LATE REMINDER
Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival
11-14 December, 2020
The Jazzlab, Leslie Street, Brunswick
The release from Covid-19 lockdown and some relaxation of the requirements for live music performances have come just in time for this year’s MWIJF, albeit in a condensed version over four days.
Full details of the performances and line-ups are available on the MWIJF website, but here is a brief synopsis of what’s on offer. All performances will be conducted according to Covid-safe practices.
Friday 11 December
7pm (doors 6.30pm): Amelia Evans Quartet
Young musicians Amelia Evans vocals, Russell Tay piano, Blakely McLean Davies double bass and Alex Spicer drums did into the Australian Jazz Songbook to pay tribute to women musicians including Judy Bailey, Kristin Berardi, Sonja Horbelt and Michelle Nicolle.
9.30pm (doors 9.15pm) Holly Moore Quartet (NYC/Melb)
Saxophonist Holly Moore, back from New York, leads a new quartet featuring Kade Brown piano, Robbie Finch double bass and Luke Andresen drums in originals and standards, drawing on European jazz and post-bop.
Saturday 12 December
7pm (doors 6.30pm): Kate K-S (USA/Melb)
Also back from New York, after six years there, Kate K-S will be singing her originals with Brett Williams piano and Andy Sugg saxophone, drawing on jazz, electronic, folk, pop and soul music.
9.30pm (doors 9.15pm) Thando
Zimbabwean born and Melbourne based singer-songwriter Thando will take her audience on a journey of loving oneself and reflection.
Sunday 13 December
4.30pm (doors 4pm): Developing Artists Initiative – Poet Street
Nine-piece Melbourne ensemble Poet Street will move from lockdown to live in-the-flesh performance with music influenced by Alice Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. Co-presented with Adam Simmons’ The Usefulness of Art, Poet Street features Isabella Bradbeer voice, Sophia Basile trumpet, Genevieve Kuner alto saxophone, Madeline Browne tenor saxophone, Chanel Langdon baritone saxophone, Summer Nguyen piano, Alisha Karunagaran guitar, Phoebe Clark electric bass and Barbara Brady drums.
7.30pm (doors 7pm): Opening set Femina Duo
Fem Belling voice/violin and Mina Yu piano/arrangements will explore the mirth and melancholy in jazz standards.
Katarzyna Wiktorski Octet
Polish-born Melbourne pianist and composer Katarzyna Wiktorski will lead an ensemble in exploring light and dark landscapes that create an emotional, ornate listening experience. The octet consists of Katarzyna Wiktorski piano/compositions/arrangements, Jade Nye alto saxophone, Chloe Sanger violin 1, Blakely McLean Davies violin 2, Alexi Kyrkilis-Kalathas cello 1, Ffion Stoakes cello 2, William Base bass and Oliver Ledi Hanane drums.
Monday 14 December
7.30pm (doors 7pm): Transients (Keller/Wilson/Anning)
Andrea Keller created Transients trios after the death of the esteemed Allan Browne in 2015. This concert features the original line-up of Andrea Keller piano Julien Wilson reeds and Sam Anning bass.
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