Discover Award Winning Jazz at King Street Corner Pocket
King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival returns to warm the winter city with hot jazz, 4-6 July.
This year’s WAM Song of the Year (SOTY) Award nominees have been announced, with Jazz musician Ben Matthews in the leader’s pack with two nominations in Jazz & World, plus the Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble in the World category.
All Jazz nominees, and many more, can be experienced live at King Street Corner Pocket Festival.
Ben Matthews performs Saturday 6th July with Holli Scott and the Rush Hour Circus at Prince Lane - 6.00pm, in a show transporting you to another age and place, drawing from artists such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone. Holli Scott and Ben Matthewsalso present a curated show of original music and arranged jazz standards at Cheeky Sparrow - 8.30pm.
Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group is also a hot festival and SOTY awards favourite. This lively 7-piece perform with guest vocalist Nico Bahamonde, presenting a tribute to the ground-breaking album "Soul of Black Peru" compiled by David Byrne (Talking Heads) at the Sewing Room on Thursday 4th July, 7.00pm. Susnjar also drums at the festival with Perth Wind and Fire, Helium, Holli Scott & the Rush Hour Circus, TRISK, and Kohesia Ensemble.
Piano and drum duo Imogen Thomson / Austin Salisbury present Mejadra, a melting pot of modern Jazz and Afro-Cuban inspired originals at the InterContinental Perth City Centre, Thursday 4th of July, 6.00pm.
Nick Abbey performs on bass in TRISK, an instrumental group influenced by hip-hop, jazz, R&B, pop, and world. TRISK perform in the Barre Café at His Majesty’s Theatre, Thursday 4th July, 5.30pm. Nick also appears with the Anea Duratovic Quintet.
Multi-instrumentalist Tim Newhouse presents Synken (the Danish word for immersion) at the Dress Circle Bar at His Majesty’s Theatre, Thursday 4th July, 7.00pm.
Led by double bassist Kate Pass, Kohesia Ensemble present Kate’s original compositions influenced by her passion for both jazz and Persian music. Explore unusual time structures, microtonal melodies and exotic instruments at Prince Lane Glamour Bar, Saturday 6th July, 7.30pm. You can also catch Kate with Phoebus Cartel and the Perth Cabaret Collective.
2017-18 SOTY Jazz award winner Harry Mitchell also makes festival appearances on keys with The Greig-Kelly Quintet, Helium, Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group, and Trio Trio.
Festival attendees also win big savings using a 10-voucher discount Pocket Pass for $125 - that’s only $12.50 per show, each offering just under an hour of quality, local music.
No matter who the winner is this year, King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival has all Jazz styles covered - head to cornerpocket.com.au for festival info.
Tickets and Pocket Pass vouchers are on sale now at ptt.wa.gov.au
WAYJO Bring Big Band Vegas to The Astor Theatre
For one night only, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) present a swinging night of big-band jazz at the Astor Theatre!
Celebrate all that is Vegas with not one but two 18-piece jazz bands, in a superb Art Deco venue that will resonate with the big band sound, Saturday June 1st.
The Rat Pack, Tom Jones, Elvis. Louis Prima... enjoy the swinging sounds of the ultra-lounge performed live on stage by one of Australia’s premiere jazz orchestras, with incredible performers that just happen to be aged 25 or under!
"This year Vegas Baby! will send you back to an era of sophistication and decadence when the music of Sinatra, Ella, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and the Count Basie Orchestra were in their prime.” WAYJO artistic director and Wednesday Night Orchestra’s conductor Mace Francis.
WAYJO are grateful for the support received every year from all of the staff at the Astor Theatre. City of Stirling also supports the event through its Cultural Development fund.
Book now with the password MTLAWLEYfor $5.90 off standard tickets.
Vegas, Baby!
with WAYJO TNO & WNO
Saturday 1 June, 7.30pm
The Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley
Tickets only from astortheatreperth.com
King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival 2019 Announced
WAYJO’s extraordinary jazz hit of 2018 – the King Street Corner Pocket Jazz Festival – returns to the city this July.
Boasting 55 shows and more than 200 performers, the festival showcases WA’s top emerging and established jazz musicians from 4-6 July 2019.
City venues include His Majesty’s Theatre, The Sewing Room, the InterContinental Perth City Centre Hotel, Cheeky Sparrow and Prince Lane.
WAYJO General Manger Simon Keen said it was exciting to be staging the second King Street Corner Pocket Festival.
“Last year’s debut festival was a huge success and this year we’ve got more shows plus new venues such as Cheeky Sparrow and Prince Lane,” he said.
“King Street Corner Pocket Festival has something for everyone with big band jazz, intimate duos and trios, and some of the best emerging jazz artists Perth has to offer.
Featured artists include WAYJO’s popular Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Night Orchestras plus fabulous locals such as up and comers Demon Days, Fat Sparrow’s final ever gig, and an album launch from Harry Mitchell’s Trio.
Performances start at 5.30pm, 6pm, 7pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9pm. The good news is that If you miss the start of a show you can pop in for just $5.”
Tickets are $15 for a full show, with discounted passes to see multiple shows at The Sewing Room and Prince Lane. The Pocket Pass of 10 performance vouchers is available for $125.
Festival performers include the WAYJO Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday Night Orchestras – plus;
457 World Jazz, Anea Duratovic Quintet, Ardent, Bill and Ben, Bunbury SHS Jazz Ensemble, Dan Garner and the 4 Piece Combo, Demon Days, DSUS Afro-Peruvian Group, Fat Sparrow, Five Pillars of Salt, Gemma Farrell Quintet, Hanna Kim Trio, Helium, Holli Scott & Ben Matthews, Holli Scott & the Rush Hour Circus, Imogen Thomson/Austin Salisbury ‘Mejadra’, James Sewell Quintet, Jessica Carlton Sextet, Joshua Cusack 4tet, Joshua Nicholls Plus Seven, Ko-Ko, Kohesia, Kristian Borring Trio, Libby Hammer, Localz2000, Marc Osborne Quartet, Matt Smith presents Driftwood, Maximillian Wickham Quintet, MELVE plays Blue Note, Nueva Salsa Orchestra, Oz Big Band, Penny King Quartet, Perth Cabaret Collective, Perth Wind and Fire, Phoebus Cartel, Reece Clark & Friends, Ricki Malet Quartet, Russell Holmes Trio, Sarah Ramsey Trio, Sassafras Trio plus special guest Steve Searle, Split Kick, Sylvia Cornes Duo, Synken, The Greig-Kelly Quintet with Victoria Newton, The Island Trio, The Love Rats, The Singer Songwriters of Jazz, Trio Trio, TRISK, TVQ, Vib3, William Chiew Quartet.
Tickets are on sale now from ptt.wa.gov.au - head to cornerpocket.com.au for more.
#KSCP19 #PerthWinterArts
Festival Acts
Media Contacts
Tracy Peacock
Publicist
tpmedia@iinet.net.au
+61 (0)410 454 090
Simon Keen
WAYJO General Manager
simon.keen@wayjo.com
+61 (0)407 990 483
Festival Media Links
About WAYJO
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) is WA's leading jazz big band and the premier youth jazz orchestra in Australia. Each year, we engage about 100 emerging and established artists and perform in front of more than 30,000 people across Western Australia.
New programming has seen WAYJO’s ticketed audiences grow from 1,500 in 2016 to over 8,000 in 2018.
WAYJO is a not-for-profit organisation and has grown from supporting a single 18-piece ensemble to the three orchestras it has today – the Monday Night Orchestra, Tuesday Night Orchestra and the Wednesday Night Orchestra. Since 1983, WAYJO has nurtured outstanding young musicians, aged between 14 and 25 years, through programs designed to develop life skills like commitment, collaboration and self-confidence.
WAYJO alumni have gone on to successful careers in the music industry locally, nationally and internationally, and continue to contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of Australian culture.
For more information, including concerts, bookings, workshops and auditions, head to wayjo.com
WAYJO MNO South West Tour 2019
WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) presents big-band jazz in Mandurah and Albany, each for one night only!
The WAYJO Monday Night Orchestra (MNO) bring toe-tapping jazz stylings as part of their 2019 Act-Belong-Commit South West Regional Tour this May.
The MNO bring their recently sold-out Perth show of New Orleans Big Band Jazz to Morning Melodies at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, May 13th. Join WAYJO as their young musicians take you back to the origins of jazz in a concert of fun filled music, which includes a morning tea from 10.00am.
This 18-piece jazz orchestra, directed by nationally acclaimed trumpeter Ricki Malet, will also visit Albany Entertainment Centre, May 15th.
The MNO play repertoire inspired by the big bands of the 1930s to the 1960s, led by such icons as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton.
Enjoy grooving classic big band classics, performed by one of Australia’s leading youth jazz orchestra’s that has been described as one of the country’s cultural gems!
