Spice Up Your Winter with WAYJO’s Latin Explosion, 28 August
After two sell out shows Downstairs at The Maj earlier in the month, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) return for a second world-flavoured big band jazz show at The Rechabite, Saturday 28 August.
A Latin Explosion presents spicy Latin jazz grooves, pulsing percussion and raucous horns, performed with two of Perth’s most seasoned percussionists Iain Robbie and Marcus Perrozzi, also joined by the effervescent vocals of Adolfo Chavez.
“I have always loved the attitude and the intensity presented by the music from Latin American countries – especially Cuba, Columbia, Brazil and Mexico” states Marty Pervan, WAYJO’s Tuesday Night Orchestra Musical Director.
“It also amazes me that the essence of the history and culture from these countries is so alive in the music and dance traditions. The connection between jazz and Latin American music has a colourful and beautiful history, especially with so many cross-over artists who have made their name in jazz centres around the world like New York, Paris and London.”
“Being able to bring together two of my biggest musical passions (big band, and Latin American music) is always a special experience – and this, coupled with the joy of sharing this kind of musical tradition with the next generation of young jazz musicians is just fantastic. The way that the WAYJO band members’ faces light up when they hear a real live professional percussion section and a native speaking Latin American singer join them is priceless.”
This is a night for dancing. If you love Latin music, but dancing isn’t your thing, you can enjoy all the sights and the sounds from the upper levels!
Relive all the excitement of WAYJO’s 2019 very popular Afro-Cuban Explosion show. Grab your dancing shoes and tickets before they’re all gone.
Iain, Marcus and Adolfo appear thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
WAYJO presents A Latin Explosion
TNO with specials guests Iain Robbie, Marcus Perrozzi & Adolfo Chavez
Sat 28 Aug, 7.30pm
The Rechabite, Northbridge | Tickets wayjo.com
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #RechabiteJazz #LatinExplosion
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Clarinet Virtuoso Adrian Galante Swings with WAYJO, August 6-7
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) are proud to present a show of swinging big band jazz with special guest clarinet virtuoso Adrian Galante, Downstairs at His Majesty’s Theatre, 6-7 August.
The 1930s were the Golden Age of Swing and the height of jazz as popular music. The clarinet was the instrument that shot Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman into stardom and cemented them into jazz history.
Adrian Galante, Perth’s very own clarinet superstar, performs swing classics like ‘Begin the Beguine’, ‘Flying Home’, and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ with the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra.
“The swinging sounds of the big band era is what began my love of jazz when I was a child…” states Adrian. “At that time I had just started playing the clarinet and was utterly enamoured by the sounds of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and all the wonderful bands of the period.
It is not often that I get to play this repertoire, so I am very excited to be revisiting some of the wonderful arrangements that first sparked my love of jazz all those years ago, and to be working with the wonderful young talents of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra.”
Don’t miss this concert set to impress discerning swing jazz enthusiasts, and fans of slick liquorice stick licks!
Adrian appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
What people are saying about Adrian’s playing;
“This young man is one of those musicians you can’t ignore; he commands the attention of both audience and fellow performers alike with his prodigious technique and flair for presentation. Mostly one must choose between hearing a serious musician or experiencing someone who can connect with the audience, Adrian is that rare person who understands the ‘performing’ part of performing arts without any compromise in musicianship or passion for the music.” – Jazz Trumpeter, James Morrison.
WAYJO presents The Golden Age of Swing
MinterEllison MNO with special guest Adrian Galante
Fri 6 & Sat 7 Aug, 7.30pm
Downstairs at The Maj, Perth | Tickets ptt.wa.gov.au/wayjo
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #JazzAtTheMaj #GoldenAgeOfSwing
Act Belong Commit Jazz at The Maj for Schools
Students and teachers may also enjoy a special 1-hour school concert-workshop with Adrian, Friday 6 August, 3.00pm.
School workshops are great value at just $15 (+bf) per student or teacher/parent – plus you receive 1 complimentary ticket per 9 purchased. School bookings can only be made by calling Perth Theatre Trust group bookings on 6212 9291, or email groups@ptt.wa.gov.au
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #ActBelongCommit #JazzSchool #GoldenAgeOfSwing
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Let WAYJO Take You on a Sonic Persian Carpet Ride in July
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) hits The Rechabite Hall, Saturday 10th July, with exciting newly commissioned works featuring special guests Kate Pass & the Kohesia Ensemble.
Blending jazz & Persian musical influences, Kate Pass has created something new, refreshing & very exciting. Kohesia Ensemble bring elements of the Persian Dastgah musical system in a special night of cross-cultural collaboration & freshly commissioned work simply not to be missed.
Kate Pass – Kohesia & the Far East Suite will explore non-western time structures and microtonal melodies, combining the sounds of Persian flute (ney), percussion (daf), lute (saz) and oud with 18-piece jazz orchestra for a truly unique experience.
WAYJO are proud to have commissioned Kate (WAYJO member 2009/10 & 2014), to now expand her ideas for big band with the Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO).
“I’m really excited to collaborate with Wednesday Night orchestra on this project” says Kate. “Being an alumni WAYJO band member myself, it’s truly an honour to be commissioned to write for the band.
The program will feature several members of Kohesia Ensemble, including Esfandiar Shahmir on ney, Reza Mirzaei on saz, and Mike Zolker on oud.
I think this is the first time this combination of instruments has been joined by a big band, so it’s an incredible opportunity to create something new and unique. It’s also an opportunity for the members of Kohesia ensemble and myself to explore a different tonal palette.
The instruments of Wednesday Night Orchestra provide a wonderful variety of colours and textures, that allow us to re-imagine the Kohesia Ensemble sound, and expand upon our ideas in a way we haven’t done before.”
Tickets for this show are on sale through Humanitix, a registered charity offering 100% of profits from booking fees towards education programs for Young Girls, and scholarships for Indigenous Australians… yet another great reason to see this show.
Kate and the Kohesia Ensemble appear thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
WAYJO presents Kate Pass: Kohesia & the Far East Suite
Sat 10 Jul, 7.30pm
WAYJO WNO, with special guests Kate Pass and the Kohesia Ensemble
The Rechabite, Northbridge | Tickets wayjo.com
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #RechabiteJazz #KatePassKohesia
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Photo of Kohesia Enemble by Josh Wells
Classic, Contemporary & Commissioned Jazz in June
WAYJO are back with Jazz at The Maj, presenting Basie & Beyond – A Journey Through Jazz Downstairs at The Maj 11-12 June.
Let WAYJO take you on a bold jazz journey from Basie and into the big band beyond! Enjoy classic jazz repertoire, artfully paired with reinvented contemporary standards, presented by the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra (MNO). The second half features the Wednesday Night Orchestra (WNO) premiering exciting new works by WAYJO alumni Alana Macpherson, commissioned by the Minderoo Foundation.
WNO bring to life a set of all new music by the Downbeat award-winning composer and arranger. The music, inspired by the composer’s reflections on Australia, was composed during several lockdowns in Europe throughout 2020. This is a unique opportunity to see Alana Macpherson in action shaping the music that was composed specifically for the orchestra.
Alana is a Perth born is a saxophonist and composer currently based in Graz, Austria. Following the 2019 release of her debut album “All or Nothing At All”, Macpherson won the Downbeat Student Music Award for Large Ensemble Arrangement, as well as the 2018 WAM awards for “Best Brass/Woodwind/Strings Instrumentalist” and “Best Live Jazz Act”. She has toured with Emil Spanyi (Hungary), performed with the Vine Street Horns (Phil Collins), KUG Jazz Orchestra, Graz Composer’s Orchestra, James Morrison Big Band, and the Evan Sherman Big Band, among others. Macpherson has performed her works at the Perth International Jazz Festival, King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival, and Jazzwerkstatt Festival (Austria).
There’s something for all contemporary and jazz music fans in this bold big band program simply not to be missed.
Tickets to all Jazz at The Maj shows, including the The Golden Age of Swing in August, are available from ptt.wa.gov.au/wayjo
Alana appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
What people are saying about Alana’s Music;
“Alana is not only is an excellent saxophone player, but she is finding her own unique voice as a composer, arranger and band-leader. She’s a fan of Bob Brookmeyer’s music and you can hear a clear continuation of his concepts in her writing.” – Ed Partyka 2019
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #JazzAtTheMaj #BasieAndBeyond
Act Belong Commit Jazz at The Maj for Schools
Students and teachers may also enjoy a special 1-hour school concert-workshop with Alana, Friday 11 June, 3.00pm.
School workshops are great value at just $15 (+bf) per student or teacher/parent – plus you receive 1 complimentary ticket per 9 purchased. School bookings can only be made by calling Perth Theatre Trust group bookings on 6212 9291, or email groups@ptt.wa.gov.au
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #ActBelongCommit #JazzSchool #BasieAndBeyond
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Photos by Simon Reithofer, Reithofer Media
Make Mother’s Day with Jazz at The Maj – Oh, Lady Be Good!
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) are excited to return to His Majesty’s Theatre for 2021.
Opening a season of three Jazz at The Maj shows for the year, Oh, Lady Be Good makes a songful entrance Downstairs at The Maj 7-8 May – just in time for the Mother’s Day weekend.
Take a Quickstep back into a bygone era of style and glamour! Join special guest vocalist Victoria Newton (WAYJO member 1987-89), the WAYJO Tuesday Night Orchestra plus all three of the big band vocalists, for this showcase of beloved big band vocal repertoire.
