Melbourne International Jazz Festival: These Digital Times

Nat Bartsch’s Lullaby Project
– 10:30 AM –

Nat Bartsch is a multi-award-winning Australian pianist and composer who creates lyrical, ethereal work that explores the space between classical and jazz genres.

Most recently Bartsch has become well known for her Lullaby Project, which, during early motherhood, saw Bartsch translate her gentle aesthetic into music with purpose – a suite of lullabies designed to soothe babies to sleep, but also be meaningfully enjoyable for adults. After interviewing music therapists, Bartsch composed a series of pieces with tempos similar to a mother’s heartbeat, gentle sounds, simple melodies and harmonies, ostinatos and repetition. The album – Forever, and No Time at All – was released in 2018 by ABC Classic and will be re-interpreted by a jazz sextet for the forthcoming release, Forever More, due out in July this year.

Buy Merch Stream from 10:30 AM Sat 27 June

Career Development Panel – Old Media, New Media
– 11:00 AM –

Working in music? This panel explores the differences and opportunities in old and new media and how to make the most of them. Featuring a discussion by experts in their field, the panel will cover online communities, media relationships and putting them together to help musicians and those working in music build their professional profile and navigate the media landscape.

Presented in association with APRA AMCOS and Arts Centre Melbourne

Closed captioning available.

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Kathleen Halloran Trio
– 12:00 PM –

Guitarist Kathleen Halloran has put together an eclectic jazz trio driven by a fun and fierce approach to improvised music. Featuring the melodically rich guitar stylings of Halloran, complemented by the versatile and inspiring Darryn Farrugia on drums, and rounded out by bassist Kim May’s work in the lower registers. With influences ranging from Pat Metheny to the Brad Mehldau Trio to Maceo Parker, their sonic palate is a broad one but always accessible.

Stream from 12:00 PM Sat 27 June

Solomon Sisay
– 1:30 PM –

Saxophonist Solomon Sisay is a world-class musician who shot to fame after being the chosen saxophone player for Axumite Band, a legendary outfit in Ethiopia. Now based in Melbourne, his star has continued to rise both locally and internationally. His debut album Sitota has quickly become a staple on community and national radio across Australia. Written by Solomon and fellow Ethiopian artist Nhatty Man, Sitota (meaning gift in Amharic) is a tribute to the Ethio-Jazz tradition and is a fitting salute to the saxophone’s role within Ethiopian Jazz.

Stream from 1:30 PM Sat 27 June

Direct from Italy: Federico Casagrande
– 3:30 PM –

Jazz guitarist Federico Casagrande began the study of classical music in Italy at an early age. He has released 11 records as leader or co-leader and has toured extensively throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Casagrande is an understated gem of European chamber-jazz – a six-string poet that has all the tools available to continue becoming of the singular voices in contemporary guitar.

This performance is proudly supported by the Italian Institute of Culture.

Stream from 3:30 PM Sat 27 June

Andrea Keller’s Five Below
– 5:00 PM –

Andrea Keller’s award-winning ensemble Five Below features two bassists, drums, guitar and piano, and reimagines a score of Keller’s compositions – throwing the music into a new light through an intense process of deconstruction, exploration, and musical innovation. Melding acoustic sounds with electronics, pedals and effects, the music of Five Below draws from an eclectic array of styles including doom, western art music, minimalism and contemporary jazz – producing a unique and arresting voice in Australian jazz.

Launching their second album and debut studio release, Life is Brut[if]al, this all-star line-up led by pianist/composer Andrea Keller also features Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Sam Anning (double bass), Mick Meagher (electric bass), and James McLean (drums). Scott McConnachie (sax) will be joining the band for this special, one-off performance.

Buy Merch Stream from 5:00 PM Sat 27 June

Joe Chindamo & Olivia Chindamo
– 7:00 PM –

Australian virtuoso pianist Joe Chindamo is routinely described as one of the best jazz pianists in the world and as a composer has earned international acclaim for his concertos, chamber music and film soundtracks.

Performing alongside Joe is Olivia Chindamo, his daughter, a stunning vocalist and performer in her own right. Usually based in New Yok, Olivia was the first vocalist to win the prestigious Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (2016) and has toured internationally with the likes of James Morrison (AUS) and Willie Murillo (US). Her music endeavours to fuse jazz history with a contemporary sensibility and a love of improvisation.

This performance is proudly supported by Australia Post

Buy Merch Stream from 7:00 PM Sat 27 June

Direct from the US: Joey DeFrancesco
– 8:00 PM –

Organ jazz had all but gone into hibernation until Joey DeFrancesco reignited the flame with his distinctly modern approach and vintage Hammond organ.

Raised in Philadelphia, DeFrancesco began playing at four years old, quickly joining his father “Papa” John DeFrancesco at gigs and winning over legendary players like Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones with his natural musical talent and enthusiasm.

The five-time GRAMMY Award-nominee has played with Ray Charles, Van Morrison, Diana Krall, Arturo Sandoval, James Moody, Elvin Jones and Joe Lovano just to name a few and continues to dominate the instrument as no one of his generation has.

This performance is proudly supported by the US Consulate General Melbourne.

Buy Merch Stream from 8:00 PM Sat 27 June

The Sugarfoot Ramblers
– 9:15 PM –

The Sugarfoot Ramblers are a collective of Melbourne based musicians with a shared love of trad jazz. After spending time in New Orleans, Travis Woods and Daniel Berry decided to form this band to explore the classic traditional jazz repertoire. Their live set at These Digital Times features Travis Woods (trumpet), Chris Vizard (trombone), Brennan Hamilton-Smith (clarinet), Louis King (banjo), Howard Cairns (bass) and Daniel Berry (drums).

Buy Merch Stream from 9:15 PM Sat 27 June