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 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.

 

$25 full/ $10 students - 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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Leading Australian tenor saxophonist, Andy Sugg, plays a selection of his favourite standards from the greats of the jazz saxophone. The Andy Sugg Group features his brand-new band, made up of the leaders of Melbourne’s next jazz generation. If you haven’t heard Damien Ellis (drums), Miro Lauritz (piano) and Umar Zakaria (bass) play together yet, then you’ve missed a real treat. Catch us all at Uptown Thursday 17 April.
 
“Sugg’s playing is revelatory, yet always with deep soul and humanity in his delivery” AustralianJazz.net
“Thoroughly engrossing … his brilliant musicianship … consummate players” Dizzy Atmosphere PBS FM
“First class … wide-ranging music … genre’s leading players” Fine Music FM




Tix $25/20 concession -  cash entry - cards fine at the bar. Seats still available.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

 

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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.
2 sets from 8.30pm
 

$30/25 concession.  cash on entry/cards fine at the bar. Seats still available.

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

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

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.

 

Tix $35/30 concession -  cash entry - cards fine at the bar. Seats still available.


Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

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



 

The very welcome return for possibly the most beautiful jazz trio you will ever hear....

Julio and the Stevies is the trio comprising Julien Wilson - saxophone, Stephen Magnusson - guitar and Steve Grant - accordion

Playing original compositions, as well as unique interpretations of such standards as "my heart belongs to daddy" and "the jitterbug waltz," and even some brazilian classical music, the trio is quiet, lyrical and beautiful to experience.


"The unusual instrumental lineup (tenor saxophone, accordion and nylon-string guitar) magnifies the lyrical tendencies of all three players, who seem to breathe as one as they create quiet but intensely evocative melodies, textures and subtly shifting moods. Listening to the trio is as close as you’re likely to get to dreaming with your eyes open."
Jessica Nicholas


julien wilson – saxophone
steve magnusson - guitar
steve grant – accordion
 

Bookings highly recommended - uptownjazzcafe@email.com



 

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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