Victoria has serenaded audiences across the world with her style, technique and humour. Now head of jazz voice at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she’s worked the London jazz scene, collaborated with Acid-Jazz legend the late Ronny Jordan, and supported Terence Blanchard at the Jazz Café with her quartet.
Enjoy this show at the historic Greenwich Club site – now Downstairs at The Maj – nestled beneath Perth’s iconic His Majesty’s Theatre. Escape the hustle and bustle of the CBD to indulge in the relaxed and revamped Downstairs Bar, with cosy cabaret-style seating, plus fascinating foyer displays from the Museum of Performing Arts Collection.
WAYJO’s last show at The Maj was a sell-out, so best book those tickets soon - and don’t forget to treat Mum too!
You can subscribe & save $10 per adult priced ticket by purchasing all three WAYJO Jazz at The Maj shows in the same transaction; 7-8 May: Oh, Lady Be Good | 11-12 June: Basie & Beyond | 6-7 August: The Golden Age of Swing - head to ptt.wa.gov.au/wayjo
Victoria appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2021 Major Programs Partner, Minderoo Foundation.
What people are saying about Victoria;
“A fabulous strong clear voice with a great sense of time and an even greater sense of fun!” - Steve Rubie, 606 Club, London
“Deeply into the music, a real jazz singer” - Brian Blain, Jazz UK
“A jazz singer a cut above the crowd” - John Fordham, The Guardian, UK
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #JazzAtTheMaj #OhLadyBeGood
Media Contact:
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
WAYJO Act Belong Commit Regional Tour 2021 presents Basie & Beyond
WAYJO are coming to Margaret River HEART, Wednesday 5th May – and Bunbury BREC, Friday 7th May – for two free community concerts for all the family.
Let the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra take you on a bold jazz journey from Basie and into the big band beyond…
Enjoy classic big band repertoire, artfully paired with reinvented contemporary jazz standards, plus premiere exciting commissions by WAYJO’s alumni composer Alana Macpherson on her recent return from Austria.
Due to the year that was 2020, our band members have been retained into 2021. Because of this, our MNO is now a tight knit musical family, performing bigger and better than ever before!
There’s something for all contemporary and jazz music fans in this bold big band program that’s simply not to be missed. WAYJO have travelled nearly 300km to play before a audiences in the South West – so don’t miss out!
WAYJO thanks Healthway Act Belong Commit for supporting our Regional Touring program.
PLEASE NOTE: these are FREE community concerts with admission for ticket holders only as venue numbers are restricted.
Wed 5 May, 7.30pm
Margaret River HEART
47 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River
Limited Free tickets only from margaretriverheart.com.au – (08) 9780 5294.
Fri 7 May, 7.30pm
Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC)
2 Blair St, Bunbury
Limited Free tickets only from bunburyentertainment.com – 1300 661 272.
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #WAYJOregional #ActBelongCommit #BasieAndBeyond
Jump into Jazz at the 2021 WAYJO Season Launch
Since 1983, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) has been at the forefront of Australia’s emerging jazz performers, conductors and composers. The 2021 season offering is no exception, bringing together traditional and contemporary jazz to familiar venues Downstairs at The Maj and The Quarry Amphitheatre, and introducing new vibes at The Rechabite and Lyric’s Lane.
This bold program showcases the MinterEllison Monday, plus Tuesday and Wednesday Night Orchestras, demonstrating the versatile possibilities of the big band format. It is a season with something for everyone, spanning traditional repertoire at The Golden Age of Swing in August, through to an upbeat dancing selection at A Latin Explosion in September.
WAYJO are also proud to present commissioned work by alumni Kate Pass in a world music collaboration with Kate Pass and the Kohesia Ensemble, presenting a Persian spin on big band music in July.
Freshly commissioned big band and jazz ensemble works also spring to life at The Modern Masters show in October, with internationally renowned saxophonist, and Associate Dean of Music at WAAPA, Dr Jamie Oehlers.
The season closes in November at The Quarry Amphitheatre in an awe-inspiring collaboration with the WAAPA Jazz and Gospel Choirs.
2021 promises tight knit ensemble work in a bold season of shows from March to November. Tickets will be on sale to the public from 10.00am, Monday 29 March.
WAYJO invites you to Jump in to Jazz in a season launch at the Lyric Lane Block Party, Saturday 27 March from 4.00pm. Get there early to secure a spot, grab a season brochure, and be among the first to witness the 2021 line-ups. This is a Free Community Event at a licensed venue; 18+ with ID or minors to be accompanied by guardians.
