magazine - sydney edition

MGT OZ TOUR

Internationally acclaimed guitar masters Wolfgang Muthspiel, Slava Grigoryan and Ralph Towner - MGT - will tour Australia from 7 to 21 August, The group will give nine performances including shows in Canberra, Sydney and Byron Bay fans can see MGT in Canberra on Wednesday 9 and 10 August, Sydney 12 and 13 August and Byron Bay 15 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. 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.

Canberra: Tilleys 8pm Sat 9 and Sun 10 August. Bookings: Tickets (02) 6275 2700 www.canberraticketing.com.au
Sydney: The Basement, Tues 12 and Wed 13 August.

Bookings: (02) 9251 2797 www.thebasement.com.au or Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au
Byron Bay: Byron Bay Community Centre 8pm Fri 15 August. Bookings: (02) 6685 6807

BARBARA MORRISON AUST. TOUR

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 around Sydney this month.
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, Melbourne and various venues in NSW.
Barbara Morrison appears around Sydney and country NSW, check dates, venues and booking details in the advert below.

BELLINGEN JAZZ & BLUES

The 19th Bellingen Jazz & Blues Festival will be held from August 15 to 17 2008. With over 40 performances by 15 bands over 3 days this Award winning Festival is a must for the jazz aficionado.
See the advert on page 3 for details. More information available on (02) 6655 9345 or you can check the Festival Website at www.bellingenjazzfestival.com.au for the full program.

SYDNEY JAZZ CLUB

The Sydney Jazz Club's "Live Jazz" at the Drummoyne RSL Club, 162-168 Victoria Road Drummoyne on Friday, August 29 will present Jack Wiard & Friends from 8pm to 11pm.
Don't miss this night featuring some of Sydney's top jazz musicians. Admission for Jazz Club/Drummoyne RSL Club Members is $9 and $12 for Non Members.
The Sydney Jazz Club also holds a monthly Jazz Picnic at Berry Island Reserve, Shirley Road, Wollstonecraft. On Sunday, August 17, theOriginal Dad's of Trad will play from 12noon to 3pm. It's Free and all are welcome to come and join in. Enquiries to Jeannie McInnes on 0417 417 586
For bookings and more details on the SJC call Ian McAlister on 9719 3876 or Kate Dunbar on 9557 6550 or check the Website at www.sydneyjazzclub.com

NSW JAZZ CLUBS

The Sydney Jazz Club promotes jazz around Sydney as well as regular free Jazz Picnics every month. For more details on club activities contact Kate Dunbar on 9557 6550 or e-mail sjc-president@sydneyjazzclub.com

The Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) hold their concerts at the Seymour Centre, Cnr. City Rd. & Cleveland St., Sydney University, (Box Office (02) 9351 7940), on Friday and Saturday nights. The Co-ordinator is Gordana Raketic (02) 9036 6292 or 0409 601 602, Website: www.sima.org.au

The Jazz Action Society of NSW promotes Mainstream to Modern and Big Band Jazz with monthly concerts held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 8-11pm. at the Paddington Woollahra RSL, 220-232 Oxford Street, Paddington. Contact John Christian Ph. (02) 9519 1766. www.jazzactionsociety.com

Newcastle & Hunter Jazz Club holds a monthly function at the Merriwether RSL & Citizens Club, on the 1st Saturday of the month from 7.30pm. More information from Club Secretary, Doug Saxon email enquiries@newcastlejazz.com.au

The Central Coast Leagues Club’s JazzLeague in Gosford, NSW, have Free Jazz every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. Contact Rod Gale on (02) 4322 4591 for details. Website: www.jazzleague.net


The Illawarra Jazz Club have information on club activities at www.illawarrajazzclub.com Contact the President, Doreen Lee, (02) 4285 1903. PO Box 6017, Wollongong, NSW 2500.

The Bellingen Jazz Society presents live jazz on the first Saturday of every month at the Diggers Tavern. Contact (02) 6655 1053 or email jazzclub@midcoast.com.au Website at www.BellingenJazz.HolidayCoast.com.au

The Tweed Valley Jazz Club has a regular monthly gig at Greenhills-on-Tweed, River Street, Murwillumbah. Contact Peter McLaughlin on (02) 6677 1365 for more information on club activities.

The Kiama Jazz Club holds jazz events throughout the year. For further information check their website at www.kiama2000.com/kiamajazz or contact Ed Gilmore on (02) 4232 3087

Jazz at the Dungeon, a monthly all-ages venue is situated on corner of Glebe & Brunker Roads, Adamstown, Newcastle. Gigs on the first Thursday of each month are held in a coffee shop atmosphere, featuring local and Sydney acts. Contact for the venue is Rod Barnes Phone Mob: 0407 002 397 Fax (02) 4969-2380 or e-mail info@dungeonjazz.com.au Website: www.dungeonjazz.com.au Postal address: The Dungeon, PO Box 20, Adamstown, NSW 2289.

The Dubbo Jazz Club hold regular functions at the Dubbo RSL Club Resort. Contact Club Secretery Ross Tighe for event and membership details PO Box 1711, Dubbo, NSW 2830. Ph. (02) 6882 4649. or Email tigh.inv@bigpond.com

The Jazzgroove Association is a musicians’ collective who present weekly jazz gigs on Tuesday night at the Excelsior Hotel, 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills,
Sydney. Website at www.jazzgroove.com & Jazzgroove Record Label. Contact; Jazzgroove Association, PO Box 737, Glebe, NSW 2037

The Lismore Jazz Club Inc. have sessions on the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Lismore Bowling Club from 2pm to 5pm. Contact Michael Bird, Ph. (02)
6622 5912 (BH), PO Box 922, Lismore, NSW 2480. info@lismorejazz.org

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

NOTE: Jazz Club listing is FREE but JazzScene would appreciate inclusion on Club Newsletter mailing list to keep information up to date.
If details are incorrect or incomplete please inform JazzScene on (08) 7225 7839. E-mail donbrow@jazzscene.com.au

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