Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival 2019

Honouring the diversity of the jazz vocal art form, the 2019 Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival is truly Something to Sing About!

Set against the stunning backdrop of the river and the city skyline at the iconic Brisbane Jazz Club, Festival Director, Ingrid James will present some of the finest jazz voices from Australia and around the world.

Headlined by internationally acclaimed improvisational master, RHIANNON (USA) and Grammy-award winning pianist Laurence Hobgood (USA), the festival brings world-class talents to Queensland.

Throughout the program, there will be an engaging mix of performances, workshops and concerts, kicking off with the 18 year anniversary of the fabulous Brisbane Jam Singers’ Jam Night and closing with a splendid tribute to the Kings and Queens of Jazz (featuring songs from legends such as Chet Baker, Louis Prima, George Benson, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughan).

Other highlights include a celebration of Nat King Cole’s 100th Anniversary (“Nat & Natalie” with Tnee Dyer and Melissa Western), plus two-time Guinness Book Record Holder for singing the highest note for a male, Adam Lopez and his special brand of Latin/Jazz, as well as featuring many other vocal artists including Velvet Pesu (African influenced jazz), Eddie Gazini & Friends, bringing a touch of Rio de Janeiro to Brisbane as he sings the great hits of Antonio Carlos Jobim, plus so much more!

More Info: http://brisbanevocaljazzfestival.com.au/

Program

THURSDAY 1 AUGUST 2019 – FROM 7PM
BVJF 2019 – JAZZ SINGERS JAM NIGHT 17TH ANNIVERSARY

Come celebrate the longest running continuous jam night in Australia. Tonight we celebrate our 18th Anniversary!
Band: John Reeves (piano), James Whiting (vibes), Andrew Shaw (bass) and Isaac Cavallaro (drums).
Singers: Adam Lopez, Pearly Black (Gold Coast), Asabi Goodman, Laine Loxlea-Danann, Daniel Allen, Peter Vance, Kacey Patrick (Gold Coast), Steve Taylor-Brown, Trudy Kerr (UK/Aus) – MC: Ingrid James

FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 2019 – 2 ACTS FROM 7PM
BVJF 2019 – NAT KING COLE’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY w/ TNEE DYER + MELISSA WESTERN QUARTET / ADAM LOPEZ + SHANE CALDERBANK

ADAM LOPEZ: Lopez’s multi-octave, virtuosic voice will simply blow you away!
MELISSA WESTERN + TNEE DYER: Paying tribute to the great Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie. Be uplifted by the glorious sounds of Tnee and Melissa breathing new life into this great legacy of music.

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2019 – BVJF WORKSHOP SERIES – 12.30PM TO 4PM
BVJF 2019 “CIRCLESINGING WORKSHOP” w/ RHIANNON

“Rhiannon is a LIGHTNING BOLT. The charge is continuous, illuminating and revitalizing.” Rhiannon is a vocal artist with a vision of music as a vehicle for innovation, healing, transformation, and social change. A vibrant, gifted singer, performance artist, composer, and master teacher, Rhiannon has been bringing her unique and potent blend of jazz, world music, improvisation and storytelling to audiences for over four decades. Circle Singing is a participatory music ritual in which singers gather with a leader in the centre who invites the singers in the circle to join improvised patterns and create music in the moment. The singing continues for long stretches, creating a rich, deep and joyful connection. Movements, team conducting, and soloing adds to the depth of our experience.

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2019 –– 2 ACTS FROM 7PM
BVJF 2019 –RHIANNON (USA) + LAURENCE HOBGOOD (USA) / VELVET PESU

VELVET PESU’s idiosyncratic vocal resonance is deeply rooted in jazz, gospel, world rhythms and ancient folksong traditions.
RHIANNON + LAURENCE HOBGOOD (USA): Hot off the back of a worldwide tour with Bobby McFerrin, “Rhiannon turns improvisation into performance art.” From her stellar collaborations with the all-women jazz ensemble Alive! to Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra to her ground-breaking solo and ensemble performances, Rhiannon has paved a unique path as an independent artist. Grammy-winning pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and Yamaha artist Laurence Hobgood has enjoyed a dynamic career as musical director for singer Kurt Elling from 1995-2013, receiving a Grammy for his work as producer. “One of the most incredible pianists I have ever heard” Dave Brubeck.

SUNDAY 4 AUGUST 2019 – FROM 11AM
BVJF 2019 – “A BRAZILIAN JAZZ AFFAIR” w/ EDDIE GAZANI & FRIENDS celebrating the music of ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM

Eddie Gazani is a Brasilian composer, singer, guitarist and writer with a true love for performing traditional jazz and Latin styles. He will be celebrating the infectious music of the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim with his phenomenal quartet.

SUNDAY 4 AUGUST 2019 – FROM 6PM
BVJF 2019 – KINGS & QUEENS OF VOCAL JAZZ w/ DAVE SPICER TRIO

KINGS: Paul Armstrong (Louis Prima), Dave Spicer (Chet) and Julian Jones (George Benson)
QUEENS: Angela Fabian (Sarah Vaughan), Trudy Kerr (Lena Horne), Rebecca Lloyd (Peggy Lee)

MONDAY 5 AUGUST 2019 – BVJF WORKSHOP SERIES – 6PM TO 9PM
BVJF 2019 WORKSHOP w/ RHIANNON & LAURENCE HOBGOOD
IT’S ALL MUSIC with RHIANNON (USA) & LAURENCE HOBGOOD (USA)

Rhiannon and Laurence Hobgood will present a workshop where they will examine and experience the connective tissue that bridges pure improvisation and song form – the art of arranging. Together they will demystify the process of song building, and free your improvisational skills! All levels welcome!