For more information, please visit wayjo.com
Hashtags: #WAYJO2021 #WAYJOBlockParty
Contacts
Justine Thornley, WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Mace Francis, WAYJO Artistic Director
mace.francis@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
WAYJO thanks continuing Government Partner, the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries, Lotterywest, Principal Partner North West Shelf Gas, Major Programs Partner Minderoo Foundation, Monday Night Orchestra Naming Rights Partner MinterEllison, St John of God Healthcare and Healthway Act Belong Commit.
'Oh So Exciting' New Works presented by WAYJO at Perth International Jazz Festival 2020
The WAYJO MinterEllison Monday, plus Tuesday & Wednesday Night Orchestras, are proud to be part of the eight annual Perth International Jazz Festival (PIJF).
Enjoy free community concerts in Hyde Park with WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra Sun 8 Nov, 2.45pm, and WAYJO Tuesday Night Orchestra, 4.00pm.
On her temporary return from the US, the Wednesday Night Orchestra are thrilled to perform with none other than highly acclaimed international bass player, and WAYJO alumni, Linda May Han Oh - currently of Pat Metheny Quartet.
Linda performs her newly composed works for the WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra at The Rechabite Sun 8 Nov, 4.00pm. Linda appears thanks to WAYJO’s 2020 Guest Artist Partner, the Minderoo Foundation. Tickets for this show are available from Moshtix.
PIJF 2020 runs 6-8 November. Head to perthjazzfest.com for the full program and ticketing, and while you're there, consider saving with a 3-Show Pass for ticketed events booked in a single online transaction.
#perthjazzfest #WAYJO2020
WAYJO presents Jazz New and Old Under the Stars
Mining fresh new Australian jazz at The Quarry
Perth’s own WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) return to the beautiful Quarry Amphitheatre with Jazz Under the Stars, Friday 27 November from 7.30pm.
Jazz Under the Stars showcases classic big band jazz, right through to new Australian offerings by Andrew Murray, Mace Francis, and WAYJO’s 2020 Composer in Residence Des Cannings.
In a year mired by venue closures and physical isolation from March, WAYJO re-emerged with group rehearsals in July, and continued producing new Australian jazz works through its 13th annual Composer in Residence program.
Fresh from two sell-out shows at His Majesty’s Theatre, Ricki Malet leads the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra, who give big band classics from the 1930s to the 60s an all new energy.
The Tuesday Night Orchestra, led by Marty Pervan, received a glowing review of their first Lyric Lane show in September. This band presents an upbeat selection of jazz, blues and Latin classics to get toes tapping.
Mace Francis introduces brave new works with the Wednesday Night Orchestra. Originally scheduled to premiere at the King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, WAYJO’s 2020 composer in Residence commission now premieres for audiences under the stars.
Whether a jazz-head or new to the genre, experience something for just about any taste at Jazz Under the Stars. Bring a picnic and enjoy a feast of jazz new and old, with three big bands on stage for one night only.
Head to wayjo.com/whats-on for WAYJO's events calendar and bookings. Don’t delay, as tickets are still limited.
WAYJO Holds a Royal Flush of Sellout Shows
In a time where pandemic shutdowns are causing the blues, jazz seems to reign supreme with Perth ticket buyers.
The West Australia Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) sold out not one but two shows at His Majesty’s Theatre in just 17 days. This will be the second big band show presented by the orchestra since pandemic venue restrictions were lifted in WA.
A Night of Jazz Royalty takes a stroll through the kingdom of jazz, with two big bands presenting works by the finest names in the genre. King Oliver presided over New Orleans in the early 1900s. The Duke and The Count developed big band music into the sound we hear today. Benny Goodman, the King of Swing, ruled with an iron clarinet over the 1930s, while Ella Fitzgerald was crowned the Queen of Jazz with a career spanning six decades.
WAYJO’s MinterEllison Monday Night & Tuesday Night Orchestras will pay their respects to Jazz Royalty before sold out crowds Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October.
Once a historic Perth jazz venue known as the Greenwich Club, Downstairs at The Maj has recently undergone renovations, making it a special way to experience the big band sound.
Ricki Malet, Musical Director of the WAYJO MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra, is thrilled this band have the opportunity to debut before full audiences; “It’s so great that we could salvage some performances out of the year. The band have worked really hard over lockdown and since rehearsals started back at the end of July. We’re really excited to be able to showcase them at this amazing venue.”
If you missed out on this show, WAYJO’s Tuesday and Wednesday Night Orchestras hit the stage Thursday 17 September with Isolation Emancipation: Songs of Isolation & Freedom at Lyric’s Underground in Maylands. Tickets are on sale through Oztix, and anticipated to sell out soon.
WAYJO are also hosting the Live @ The Underground Sunday Sessions at the venue, featuring a guest jazz ensemble followed by an open jazz jam. The sessions run first Sunday of the month until December.
For more on WAYJO and what’s on, head to wayjo.com/season – just don’t wait too long to book your next tickets!
