Jazz-themed Friday Nights at the NGV

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is over – or is it?

Some part of it lives on and it is making these cold winter Friday nights better, through its partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria. Make sure not to miss your chance to enjoy the interaction of music and art, with special performances of some of the best Australian (and some international) jazz artists set in dialogue with some of the world’s most significant works of modern art.

[from the media release]

In a series of performances in partnership with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the NGV comes alive after dark with the eclectic sounds of jazz during this season of NGV Friday Nights.

Headlining the event will be Brooklyn-based, contemporary jazz trumpeter Maurice Brown, whose hip-hop/funk combo has seen him record with leading artists including Florence and the Machine, Wyclef Jean, Macy Gray and The Roots.

Curated to reflect a varied range of musical experiences, the program draws inspiration from the home of jazz, New York City, with rhythmic stylings including the Great American Songbook,neo-soul, gospel, jazz-blues, hip-hop and funk.

The late-night art and music series runs alongside the NGVs Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art from 15 June to 5 October 2018 at NGV International. The exhibition brings to Melbourne some of the most iconic works of art of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, including masterworks by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Umberto Boccioni, Lyubov Popova, Piet Mondrian, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Alexander Calder and Jackson Pollock, among many other masters.

“The modern masterpieces from New York’s iconic Museum of Modern Art offer the perfect setting for this season of Friday Nights, celebrating the melodies and harmonies of New York’s renowned jazz scene,” said NGV Director, Tony Ellwood. “Friday Nights is one of the most popular events on the NGV’s calendar and this year’s partnership with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival will further enhance visitors’ experiences with the exhibition.
Evenings will feature two sets by the headline act with highlights including, an electric opening night show byCookin’ On 3 Burners with soulstress Stella Angelico and a performance by Australian double and electricbassist Linda May Han Oh and Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan. Also on the line-up is Australian hip-hop duo Remi, dynamic group Speedball, Zimbabwean RnB songstress Thando, and local Afro-jazz group, the Senegambian Jazz Band. Several nights of the season will comprise a series of mini-residences curated by leading Australian musiciansincluding Joe Chindamo, Barney McAll and Andrea Keller. Playing both original and cover compositions, and featuring a series of guest performers, Chindamo, McCall and Keller will set up residence at the NGV for three nights each during Friday Nights.

NGV Friday Nights full line-up: