“When you are finding it a struggle as a woman in the jazz scene, try talking to other women about it. Look to history, to the female composers and performers who continued to pursue their dreams and rose to the top of their field despite the many difficulties they faced.”
“The broader aim of the Jazz and Social Justice project is to demonstrate the power of jazz as a force for justice, freedom and creativity. Jazz artists have used their music and profile to spotlight injustices since the Civil Rights era. The program I have put together shares the stories and music of jazz artists from 1930s to the modern day who have taken a stand for social justice issues including racial, religious and marriage equality and environmentalism.”
“I’m telling a multitude of stories with this project and I suppose that’s an overarching story; that everyone has a story worth listening to if you take the time to hear them. And that story might come through words or sounds or body movements or other forms of expression. With the three guitarists I’ll be sharing timeless stories from many cultures by performing pieces from the jazz, nueva cancion, chanson, pop and bossa nova traditions.”
The event program features three ensembles performing in solidarity with asylum seekers imprisoned under Australia’s watch; Jackie Bornstein’s Jazz and Social Justice, Oscar Neyland’s Wirecutters, and Julien Wilson’s Autonomous Resilience Collective.
AustralianJazz.net and the Paris Cat Jazz Club join forces to celebrate International Jazz Day 2018. Melbourne’s longest-standing jazz club and Australia’s premier jazz website team up to co-curate a jam session, inviting members of Melbourne’s jazz community to join in and play together. Firebrand pianist Adam Rudegeair will lead a house band of luminaries, featuring bassist Claire Cross and drummer Adam Donaldson, with a series of guests sitting in – everyone is welcome!
One thing I’ve learned, while I was doing my homework, was that Australia’s first jazz band – literaly trading as ‘Australia’s First Jazz Band’ was formed in Sydney in 1918 by Belle Sylvia. So this year, we’re not only celebrating the centennial of Australian jazz, but also 100 years of female leadership in Australian Jazz. Not a bad legacy for a scene.
