Tag Archives: Canberra jazz

All that Jazz at MJF!

The iconic Merimbula Jazz Festival kicks off next Friday 8 June and some great bands and performers from Canberra are on the program. Here’s a taste of who you can find when you’re down there.

Love a bit of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, or Tommy Dorsey? You can reminisce about the Swing Era and get your toes tapping to the following Canberra Big Bands.

ConneXion Big Band—directed by Sally Greenaway and with some of Canberra’s top musos and vocalists, ConneXion’s repertoire goes from the 40s and Glenn Miller through to the 80s and James Bond. You can find ConneXion at the Auditorium Club Sapphire at 5pm 9 June.

traXion Big Band—together for over 10 years traXion plays a range of swing from Count Basie to modern and movie themes. traXion are at the Auditorium at 9pm 9 June, and the RSL at 4pm on 10 June.

In Full Swing—formed in 1991, In Full Swing starts in the big band era of the 30s and 40s through to contemporary funk, rock, and smooth jazz. In Full Swing will be swinging at the RSL at 6pm 9 June, and again at 5pm on Sunday 10 June.

Blamey Street Big Band—directed by Canberra vocalist and classical pianist Leisa Keen, Blamey Street plays music from all eras with a particular fondness for the 1930s. Former musical directors include Ian McLean and Derrick Brassington, and vocalists Tony Haley, Rachel Thorne and Annette Sloan. Blamey Street will be at the RSL at 2pm on 9 June, and the Auditorium at 1pm on 10 June.

traXion Big Band. Image courtesy traXion

If you’re into the more intimate music of small combos, duos or trios, check out In2Deep with vocalist Rachel Thorne and pianist/composer Mike Dooley. Covering jazz standards and original swing and soul composed by Dooley, this brilliant duo received a standing ovation at MJF last year. In2Deep will also launch their new album, A Good Man is Hard to Find, at MJF. You can find this one good man (and woman) at the Auditorium at 8pm on Saturday 9 June, and the Sapphire Room at 2pm Sunday 10 June which also includes their CD launch.

In2Deep. Courtesy In2Deep

And now for something completely different … if you want to hear a full choir perform jazz and swing, get over to the Auditorium at 7pm on Saturday, or the Sapphire Room at 3pm Sunday and have a listen to Rhythm Syndicate. This group has been performing around the Canberra region for almost 30 years, and at Merimbula for 14 years. If you can’t catch their Sapphire Club gigs, they will also performing some gospel—with a twist—at the Ecumenical Jazz Service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church at 11.30am on Sunday.

Rhythm Syndicate at the High Court Canberra with soprano Louise Page

Merimbula Jazz Festival is now in its 38^th year and gets bigger every year! The Festival also includes the Jazz Dance on Thursday 7 June, the Jazz Hatters Party (formerly the picnic) on Monday 11 June, the Street Parade on Saturday morning, and the Jazz Quest for young (under 25) upcoming musicians at the Lakeview Hotel on Saturday evening.

For more information and full Festival program visit their website or Facebook page.

Find Merimbula accommodation here.

In Full Swing at Merimbula. Courtesy In Full Swing

Fascinating Rhythm at Melba Fete!

1 Reply

Spent a great day yesterday with some muso friends who were performing at a local fete. Rhythm Syndicate is an auditioned Canberra based vocal group who sing four part harmony, with accompaniment by Canberra composer, songwriter and pianist Mike Dooley, and harmonicist and flautist, Paul Herbert.

Rhythm Syndicate with conductor and musical director, Camilo Gonzalez

Revitalising their jazz roots, the program included many toe-tapping jazz standards such as Miss New Orleans, Java Jive, Fascinating Rhythm, and other classics from Cole Porter, and Gershwin – a great afternoon of cool musical entertainment.

Composer, songwriter, and pianist Mike Dooley

If you’re a jazz lover don’t miss their upcoming performances over the next couple of months.

5 December: Griffith Baptist Care Concert 11am

9 December: Queanbeyan Carols in the Park (55 Collett St) 7pm

10 December: Canberra High Court 1.30pm

10 December: National Portrait Gallery 3.30pm

17 December: Lerida Winery 12.30pm

You can also catch awesome pianist Mike Dooley, with singer Rachel Thorne, performing as In 2 Deep at Jazz in the House, University House, ANU on Friday 27 October at 8pm. Bookings essential through Uni House at events.unihouse@anu.edu.au or call them on 6125 5270.

