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

Melbourne based guitarist Yemo Wang will be back at Uptown to present a special night of music from contemporary heroes such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Esbjörn Svensson and the like.

Ben Robertson (db)
Lewis Pierre (d)
Yemo Wang (gt)

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About Yemo:
Originally from Shanghai, Yemo Wang is an up-and-coming guitarist and composer now based in Melbourne and a recent graduate from VCA, known for his distinctive voice in jazz and improvised music. Drawing inspiration from contemporary greats like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Fred Hersch, Ted Greene and Ben Monder, Yemo weaves unique musical narratives that blends tradition with modern innovation.
Yemo developed his artistic voice not only under the mentorship of esteemed musicians such as Stephen Magnusson, James Sherlock, and Barney McAll, but also through collaboration with renowned artists including Ingrid Jensen and John Hollenbeck, and performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Kristin Berardi, Julien Wilson, Angela Davis and Dylan van der Schyff. Yemo is a finalist in the 2022 Allan Zavod Performers’ Award, and the winner of the 2023 Composer's Day competition. He is also a recipient of Cassidy Bequest Scholarship and Dr. Phillip Law Music Scholarship.
Yemo released his debut album in 2025 titled “Branch of Bravery” with Brisbane based label Made Now Music (MNM), receiving rave reviews.
“Yemo has emerged onto the Australian creative music scene with a debut album consisting of highly evocative compositions, and impressive performances by a cast of young stars. The music has a versatility and a breadth of influences that come together to create a captivating listening journey. Yemo’s technical facility as a guitarist and skill as a composer are perfectly poised to deliver his imaginative ideas. There are many highlights on this album, but my favourites would have to be the compositions that feature two wordless voices embedded into intricate orchestrations, twisting and turning in sublime two-part writing, providing both the expected and the unexpected in satisfying quantities. Branch of Bravery is a highly impressive first offering and clearly indicates Yemo’s potential to become a serious contributor to creative music.” - Andrea Keller (December 2025)
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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bookings - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

Andrea Keller is one of Australia's leading contemporary jazz pianists and composers. Multiple ARIA and Bell Award winner, famous for the Andrea Keller Quartet, she has now embarked on a series of trios, inspired by the philosophy and legacy of the much loved and respected mentor Allan Browne.
Based on a collective approach, the music strives for human connection and meaningful dialogue. The trios perform compositions by all members, free improvisations and a few standards as well.

With their beginnings in January 2016, Andrea assembled a series of trios inspired by the philosophy and legacy of esteemed mentor Allan Browne. Based on a collective approach, the music strives for human connection and meaningful dialogue. The trios perform compositions by all members, free improvisations and a few standards as well.

“Wonderful compositions by Keller and Anning. Keller’s tribute to the late John Taylor, a pianist and mentor, entitled “Grateful, Hopeful, Joyful”, was breathtakingly beautiful.” “There was so much magnetism and space in the originals they played that I did not want to leave”
- Review of Transients I at Wangaratta Jazz Festival by Roger Mitchell, Ausjazz.




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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Saxophone colossus Carl Mackey and Quartet return to the Uptown stage this Saturday 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.


Special guest Mat Jodrell

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 - 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

bookings - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

Yep, 18 years this August, Uptown invites you to join the party with the instrumental side of the funk monster THE BAMBOOS





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