WAYJO’s Best of 2023

WAYJO’s Best of 2023 is the final performance of WAYJO’s 40th year and an opportunity to showcase all three orchestras and their favourite repertoire of the year set at the beautiful the Quarry Amphitheatre on Saturday 18 November.

WAYJO’s Best of 2023
7:30pm – 10pm, Saturday 18 November
Quarry Amphitheatre
BOOK TICKETS


Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO is saxophonist David Theak performing music for the classic big band featuring the tenor saxophone – Basie, Jones, Holman, and Ellington with the MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra.

David is Head of Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium and an obsessed big band nerd. David has toured the world with his quartet Theak-tet and worked with European big bands. He is Co-Artistic Director of the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival.

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Saturday 16 September
Downstairs at The Maj
BOOK TICKETS


Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO is saxophonist David Theak performing music for the classic big band featuring the tenor saxophone – Basie, Jones, Holman, and Ellington with the MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra.

David is Head of Jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium and an obsessed big band nerd. David has toured the world with his quartet Theak-tet and worked with European big bands. He is Co-Artistic Director of the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival.

Don’t Get Around Much Any More: David Theak Meets WAYJO
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Thursday 14 September
Fishtrap Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
BOOK TICKETS


Young Women in Jazz Concert (2022)

Progressions

Progressions, WAYJO’s Pathways Program for female identifying and non-binary instrumentalists encompassing workshops focused on jazz and improvisation, takes to the stage for their 2023 showcase under the Musical Direction of Gemma Farrell.

Run in Perth since 2014 and developed in 2002 by Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) and Dr. Sandy Evans OAM, these workshops have seen young female and non-binary musicians build support networks, refine their skills, and increase confidence while learning about jazz and improvised music from some of Perth’s most accomplished jazz professionals.

We invite you to support these talented young people as they demonstrate their newly acquired skills in a fun and inspirational performance at the culmination of 8-weeks of intensive workshopping.

Progressions
6pm – 8pm, Sunday 2 July
Lyric’s Underground
BOOK TICKETS

Progressions is presented in association with the Sydney Improvised Music Association, with venue support by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Progressions is part of WAYJO’s Pathways Education Program, supported by Healthway promoting the Act Belong Commit message, and major partner The Minderoo Foundation.


Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente

The WA Youth Orchestra (WAYJO) presents Mambolicious – a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tito Puente, one of the most influential Latin big band leaders of all time. Featuring one of Australia’s greatest trumpet players, Mat Jodrell, with the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, these shows will have your feet tapping and hips shaking to the sounds of Latin jazz and mambo.

Mat Jodrell recently returned to Australia after eight years living and performing in New York City and teaching at Juilliard School of Music. He’s performed with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and the Mingus Big Band to name a few, and has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America, and the Middle East, performing at festivals and world-famous jazz clubs.

Paying homage to Tito Puente’s seminal big band recordings, Jodrell’s screaming trumpet licks accompanied by the infectious swing of the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra (directed by Marty Pervan) is a night you’re not going to want to miss.

Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Saturday 1 July
The Milk Bar, Inglewood
BOOK TICKETS


Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente

The WA Youth Orchestra (WAYJO) presents Mambolicious – a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tito Puente, one of the most influential Latin big band leaders of all time. Featuring one of Australia’s greatest trumpet players, Mat Jodrell, with the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, these shows will have your feet tapping and hips shaking to the sounds of Latin jazz and mambo.

Mat Jodrell recently returned to Australia after eight years living and performing in New York City and teaching at Juilliard School of Music. He’s performed with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and the Mingus Big Band to name a few, and has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America, and the Middle East, performing at festivals and world-famous jazz clubs.

Paying homage to Tito Puente’s seminal big band recordings, Jodrell’s screaming trumpet licks accompanied by the infectious swing of the St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra (directed by Marty Pervan) is a night you’re not going to want to miss.

Mambolicious: Jodrell Screams Puente
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Friday 30 June
Margaret River HEART
BOOK TICKETS


WAYJO’s 40th Anniversary Weekend

Celebrating 40 years of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra

You’re invited to the jazz party of the year as the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) turns 40!

With thousands of events under its belt and a special place in many a WA musician’s hearts and memories, WAYJO is marking the occasion in style – bringing together Perth’s biggest jazz names alongside future stars of the Australian jazz scene for one special weekend at the State Theatre Centre’s Studio Underground and Foyer.

The celebrations begin with a Gala performance on Friday evening featuring WAYJO big bands alongside special guest alumni including Perth’s premier jazz vocalist, Libby Hammer, the versatile trombonist Catherine Noblet, the accomplished saxophonist Gemma Farrell, and the elegant vocalist Lucy Iffla.

On the big night, all three bands – MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, and Wednesday Night Orchestra – will take to the stage to perform commissioned works, band and fan favourites, and classic big band jazz repertoire.

