Now in its 13th year, the program features some of Australia’s most esteemed jazz musicians and composers, along with emerging artists from the jazz underground.
Returning as artistic director, Chelsea Wilson, has assembled a program that is bigger and bolder than ever, spanning intersections of contemporary dance, visual art, film and spoken word.
A Stonnington Jazz favourite, “Mad Jazz 3: Beyond Thunderdome” will return in 2018 to the Astor Theatre. Experience cult film Mad Max like never before in this sweeping event that fuses George Miller’s astounding imagination of a post-apocalyptic world with the wild jazz fusion sounds of the The Shaolin Afronauts.
The exclusively commissioned “Jazz In Colour: Swooping Duck with Zero Crossing” show sees the three-piece rhythm section of Grammy-nominated Hiatus Kaiyote in unison with Zero Crossing, while dance and jazz collide when Queensland’s premier contemporary dance theatre company Expressions unite with the award-winning jazz ensemble Trichotomy to present a thought-provoking collaboration titled “A Glimpse Behind Closed Doors”.
Revisiting the work of Iceland’s most famous export, cabaret chanteuse Mama Alto, electronic artist Tom Barton, vocal chameleon Georgie Darvidis (Edie Centric) and folk singer-songwriter Hannah Cameron appear as a part of “Bjork: Interpreted”, and we will be blessed with one of Australia’s greats – pianist, composer and arranger – Dr. Judy Bailey, who makes her Stonnington Jazz debut in 2018 with Judy Bailey Trio: At Your Request.
The Festival Hub Opening Night Concert on Friday 11 May sees long established legend of Jazz, James Morrison, introduce the new generation of Australian musicians when he performs alongside his handpicked Academy Jazz Orchestra in big band tradition.
With a variety of offerings across the musical spectrum, ticketed and free entry shows, there is something for everyone at Stonnington Jazz 2018.
Stonnington Jazz runs from May 10 – 20.
For more information, visit stonningtonjazz.com.au
Photo by Alexis Desaulniers