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

Modern jazz guitar master James Sherlock is one of the best straight ahead jazz guitar players in Australia. Whether playing in classic guitar trio or with vocalist, he’s right at home with the swinging jazz standards repertoire from the 50’s and 60’s right through to present day, and it is always a delight to be at James's performances.


A significant figure on the Australian jazz scene for a number of years, member of the famous “BOPSTRETCH” band that has held a Wednesday residency at Uptown for over 10 years.

Having recently been recorded live by ABC FM radio's "JazzTrack," this trio is the quintessential guitar led jazz sound.


James has performed, toured, recorded and collaborated with a variety of Australian and International musicians; however, the Guitar/Bass/Drums trio has been the backbone of James' performance output for over 20 years. This incarnation of the trio features outstanding young bassist Ben Hanlon and Danny Fischer on drums. 


"This could be exhibit A in the case that some of the world's most exciting jazz is being made in Australia.” John Shand - Sydney Morning Herald (“Watermark” review)
“Sherlock is a wonderful guitarist, and a craftsman of songs possessing beauty and depth. “Solo” should make a few Top 10s of the year and help propel Sherlock onto the bigger stage he surely deserves. Definitely a name to watch out for.” Ian Patterson, All About Jazz.




$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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Sydney based drummer Abby Constable plays a unique selection of jazz standards with her quartet.
Inspired by hard bop Latino infused music of the 50s, the ensemble draws energy from artists such as Joe Henderson, Eddie Lockjaw Davis/Johnny Griffin, whilst firmly rooted in the early traditions of swing .

Abby will be joined by Harry Tompsett (tenor sax), Lucas Trevisan (guitar) and Harry Birch (double bass).

 

$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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Special guests from New Zealand join forces with expat Kiwi Matt Steele and local legend Robbie Finch in a special one-off reunion performance

Mike Costeloe hails from Wellington, where he gained his Bachelor of Music at Te Kōkī /NZSM, and has since proved to be one of the city’s most prolific and exciting trumpet players. Over the course of his career he has played music with the likes of The Wellington City Shake-‘Em-On Downers, TOI, the Rodger Fox big band, Louis Baker, Louis TM, and The Black Seeds, as well as written music for the RNZAF Jazz Orchestra, and the Loemis Winter Festival.
Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa hails from Auckland, and gained a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at Te Kōkī /NZSM. With a playing history that encompasses the diversity of French For Rabbits, Glass Vaults and The Wellington City Shake-Em-On-Downers, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa has in recent years been establishing himself as one of Wellington’s go-to drummers.


They will be joined by local favourites Matt Steele (piano) and Robbie Finch (bass), thereby forming a veritable Trans-Tasman super-band capable of transcending any cultural differences or rivalries, and uniting the entire antipodes through the power of music.

$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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Trumpeter Mat Jodrell is one of the most exciting voices in Jazz today. He has recently returned to Australia after having lived in New York City for the past eight years, performing around the city and teaching at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music.

During his time in the States, Mat was a regular member of many ensembles, all of whom he has recorded with. They include Miguel Zenon’s ‘Identities’ Ensemble, Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project (both Grammy nominated in 2016), Lucas Pino’s No Net Nonet, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Miho Hazama’s M-Unit, Kenny Werner’s ‘No Beginning, No End’, Pedro Giraudo’s Expansions Ensemble, Jon Batiste Band, the Birdland Big Band, the Bill Mobley big band, the Dan Jamieson big band and many others.

Since re-locating to the US Mat has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Buster Williams, Hubert Laws, Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, James Spaulding, Carl Allen, Terri-Lyn Carrington, Bill Watrous, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Darcy James Argue, Josh Roseman to name but a few. Between 2008 and 2012 Mat has performed regularly on Broadway with the shows ‘Hair’ and ‘After Midnight’ and continues to work with legendary singer Paul Anka with whom he has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America and the Middle East.


He has performed in many of the world’s most famous jazz clubs in New York City including the Vanguard, Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Smoke, Smalls, Zinc and the Iridium, as well as touring to many of the largest festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival and many others.

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




doors open 7.30, music from 8pm. Seats still available. 

More

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



 

Trumpeter Mat Jodrell is one of the most exciting voices in Jazz today. He has recently returned to Australia after having lived in New York City for the past eight years, performing around the city and teaching at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music.
During his time in the States, Mat was a regular member of many ensembles, all of whom he has recorded with. They include Miguel Zenon’s ‘Identities’ Ensemble, Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project (both Grammy nominated in 2016), Lucas Pino’s No Net Nonet, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Miho Hazama’s M-Unit, Kenny Werner’s ‘No Beginning, No End’, Pedro Giraudo’s Expansions Ensemble, Jon Batiste Band, the Birdland Big Band, the Bill Mobley big band, the Dan Jamieson big band and many others.

Since re-locating to the US Mat has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Buster Williams, Hubert Laws, Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, James Spaulding, Carl Allen, Terri-Lyn Carrington, Bill Watrous, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Darcy James Argue, Josh Roseman to name but a few. Between 2008 and 2012 Mat has performed regularly on Broadway with the shows ‘Hair’ and ‘After Midnight’ and continues to work with legendary singer Paul Anka with whom he has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

He has performed in many of the world’s most famous jazz clubs in New York City including the Vanguard, Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Smoke, Smalls, Zinc and the Iridium, as well as touring to many of the largest festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival and many others.

 

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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






 all entry fees are ex gst