition in 2004. They were finalists in
this year’s MPAC show choirs competition and in the last five national Men’s Harmony
choir competitions, Sydney Harmony has taken away a top three place medal four times.
This course will be a further learning experience for Sydney Harmony members as
well.
You do not have to be a
great singer to join this successful group – our singers are amateurs but with good
voices who enjoy singing harmony.
At minimal cost our singers
enjoy three hours of training every week under our inspiring Musical Director Vicki
Dwyer, a professional music teacher & successful chorus director. We provide
learning materials like MP3s for each vocal part that are easily downloaded from
our website by members.
You do not have to read
music to sing with Sydney Harmony although it certainly does help to have some musical
knowledge. You just need to be able to hold a note, listen often to the teaching
MP3s before rehearsals, and be prepared to listen and watch closely when you are
up “on the risers”.
To register send us an e-mail
with your name, mailing & e-mail address, and we will get back to you with more
details. Tell your friends about the course… the more the merrier!
If you love music, and would
like to sing with a great male chorus, come along in August - you will enjoy yourself
and we hope you will want to come back for more!
Contact Sydney Harmony at
secretary@sydneyharmony.com.au or call George Moessis
on 0425 286 782 during business hours. For more information visit
www.sydneyharmony.com.au
20/7/2010 AUSfolk industry cultural conference launches in 2010
AUSfolk , the country’s official new event organisers’ industry
convention, will take place over three days between
Thursday September 2 and
Saturday September 4, 2010 . Delegates
are encouraged to register now at
www.ausfolk.com .
AUSfolk is jointly presented by the Queensland Folk
Federation (QFF) and Folk Alliance Australia (FAA), and will take place at
Woodfordia in Queensland – the same site that features
the annual Woodford Folk Festival and The Dreaming, Australia's International Indigenous
Festival.
2010 marks a new beginning: this is the first ever AUSfolk conference, the
first time the FAA has partnered with the QFF to organise the event on the Woodfordia
site, and the first time the event has been expanded into a full three-day, live-in
program for delegates.
A conference for event organisers by event organisers
At its essence, AUSfolk is a conference for event organisers
by event organisers – also ideal for club owners, festival managers and venue promoters.
AUSfolk aims to provide an engaging and exciting platform for discussion in an environment
designed to stimulate and encourage even better events across the entertainment
spectrum of music, film and sports.
Attendees can expect a range of inclusive, entertaining and
relaxing experiences at AUSfolk over three days getting away from it all in the
beautiful Woodfordia surrounds. This ranges from early morning bird walks and site
tours, yoga, comedy shows and live music concerts, through to the Fire Starter Sessions
where delegates can help set the agenda and raise topics for new sessions not already
included in the program. Other rejuvenating activities include early morning bird
walks, yoga and even wine and whiskey tastings!
Major event representatives and speakers in attendance
Many of Australia’s top cultural practitioners will be present
at AUSfolk representing some of the country’s foremost events including
Port Fairy Folk Festival ,
Tropfest ,
Brunswick Music Festival ,
Splendour in the Grass and
Bluesfest .
Speakers at AUSfolk include former Prime Minister
Bob Hawke , Bluesfest Festival Director
Peter Noble , former Artistic Director
for The Dreaming Festival
Rhoda Roberts ,
environmental conservationist
Professor
Ian lowe from Griffith University
– and many more. Live in concert appearances include sets from
Leah Flanagan ,
Andy White ,
Dya Singh and
Kavisha
Mazzella to name only a few.
Bill Hauritz, executive director of the Queensland
Folk Federation , said, “AUSfolk
is about two things: strengthening the networks between grass roots artistic movements
and professional organisations. And secondly about positively and inclusively impacting
Australian culture as a whole.
“There are many interesting things on the program,
but also plenty of room where delegates and speakers can write the program as we
go along – through our ‘Firestarter Sessions’ which raise topics not already included.
We imagine delegates might leave this beautiful place, Woodfordia, armed with some
new ideas, a new enthusiasm, a bunch of new found friends and a strong feeling that
the work they do makes a big difference.”
John Thompson, President, Folk Alliance Australia said, “Organisers of events, festivals and venues
make a huge contribution to the development of Australian culture. By bringing together
all these instigators, initiators and torch-bearers of our culture, we hope to provide
a unique opportunity for ideas to be shared, new networks to be formed and for the
start of a new vision for how our culture is to grow and be shared into the future.”
Each session at AUSfolk will finish with the compilation
of three ‘actions’ that will assist delegates in incorporating the positive philosophies
associated with that session into their daily practice, and ultimately into tangible
results for ongoing work – and therefore Australian culture as a whole.
To keep AUSfolk small enough to facilitate rich discussions
and new connections, registration numbers for attendance will be limited. This means
interested attendees (that includes event organisers, club owners, festival managers,
venue promoters etc) should register to attend ASAP by visiting:
www.ausfolk.com .
Delegate registration closes August 31, 2010.