WAYJO Act-Belong-Commit South West Regional Tour
MNO Live in Mandurah
Monday 13 May, 11.00 am - 12.00pm | morning tea from 10.00 am
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Tickets manpac.com.au
MNO Live in Albany
Wednesday 15 May, 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Albany Entertainment Centre
Free Entry for this community event
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Contacts:
Jess Herbert
WAYJO Office Manager & Tour Coordinator
admin@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
Justine Thornley
WAYJO Marketing
marketing@wayjo.com
+61 8 9471 1950
International Jazz Day 2019
Celebrate International Jazz Day at this FREE concert event featuring the next generation of jazz greats from the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra and WAAPA.
In November 2011, UNESCO officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. This year the official international celebration is held in Melbourne.
This event is presented in collaboration with WAYJO, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), the Perth International Jazz Festival and with kind support from the Minderoo Foundation.
WAYJO & WAAPA Celebrate International Jazz Day
State Theatre Centre Courtyard
Tuesday 30 April, Doors 5:30pm
6:30pm WAAPA
8:30pm WAYJO
FREE General Admission
Check out the exciting range of events from around the world, online at jazzday.com
#JazzDay
2019 WAYJO Composer Residencies Announced
Now in its 11th year, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence program has annually supported two emerging composers to develop new works for a large jazz ensemble, offering both generous commission fees and artistic mentorship.
This year we had the largest number of entries we’ve ever seen, making the usual difficult decisions even harder. This is a good indication that jazz composition is still alive and well in this country, especially seeing the quality of the submissions.
However, only two composers could be selected to fill the Associate Composer in Residence and the Composer in Residence positions. They were chosen based on their previous work, education, and proposed ideas for the commission.
WAYJO Alumni Joshua Nicholls was successful as the 2019 WAYJO Associate Composer in Residence.
Joshua has a good grasp on orchestration, voicing and arranging craft as well as having an eclectic range of influences and styles he brings into his music.
Scott van Gemert will be the 2019 WAYJO Composer in Residence.
Scott’s skill and craft in writing for big band instrumentation, and respect for the tradition, was displayed in his previous work.
Scott's proposal to push his concepts of form and structure while still acknowledging the jazz tradition promises to deliver us some exceptional new Australian big band music.
The WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra will premier and record these young composer's exciting new works at the 2019 King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival, Sat 6 July Downstairs at The Maj - 6.00pm & 7.30pm.
For more information about WAYJO’s composer in residence program and commissioning, please visit wayjo.com/education/emerging-composers
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
2019 Composer in Residence Applications Open
The WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) is offering young jazz composers paid, professional development opportunities to develop new works and enhance writing and conducting skills.
Through its unique Composer-in-Residence programs, WAYJO annually supports two young, emerging composers to develop new works for large jazz ensemble, offering both generous commission fees and artistic mentorship. Such opportunities are rarely offered in Australia.
The programs are run under the guidance of WAYJO’s Artistic Director, Dr Mace Francis (winner – APRA/AMCOS Jazz Work of the Year and international Scrivere in Jazz prize; finalist – Freedman Jazz Fellowship; nominee – Jazz ‘Bell’ Awards).
COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE is open to any jazz composer aged 30 years or younger (as at 1st January 2019), residing in Australia. $5,000 is offered to develop three new, original compositions. Flights and accommodation included (unless a resident of the Perth metropolitan area).
ASSOCIATE COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE is open to any jazz composer aged 21 years or younger (as at 1st January 2019), residing in Western Australia. $2,000 is offered the Associate to develop two new, original compositions.
Both positions offer professional advice and mentoring, opportunities to rehearse and perform with WAYJO’s premier 18-piece big band, and an opportunity to premier the works at the 2019 King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival.
This program is open to all Australian composers (citizens and permanent residents). Successful applicants will be required to compose the works (each six to eight minutes in duration) by Monday 3 June 2019, for performance by the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra Wednesday Night Orchestra.
Applications open Friday 1 February, 2019 and close Friday 1 March, 2019 at 5.00pm AWST. No extensions will be offered or late applications accepted. Submission of the Application Form, plus up to 3 original composition scores and recordings, are required before the closing date. Successful applicants will be notified by Fri 15 March, 2019.
