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

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), 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

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.



Tix $30/25 concession - seats still available
Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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The Alan Parish Project returns to Uptown Jazz Cafe! After a successful debut A.P.P is back with a batch of fresh new tunes to take you on a journey as well as fan favourites to remind you where you started. Directed by Adam Davidson and featuring some of Melbourne's most exciting players The Alan Parish Project continues the rich tradition of small ensemble jazz in Australia, inspired by acts such as The Allan Browne Quintet, Bernie McGann trio and Judy Bailey Quartet.

The Alan Parish Project is:

Thomas Coleman-Bell: Alto
Jayden Blockley: Tenor
Adam Davidson: Piano
Lily Appelt: Upright Bass
Pat Skarajew: Drum Kit



Tix $30/25 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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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 almost 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.




Tix $35/30 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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

The  beautiful trumpet player Paul Williamson leads an all-star group, playing swinging standards and beautiful ballads with a distinct, mellow trumpet sound.

Paul has established a reputation for producing distinctive recordings of outstanding ensemble performances. Williamson is the leading artist on ten commercially released CD releases.
 
Williamson has performed with international jazz artists at festivals and venues in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He was active in the European jazz scene whilst based in Dublin and performed with Bill Carothers, Dave Liebman, Reggie Washington, Paul Wertico, Ronan Guilfoyle, Lindsay Horner, Michael Buckley ad Métier before returning to Melbourne in 2009.  His recent performances include collaborations with Eddie Palmieri, Tomasz StaÅ„ko, Charlie Haden, Kenny Werner, John Abercrombie, the Australian Art Orchestra, Hermeto Pascoal, Aaron Goldberg, Django Bates, Mike Nock, Tony Gould, Nasheet Waits, Mark Helias, and the Monash Art Ensemble.  In 2014 Williamson was invited by Dave Douglas to perform at the Festival for New Trumpet Music (FONT) in New York City where he premiered a program of new compositions. 
In addition to having a successful recording and performance career, Williamson is a faculty member and the Jazz and Honours coordinator at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University. 


Segue-ing between steaming, swinging standards and lyrical ballads, the quartet stretch the limit of interplay with a fresh modern take on some classic tunes....







Tix $35/30 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

More

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