Returning for its twenty-first year, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival continues to demonstrate that ‘jazz can happen anywhere’ for ten days with over 100 events that feature nearly 400 Australian, international and emerging artists.
This year jazz will hit all the right notes in 26 venues across the city ranging from the world-class Hamer Hall to intimate clubs, plus vibrant café gigs in Melbourne’s west and free festival community events including Jazz Massive – a huge participatory mass-music making event on the lawns of State Library Victoria.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival Artistic Director, Michael Tortoni, says that this year’s festival illustrates that jazz is the common ground that brings together a diversity of artists, genres and experiences.
“This year our program focuses on the waves of influence that jazz has – both within itself and also the influence it has on other music genres. We are really excited to showcase some of the future directions of this vital and ever-evolving artform,” said Tortoni.
The 2018 program features an impressive range of international artists, including funk legend Maceo Parker (USA) paying tribute to Ray Charles, jazz-blues chanteuse Madeleine Peyroux (USA), the (inter)stellar Sun Ra Arkestra (USA) and the irrepressibly energetic Yemen Blues (USA); plus modern masters such as Branford Marsalis (USA), Gretchen Parlato (USA), Christian McBride (USA) and Terri Lyne Carrington (USA); alongside future masters such as Nubya Garcia (UK) and Francesco Cafiso (Italy).
Many outstanding Australian artists are also showcased in the festival program, including The Others – a new collaboration between Paul Grabowsky AO, James Morrison and Kram; Harry James Angus’ new project, Struggle With Glory; and Brenton Foster as the recipient of the PBS Young Elder of Jazz Commission.
Melbourne-based Barney McAll will premiere two works: Trilogy of Cycles at Birrarung Marr’s Federation Bells and Sweet Sweet Spirit featuring music by the great gospel composer Doris Akers at Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre.