For more information, visit wayjo.com/education/emerging-composers
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
King St Corner Pocket Festival 2019 - Applications Open
King St Corner Pocket Festival 2019
Call Out for Performers
Perth and Western Australia host some of the most outstanding jazz talent in the country. King St Corner Pocket will showcase these exceptional local artists, emerging and established, in a fun filled festival where you don’t have to walk more than 50m to hear a new sound.
Festival performances will be 50-60 minutes long, with performances overlapping at different venues in and around King Street, offering audiences the choice to mix and match their own choice of music.
WAYJO will once again be using His Majesty’s Theatre (Downstairs at The Maj, & Dress Circle Bar), the InterContinental Perth City Centre, The Sewing Room and other spaces as activated performance venues.
Performers interested in performing at the festival – fill out the online Application Form before 11.59pm Thursday 28 February, 2019.
Seasons Greetings from WAYJO
The WAYJO office will be closed for the holiday season from Monday 17 December, and reopens for 2019 Wednesday 9 January.
From everyone at WAYJO, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support during an incredibly busy year of jazz.
WAYJO produced around 100 ticketed performances throughout the year, and attendance of our 2018 season program reached over 8,000 - a remarkable achievement from a lean team of just three office staff.
Here’s wishing you and yours a festive holiday season. We sincerely hope to see you at our shows next year - check out our offerings for 2019 at wayjo.com/season
WAYJO Announces 2019 Season
WAYJO Announces 2019 Season
The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) launches its 2019 season with a focus on the birthplace of jazz, the USA, welcoming celebrated international guest artists.
The 2019 annual program has the theme of “An American Jazz Story”, with all core events focused on a different American theme, whether it’s a city and style or a celebration of composers and songs.
Jazz at The Maj returns from April to November, featuring stunning concerts in the beautifully intimate Downstairs at the Maj. The season kicks off in April with a celebration of The Great American Songbook, hot on the heels of the 2018 sell-out “Ladies Sing the Blues” and delivering a night of the best sung jazz standards.
In May, WAYJO welcomes trombonist Mariel Bildsten (USA) to perform Dixieland Stomp, a riotous journey through New Orleans style jazz. Ms Bildsten last appeared in Perth as part of the Evan Sherman Big Band (Perth Festival, 2017).
July sees WAYJO visit Detroit in Jazz with a Touch of Motown as they celebrate the Motor City’s storied contribution to jazz.
In a huge coup for the company, Dick Oatts performs with WAYJO in August for Central Park North, a tribute to jazz from New York City. Mr Oatts is the Artistic Director and lead alto saxophone player with the fabled Vanguard Orchestra, and these concerts will be a highlight of the year.
September sees WAYJO working with Iain Robbie, Steve Richter and Adolfo Chavez, popular local artists known for their Latin style in The Afro Cuban Explosion. Miami Cuban jazz will have audiences dancing in their seats to infectious rhythms and percussion.
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love opens in October as WAYJO dedicates a night to the bluesy style of Chicago’s jazz scene.
Jazz at The Maj concludes in November with Jazz at the Movies, presenting favourites and surprising compositions from Hollywood, from The Pink Panther theme to The Incredibles for all the family to enjoy.
WAYJO’s annual gala event at the Astor Theatre returns in June with Vegas, Baby!. A night of big band show tunes made popular in the old Vegas rat-pack style will pack houses.
Jazz Under the Stars closes out the year at the stunning Quarry Amphitheatre featuring all three of WAYJO’s 18-piece big bands.
The sell-out Jazz for Juniors returns as part of WAYJO’s ongoing education program.
The 2019 season will continue WAYJO’s growth as a company. From 1,500 ticketed attendances in 2016, WAYJO’s program has grown to attract over 8,000 attendees in 2018.
WAYJO is the small company that has WA’s arts community buzzing with an exciting 2019 on the horizon.
WAYJO 2019 Season Overview
Jazz at The Maj
Downstairs at His Majesty's Theatre - April to November
The Great American Songbook
April 5-6
Dixieland Stomp featuring Mariel Bildsten (USA)
May 3-4
Jazz with a Touch of Motown
July 5-6
Central Park North featuring Dick Oatts (USA)
August 2-3
The Afro-Cuban Explosion
September 6-7
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
October 4-5
Jazz at the Movies
November 8-9
Jazz for Juniors
His Majesty’s Theatre - April 16-17, July 9-10, & October 1-2
Vegas, Baby!
Astor Theatre - June 1
The Debut Collection
The Ellington Jazz Club – June 22
The Artemis Project
The Ellington Jazz Club – October 19
Jazz Under the Stars
Quarry Amphitheatre - November 22