Uptown Jazz Cafe - Melbourne's newest jazz and improvised music venue

Merry Xmas to all. We are open Boxing Day as well as Friday December 27th and Saturday December 28th
 

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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Led by award-winning trumpeter and singer Eamon McNelis, The Skellingtons play evocative, swinging tunes from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Repertoire from the catalogues of Billie Holiday, Una Mae Carlisle, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael and more.

Eamon McNelis was the 2010 winner of the Wangaratta Jazz Award for Brass, and is known for his work with Flap!, The Big Idiot Club, The Meltdown, and many more. His unique melodic approach to the trumpet has seen him perform at venues and festivals around the world.

Line up features:


Eamon McNelis on Trumpet & Vocals

Steve Grant on Alto Saxophone
Hayley Miro on Washboard
Howard Cairns on Bass
John Scurry on Guitar


 

$30/25 concession.  cash on entry/cards fine at the bar - doors open 7.30, music from 8pm. Seats still available. 

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

 

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Saxophone colossus Carl Mackey and Quartet return to the Uptown stage this Friday to deliver a night of hard swinging jazz.

Melbourne based saxophonist, Carl Mackey has been a stalwart on the Australian jazz landscape for more than three decades. Renowned for his versatile and emotionally charged playing style, he has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists, including Lionel Hampton, Kurt Elling, Sammy Figueroa, Ben Wendel, James Morrison, Kate Ceberano, Boy and Bear, Blur, Noel Gallagher, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

He has supported international stars such as James Brown, Harry Connick Jnr, The Yellowjackets, Ray Charles and Dianne Reeves.
Co-leader of award-winning group Speedball, he is a member of the Sam Anning Sextet, Australian National Jazz Orchestra, lead alto in the Vanessa Perica Orchestra and can be heard in groups as diverse as Andrea Keller’s Composer’s Circle through to latin orchestra, La Influencia.
A two time James Morrison Scholarship finalist, and a Freedman Fellowship finalist in 2006, Mackey has toured extensively with appearances in the United States, UK, Italy, India, and is a regular fixture on the national jazz festival scene with regular performances at the Melbourne, Perth, Wangaratta, Brisbane and Sydney International Jazz Festivals.



 

$30/25 concession.  cash on entry/cards fine at the bar - doors open 7.30, music from 8pm. Seats still available.

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bookings - email uptownjazzcafe@email.com and just pay for tickets on arrival

Wrapping up 2024 with one of the best jazz Trios in the world right now.

New York pianist Brett Williams up this Saturday playing modern standards and ballads to blow your mind. Although well known as the keyboard player in the Marcus Miller Band, his love and proficiency in straight ahead jazz is outstanding and a joy to experience. Expect tunes by Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, Charlie Parker and more....

Brett has performed with artists & musicians including Stevie Wonder, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Marcus Miller, Mumford & Sons, Billy Joel, Chris Thile, Mino Cinelu, Kevin Garrett, Snarky Puppy, Robert Glasper, Jose James, Sean Jones, Keyon Harrold, & Charles Haynes. He has also performed regularly with Jon Batiste on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Williams has already accomplished a significant level of experience on the bandstand & more recently in the studio as well. It is Williams’ openness to a wide range & myriad of musical styles & genres, his “old soul”, & his musical honesty that have helped him create & mold a dynamic sound & voice as a pianist & composer. He released his debut EP S3asons in 2019.

Tix $35/30 concession -  cash entry - cards fine at the bar




Seats still available. 

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bookings - email uptownjazzcafe@email.com and just pay for tickets on arrival



 

One of the world's leading improvised music guitar players

Guitarist and composer Stephen Magnusson is a musician at the height of his powers. From the precocious virtuoso who dazzled the music world when he crashed onto the scene, to a musician so mature, complete and respected that when people talk of an “Australian sound” of instrumental music, it is Magnusson’s influence – his tone, his touch, his compositional watermark and his deep sensitivity – that they hear.

founding member of SNAG, FESTA, Assumptions Trio (Julien Wilson and Will Guthrie) Julio and The Stevies (again with Julien and also Stephen Grant), his trio MAG (Frank DiSario and Dave Beck) and the latest quartet – Magnet (Carl Pannuzzo, Eugene Ball and Sergio Beresovsky) Steve is one of the most vital, musical and leading exponents in this music. Plus he's a sweetheart....

featuring everything from hard swinging Ornette Coleman tunes to delicate originals and distinctive ballads, sometimes even a cover of a Cold Chisel or The Police, Steve captivates and meserises with his incredible musicianship and openness....




 

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bookings - email uptownjazzcafe@email.com and just pay for tickets on arrival
 

The wonderful tenor saxophonist Julien Wilson is back with a new quartet, playing 50's and 60's jazz standards - featuring pianist Brett Williams (Marcus Miller Band)

Julien has released close to twenty albums as leader or co-leader and plays regularly with a wide range of groups. Over the last two decades he has toured extensively overseas, spent extended periods living in Zurich & New York, and made long-term contributions to high profile groups including The Australian Art Orchestra & The Black Arm Band. He has been an integral member of a number of critically acclaimed co-operative groups including SNAG, Assumptions & Ishish and is featured on award winning albums by Barney McAll, Stu Hunter, Jonathan Zwartz, Sam Anning, Andrea Keller, Kristin Berardi, Sarah McKenzie and Ben Salter.

In addition to his own projects and the groups listed above, Julien has been featured as a soloist with the Kurt Elling Quartet (USA) & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Gavin Bryars (UK) & Aventa Ensemble (Canada) and Paul Grabowsky’s Eye of the Storm Suite for Solo Soprano Sax with Jazz Trio + 30 piece Chamber Orchestra. He has recorded and performed with artists including Charlie Haden, Hermeto Pascoal, Brian Wilson, Thirsty Merc, Hugh Masekala, Osunlade, Nigel Kennedy, David Ades, Bob Moses, Augie March, George Garzone, James Carter, Phil Treloar, David Tolley, Josh Roseman, Bernie McGann, Vince Jones, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mavis Staples & The Artie Shaw Orchestra





 

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bookings - email uptownjazzcafe@email.com






 all entry fees are ex gst