magazine - melbourne edition

MGT OZ TOUR

Internationally acclaimed guitar masters Wolfgang Muthspiel, Slava Grigoryan and Ralph Towner - MGT - will tour all states in Australia from 7 to 21 August, promoting their debut CD 'From a Dream'. The group will give nine performances including one each in Hobart and Melbourne where guitar fans can catch them at The Theatre Royal, Hobart on 7 August and at The National Theatre, St Kilda on Tuesday 19 August.
Towner, Muthspiel and Grigoryan are acclaimed as three of the world's finest guitarists with career success backing their foray into MGT. In 2005, Australian audiences were first astounded by the debut tour of MGT and are eagerly awaiting their return tour and new CD.
Multi-award winning Towner is the hero of the group, and even with three decades of performance behind him it's obvious that he considers his music is still developing and that the learning process never ends.
He has been quoted as saying that he regards collaborations such as MGT as educational, saying in a recent interview: "It doesn't matter what level of musicianship you are at," he says. "When you're at the top level, there is a lot of discussion. With a group, you have to find a role in the music ... and of course the roles change too. You can be chameleon-like. There's a lot of three-dimensional play. You have to adjust to the other people's concept of rhythm and harmony and the way they negotiate musical space. It's not something you just get down pat straight away. It's constantly changing and that's part of the challenge."
Although much younger Muthspiel and Grigoryan like Towner both began playing instruments at early ages.
Born in Austria Wolfgang Muthspiel started playing the violin at six and began study of the guitar as a teenager. After studying classical and jazz guitar both Austria and the USA his reputation, even as a youngster, had him replace Pat Metheny in Gary Burton's Band. In following years Muthspiel played with several famous jazz greats Later a collaboration with famous Norwegian jazz singer Rebekka Bakken followed. In 2003 he won the European Jazz Prize.
Born in Khazakstan in 1976 and raised in Melbourne, Slava Grigoryan has already performed extensively throughout the world. The youngest ever finalist in the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, he has since performed in concerts and at festivals across Europe. In the United States, he made his New York debut in 1997. Grigoryan has also headlined in a "Great Guitars" tour with the legendary flamenco player Paco Peña and the equally celebrated acoustic guitar stylist Leo Kottke.
With such diversity in ages and backgrounds the outstanding success of group seems contradictory - but there's no generation gap or language barriers here - the shared common bonds of classical training, signs of early talent, plus a passion for expanding and exploring guitar music, whilst maintaining their individual approaches to composition and performance, have created a coherent and harmonious ensemble of individuals.

MGT Hobart - 8pm Thursday 7 August, Theatre Royal, Hobart. Bookings: (03) 6233 2299 www.theatreroyal.com.au or Centertainment: (03) 6234 5998
St Kilda - 8pm Tuesday 19 August, The National Theatre, St Kilda. Bookings: (03) 9525 4611 Ticketmaster 136 100 www.ticketmaster.com.au

BARBARA MORRISON AT BENNETTS LANE

Popular demand has brought acclaimed US Jazz and blues vocalist Barbara Morrison back on tour to Australia with her new show Memories of Ella, Sarah & Billie - her salute to female jazz greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holliday, which she performs in Melbourne at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club on Saturday 16 August.
Even after 30 years in the business Morrison still has a punishing tour schedule which includes appearing at international jazz blues festivals around the world, including Montreaux, Nice, Pori, and jazz festivals through the US. She recently completed a 33 city tour in the US in a tribute to legendary songwriter and composer Harold Arlen which she has added to her repetoire of tribute shows to Dizzy Gillespie and Benny Golson.
Critics rave about Barbara Morrison's style and vocal range, The Jazz World Magazine said 'Barbara Morrison, has an international following with her big personality and delicious sense of swing (The Jazz World Magazine).'
Barbara Morrison's Memories of Ella, Sarah & Billie tour continues during August to Adelaide and various venues in NSW.

Barbara Morrison at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Bennetts Lane, Melbourne, on Saturday 16 August. Bookings: 9663 3544

ARMSTRONG TRIBUTE AT VJC

The Victorian Jazz Club hold their annual Tribute to Louis Armstrong at The Bentleigh Club, Sunday August 3 from 6 - 9pm pm. Tickets: $40, non-members $45. Cost includes two-course meal.
Booking enquiries: Marg Hendrie at 02 9553 3850

VICTORIAN JAZZ CLUBS

The Victorian Jazz Club hold their weekly jazz night at Oakleigh RSL, 95-97 Drummond Street, Oakleigh, most Saturdays from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Further information ring 9512 4869.

The Peninsula Jazz Club will hold their regular monthly gig on Friday, 20th September featuring the The New Melbourne Jazz Band, at The Patterson Lakes Community Centre, Patterson Lakes. Vic. Their Web site is http://mc2.vicnet.au/home/jazzpjc/web/index.html Contact Harry Daniels, President, for more information on Ph/Fax 9580 2906.

The Werribee Jazz & Swing Club hold their monthly dances at the Werribee RSL Bowling Club (Melways 205 G-9) on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Enquiries (03) 9748 3059

The River City Jazz Club, Mildura, hold functions throughout the year. Contact President, Ian Horbury, on (03) 5023 0404 for details of club activities.

The Williamstown Jazz Club meets at the Williamstown RSL, Cnr. Ferguson Street & Melbourne Road, Williamstown. For bookings Phone 9311 3349. For more information on club activities contact Club President, Ken Mooney, Phone (03) 9311 3349.

The Geelong Jazz Club holds a regular monthly function at the Vines Road Community Centre, Hamlyn Heights, usually on the 1st Saturday of the month. Contact Dave Parsons on (03) 5243 1207 for more details.

The Maryborough Traditional Jazz Club run regular jazz events. Contact President Gordon Beavis on (03) 5461 3996 for details.

Moe-Latrobe Jazz Club. For details of club activities contact President Bill Lawler on (03) 5127 4783 Ballarat Jazz Club run regular gigs each month. For details of club activities contact President Molly Scott on (03) 5331 7849

The Echuca Moama Jazz Club runs regular quarterly gigs at the Echuca Workers & Services Club. For details of club activities contact Ellie Wallace on (03) 5482 3571.

South Gippsland Jazz Society hold their regular club night at Inverloch RSL, Bolding Place, on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 7.30pm. For details of club activities contact President Noel Bond on (03) 5674 1701.

JAZZ Albury Wodonga hold regular concerts in the Jazz Basement, Wodonga. Contact Graeme Wood (02) 6056 3603 for details of club activities www.jazzalburywodonga.com

If your jazz club is interested in being part of Jazz Scene contact the editor with your club details. If you have your own website it can also be linked to our website at www.jazzscene.com.au

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