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

One of Australia’s finest jazz musicians, internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Mark Fitzgibbon returns to Uptown.
 
Having lived in London in the 1980’s performing at Ronnie Scotts and throughout Europe, Mark has accompanied many international jazz stars such as Lee Konitz, John Stubblefield, Curtis Lundy, Claire Martin, Mark Murphy and George Coleman jr.
 
Winner of the National jazz awards at the Wangarratta jazz festival, he has worked and recorded with with many of Australias finest jazz performers including Dale Barlow, Bernie Mcgann, Vince Jones, Christine Mcnulty, Jamie Oehlers, Scott Tinkler, Ian Chaplin and Wilbur Wilde, as well as his own trios and quartets.

The quintessential bebop jazz pianist, his swinging touch and virtuosity is the reason why he’s one of the most in demand players in Australia.


 “Mark Fitzgibbon is one of the most under rated talents in the country. Always musically tasteful , a consistently sympathetic accompanist , a repository of a vast repertoire and an impeccable touch, he can produce blistering solos and lift the music to another level” -Adrian Jackson the AGE



$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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Are you lost? Bewildered? Are you in love? Or maybe, you simply can't see what’s right there in front of your nose.

If so, The Big Idiot Club is here to welcome you with open arms: with more than 8 billion members, The Big Idiot Club is the world's
leading social club for fools, bumblers and the frequently incorrect. And the best news of all? You’re already a member.

The Big Idiot Club is the new project from Flap! frontman & trumpeter Eamon McNelis. Featuring original songs in a vintage jazz style, virtuosic musicianship and some good old, old-fashioned floor-stomping swing.

Eamon McNelis on Trumpet & Vocals
Hue Blanes on Piano
Hayley Miro on Washboard
Jono Brown on Bass
Jon Hunt on Clarinet
Griffin Youngs on Trombone

 

$25/20 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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Sam Keevers is one of the most amazing jazz pianists in the country. This week features him with a stellar line up playing swinging standards and lyrical songs by composers as diverse as, Fats Waller, Thelonious Monk and the Buena Vista Social Club.

Sam has performed and recorded with international artists such as Chris Potter, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Bobby Previte's Project and Joe Bataan.
In 1996 he formed the 14 piece Latin Jazz group "Los Cabrones" which continues to perform around Melbourne and has performed at international festivals in China and New Caledonia.

In 2004 Sam toured Europe with the Jamie Oehlers Quartet performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Galway Arts Festival, a tour of Ireland and a residency at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.

Sam was a finalist for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2005 and was nominated for an ARIA award for the album "Grace", a duo recording with Jamie Oehlers.

Long time member of the Vince Jones ensemble, founding member of Australia'a premier afro-cuban jazz orchestra "Los Cabrones," the Jamie Oehlers Quintet, the Sam Keevers Nonet featuring Bernie McGann, and the "Red Fish Blue," Sam's music is always joyful and inspired and a treat to be part of, whether playing swinging standards in the 60's Herbie Hancock vein or his heavily latin influenced originals, Uptown is very much looking forward to this performance....

Sam Keevers - piano
Chris Hale – bass
Danny Fischer – drums




$30/25 concession - cash 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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The incredible jazz guitar of Craig Fermanis and Trio returns this Saturday night for an evening of hard swinging jazz music.

Craig Fermanis is one of Melbourne’s most in-demand jazz guitarists. He has shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Ricki Lee Jones, Mavis Staples, Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Tim Ries & Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones Band), Vince Jones, Joss Stone, Archie Roach, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Michelle Nicole, Mat Jodrell, Julien Wilson, Jamie Oehlers, Kate Ceberano, Christine Anu, and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, to name just a few.

Craig has studied in Melbourne with jazz guitar master Doug De Vries, and in New York with jazz legends Jim Hall and John Abercrombie. He has toured Europe 15 times and recorded on over 90 CDs and records. His debut album Machines was rated 9/10 and ranked as the third best Australian jazz release of 2002 by All About Jazz. A Cadence magazine review of Machines states “Fermanis is as strong a modern guitarist as any of the Scofields or Abercrombies.”
Over his 30-year career Craig has performed more than 7,000 gigs at concert halls, festivals, clubs and bars. He was a finalist in both the Wangaratta National Jazz Awards and the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship.

“One of the most gifted young guitarists I have had the pleasure to teach.” Jim Hall
Tix $35/30 concession -  cash 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



 

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.


 

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

Barney McAll moved to New York City from Australia in 1997 to join saxophonist Gary Bartz‘s band. As well as remaining to be a member of the Gary Bartz quartet, he also plays with the Josh RosemanUnit, Fred Wesley and the JB’s, Groove Collective, and Kurt Rosenwinkel‘s “Heartcore”. He completed a Bachelor of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, studying with pianists Paul Grabowsky, Tony Gould and Mike Nock and with guitarist Doug Devries.

His ensembles include “M.O.D.A.S”, “Sylent Running”, “GRAFT” and his most recent ensemble ASIO (Australian Symbiotic Improvisers Orbit). He was awarded the Australia Council Fellowship in 2007 and worked as musical director for Australian vocalist Sia Furler from 2011-2012.
Barney McAll is also the 2015 recipient of the Peggy Glanville-Hicks composer residency in Sydney, Australia.
He has recorded or performed internationally with many other musicians including Dewey Redman, Roy Ayers, Kenny Garrett, Maceo Parker, Jimmy Cobb, Eddie Henderson, Aloe Blacc, Peter Apfelbaum, Billy Harper, Daniel Merriweather and Vernel Fournier. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015 McAll won Best Jazz Album for Mooroolbark.[1]
 
"Barney is a special piano player with that certain heart and touch, so he has great possibilities.
He’s a genuine musician, not just a skilled artist. There’s a certain touch that I’m talking about.
It’s hard to explain, but he has that."
-Billy Harper

McAll is partial to unleashing surprises himself, whether they be radical dynamic shifts –
such as suddenly reducing a solo to the merest trickle of notes against thrumming bass
and whispered cymbal chatter – or just finding bewitchingly unexpected turns to take in
developing a melody. Masterful.
-SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
 

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bookings - email uptownjazzcafe@email.com