Mike Dooley (keyboard) and singer Rachel Thorne – In 2 Deep

Wine, Women, and Song!

Local Composer has World Premiere in Canberra!

Leave a reply

Have you heard of Michael Dooley? Well you’re about to … Michael Dooley is a Canberra composer and pianist, and can usually be found with jazz duo In2Deep or conducting local choral group Rhythm Syndicate. But, on Saturday 20 May Michael will be the focus of Canberra when his Piano Concerto No.1 has its world premiere!

Michael Dooley – image courtesy City News

Sydney-based pianist Andrew Rumsey returns to Canberra with a collection of esteemed colleagues for an evening of unforgettable music. Joining him will be Mia Stanton (violin), James Larsen (cello), Tom Azoury (clarinet), Laura van Rijn (flute) and Matt Withers (guitar). Pieces will include works by Rachmaninov, Debussy, Williams, Kovacs, Piazzolla, Edwards, Clarke, Dooley and more. This concert will be Rumsey’s final engagement in the ACT before he begins his USA tour, starting with an appearance at Carnegie Hall on 3 June 2017.

Michael Dooley and Rachel Thorne – In2Deep

“I am delighted to be giving the world premiere performance of Michael Dooley’s Piano Concerto No.1,” says Andrew. “Michael has such a fresh and unique compositional style and I’m so excited to be sharing this amazing work with Canberra. It has all the right ingredients; lyricism, tenderness, subtlety, virtuosity, and power. Definitely a captivating piece to listen to, and perform!”.

Rumsey & Friends New Directions will premiere on Saturday 20 May at 7pm at the Wesley Music Centre, Forrest. Tickets available from Eventbrite.

Pianist and composer Mike Dooley – image by LFW

You can also hear more of Michael Dooley on Sunday 21 May when ART Song Canberra presents The Voice of Heroic Love with well-known Canberra soprano Louise Page, Rachel Best Allen on clarinet, and Phillipa Candy on piano.

This work will also include a new song cycle composition by Michael Dooley.

The Voice of Heroic Love, Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, Sunday 21 May at 3pm. Tickets at the door from $15 (students), Art Song Members $25, Concessions $30, Full price $35. Tickets include program and light refreshments. For more information contact Art Song Canberra on 6286 7373.

You can follow Mike Dooley on his Facebook page.

Apples with Rhythm

1 Reply

LFW took a drive out to the country on the weekend, and joined the sunshine, crowds, apples, and music at Loriendale Orchard Apple Day on Saturday 1 April.

Image: Apple and Pear Australia Limited

Loriendale is a boutique orchard with over 120 varieties of apples, as well as selection of nectarines, peaches, nashi pears, berries and nuts. The orchard runs organic best practice, which means that the fruit actually tastes like the fruit you may remember from your childhood, before all the GM, gassing, spraying, and cold storage. Apple pies, toffee apples, jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces and relishes were also on offer, together with amazing apple based afternoon teas for just a few dollars. Loriendale peach jam

The farm was purchased by the Pidgeon family in 1982 but it wasn’t until around 1997 that the apple and cherry trees were planted, and the orchard was established. The farm is also a WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) hosting farm; providing the opportunity for young people, from around the world, to live and work on the farm and learn about agriculture, farming, and a bit of Australian culture.

Rhythm Syndicate with Paul Herbert on flute

But, one of the best things about the Apple Day was sitting in the sun with our afternoon tea, and listening to some cool jazz from local group Rhythm Syndicate. This great vocal group has been performing in Canberra and the region since 1990, and offers a mix of cool jazz, gospel, classics, and popular.

Accompanist and composer Mike Dooley

The mixed group sings in four-part harmony, accompanied and a cappella, and includes talented muso and vocalist Paul Herbert on harmonica and flute, brilliant pianist and composer Mike Dooley, and is pulled together by director and conductor Camilo Gonzalez. You can hear them next at the Merimbula Jazz Festival over the June long weekend.

Rhythm Syndicate with conductor Camilo Gonzalez

Loriendale Orchard, Carrington Road, Hall www.loriendale.com.au. You can also find Loriendale at Capital Region Farmers Market every Saturday from 7.30 – 11,30am.

Rhythm Syndicate www.rhythmsyndicate.com.au.

Images by LFW except where indicated

LFW MAGAZINE

never lost for words