Then on Saturday, take a trip down memory lane and immerse yourself in our mini festival hub of in-conversations, small group jazz ensembles, historic photo displays, alumni appearances, and big band performances.

Be transported through time as all three big bands celebrate the greats playing classic big band jazz, music from the depths of the WAYJO library, and a line-up that traces jazz through to contemporary, translating be-bop to hip-hop.

With guest artists Jamie Oehlers, Libby Hammer, and Zero Emcee, this is an event not to be missed.

Join us as we celebrate WAYJO’s 40-year history and look towards the future of jazz!

WAYJO’s 40th Festival Weekend

WAYJO’s 40th Anniversary Concert
7:30pm, Friday 26 May
Studio Underground
SOLD OUT

WAYJO’s 40th Anniversary Festival
4pm – 10pm, Saturday 27 May
Studio Underground
BOOK TICKETS

40th Anniversary Program

Friday Program

The guest alumni are some of the most accomplished jazz musicians in WA. Libby Hammer, recipient of the Perth Jazz Society’s Award for Most Outstanding Individual Contribution To Jazz in 2005, spent two years as resident vocalist for WAYJO and now returns to grace the stage in celebration of WAYJO’s four-decade history.

Catherine Noblet, who played for over 10 years in WAYJO in the late 1990s to mid 2000s, studied at WAAPA and undertook a master’s in jazz studies at the University of Illinois, studying with legendary trombonist Jim Pugh, and receiving a fellowship and teaching assistant position.

Saxophonist Gemma Farrell, leader of WAYJO’s Progressions program and winner of WAM’s Best Brass, String or Woodwind Instrumentalist in 2020, is the founder and musical director of the Artemis Orchestra, a predominately female big band which performs the original music of Australian women, non-binary, and transgender people.

And recent WAYJO alumni, vocalist Lucy Iffla, who is already carving a successful career and following achieving a Top 10 Nominee for the Wangaratta 2020 National Jazz Awards, showcases an elegant and timeless voice beyond her years.

Rapper Zero Emcee – who joined WAYJO last year in a collaboration called Beats & Pieces and was a highlight of last year’s program – will join the Wednesday Night Orchestra to add some hip hop flavour to the big band repertoire.

Saturday Program


WAYJO's 40th Anniversary Concert & Festival

You’re invited to the jazz party of the year as WAYJO turns 40!

With thousands of events under its belt and a special place in many a WA musician’s hearts and memories, WAYJO is marking the occasion in style – bringing together Perth’s biggest jazz names alongside future stars of the Australian jazz scene for one special weekend at the State Theatre Centre’s Studio Underground and Foyer.

Join us as we celebrate WAYJO’s 40-year history and look towards the future of jazz!


40th Anniversary Concert

The celebrations begin with a Gala performance on Friday evening featuring WAYJO big bands alongside special guest alumni including Perth’s premier jazz vocalist, Libby Hammer, the versatile trombonist Catherine Noblet, the accomplished saxophonist Gemma Farrell, and the elegant vocalist Lucy Iffla.

On the big night, all three bands – MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra, St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra, and Wednesday Night Orchestra – will take to the stage to perform commissioned works, band and fan favourites, and classic big band jazz repertoire.

WAYJO’s 40th Anniversary Concert
7:30pm, Friday 26 May
Studio Underground

BOOK TICKETS

40th Anniversary Festival

Then on Saturday, take a trip down memory lane and immerse yourself in our mini festival hub of in-conversations, small group jazz ensembles, historic photo displays, alumni appearances, and big band performances.

Be transported through time as all three big bands celebrate the greats playing classic big band jazz, music from the depths of the WAYJO library, and a line-up that traces jazz through to contemporary, translating be-bop to hip-hop.

With guest artists Jamie Oehlers, Libby Hammer, and Zero Emcee, this is an event not to be missed.

WAYJO’s 40th Anniversary Festival
4pm – 10pm, Saturday 27 May
Studio Underground

BOOK TICKETS


The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones

The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones sees guest artist, Tessie Overmyer, one of Sydney’s most exciting emerging jazz alto saxophonists, and the WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra playing the music of seminal big band composer Thad Jones, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

In 2020 and 2021, Tessie was selected to play lead alto in the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra and plays lead alto with the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra.

The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Saturday 1 April
Downstairs at The Maj
BOOK TICKETS


The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones

The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones sees guest artist, Tessie Overmyer, one of Sydney’s most exciting emerging jazz alto saxophonists, and the WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra playing the music of seminal big band composer Thad Jones, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

In 2020 and 2021, Tessie was selected to play lead alto in the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra and plays lead alto with the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra.

The Groove Merchants: Tessie Overmyer Plays Thad Jones
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Friday 31 March
Fishtrap Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
BUY TICKETS