In 2015, Vince Jones and Paul Grabowsky united to create Provenance, an exquisite collection of jazz-infused ballads that won Best Jazz Album at the 2016 ARIA Awards. A decade on, the pair reunite for this special performance, joined by the Monash Sinfonia, a 20-piece string orchestra featuring outstanding students from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music.

Their collaboration is marked by deep mutual respect, effortless interplay and a shared love of songcraft that transcends genre. As The Music Trust wrote, “It is partially the seeming effortlessness with which these two musicians interact that makes it sound so damn good.”

With all new arrangements written by Grabowsky, audiences will be treated to favourites from Provenance, alongside new material from their forthcoming album, including the poignant Dear Julian (Assange). This performance promises soulful reflection, masterful musicianship and jazz storytelling at its most sublime.

Mildlife’s distinctive sound has built an inimitable international reputation for their mind-bending fusion of jazz, psych, funk and cosmic groove. Since the release of their debut, Phase, in 2018, the band’s hypnotic sound has earned them three ARIA Awards for Best Jazz Album, global acclaim from tastemakers like Gilles Peterson and widespread recognition across the electronic and jazz worlds.

Their records Phase, Automatic and Chorus have also been celebrated for their lush improvisation, deep rhythms and expansive sonic palette—while their live show has become the stuff of legend.

Their latest album Chorus, is a radiant, groove-driven odyssey, the band’s “unified theory of groove” is a testament to their tight musicianship and boundless creativity.

Featuring Taonga Pūoro (Māori singing treasures), bass clarinet, harmonic flutes, cello, nyckelharpa (Nordic fiddle), prepared piano, drums and voices, they harness the power of these archetypal stories to transport listeners across time and space.

Their debut self-titled album was released on Skinnyfish Music in February 2024, with launch shows across Victoria, NSW and SA, including performances at Phoenix Central Park and WOMADelaide.

Led and produced by Aviva Endean (bass clarinet, harmonic flutes and electronics), the project features Te Kahureremoa Taumata (voice/Taonga Pūoro – Māori singing treasures), Freya Schack-Arnott (cello/nyckelharpa – Nordic fiddle), Maria Moles (drums) and Sunny Kim (voice). Together, they share their music, stories and expression to channel ancient bloodlines and breathe new life into old stories.

“One of the most dynamic and boundary-pushing acts in the local scene today.” — PBS Album of the Week

“Ancient feminine vibrations and voices can brighten even the darkest days, swallow the coming, threatening storms, and suggest a better, more peaceful and compassionate vision.” — Salt Peanuts

Together, they craft an improvisation-led journey that bridges worlds — where the shimmering strings of the ancient Chinese harp meet the meditative lyricism of Grabowsky’s jazz piano. Between Dreams has been described as a groundbreaking meeting of musical minds — an exploration of sound, texture and emotion that dissolves cultural boundaries.

Both award-winning artists bring extraordinary depth to the project: Mindy Meng Wang is a trailblazer of contemporary guzheng performance, celebrated for collaborations spanning the Australian Art Orchestra to Gorillaz, while Paul Grabowsky AO is one of Australia’s most influential composers and performers, with over 40 albums, eight ARIA Awards, and a career devoted to reimagining the possibilities of jazz.

Regularly appearing at premiere venues and festivals, including Melbourne Recital Centre (VIC), Adelaide Cabaret Festival (SA), Festival of Voices (TAS), Perth International Cabaret Festival (WA) and Joe’s Pub at New York’s Public Theatre (USA), Mama Alto continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances and unique artistic vision.

Co-creator of Gender Euphoria — a headline show at Sydney WorldPride 2023 — Mama Alto has been recognised with awards from the Australia Council of the Arts and Creative Victoria.

Formed in 1997 in Melbourne, the band began as an experiment in vintage sounds. Described as “a perfectly formed soul nugget” by Craig Charles (BBC6), they sound like they’ve jumped straight out of a 1966 soul revue and into the future. Over time, they carved a signature sound built on Hammond organ swells, tight-as-a-drum grooves and razor-sharp guitar licks — capturing audiences from B-boys to jazz aficionados.

Featuring Jake Mason (Hammond organ), Ivan Khatchoyan (drums) and guitarist Dan West, the Burners have released 10 studio albums, with their 2024 LP Cookin’ The Books their most recent contribution to soul history. In 2009, they hit #1 on the UK R&B charts with This Girl (feat. Kylie Auldist). In 2016, a remix by French DJ Kungs took the track stratospheric: #1 in over 10 countries, Top 10 in 35, over 1 billion streams, Platinum certifications in the US, UK and Australia, Diamond in France and the most Shazamed dance track of the year globally.

Their sound has travelled the world — from Tokyo Jazz Festival and The Roundhouse (UK) to Live Alcazar Rome, Queenscliff Festival, and Sydney Festival. Their 2014 album Blind Bet won Best Soul/Funk/R&B Album at the Music Victoria Awards, and tracks like Mind Made Up received APRA nominations for Dance Work of the Year (2017, 2018), while This Girl scored an ARIA nomination for Song of the Year in 2016.

It’s a show of pure groove, classic and contemporary funk and high-voltage fun. Always fire and Always Cookin’, so grab your oven gloves — the burners are blazing once again.

Featuring Ashley Gaudion (saxophone & vocals), Paul Griska (double bass & vocals), Rodney Gilbert (drums & vocals) and Dannie Bourne (keyboard & vocals), The Shuffle Club’s repertoire spans swinging standards, classic blues numbers and original compositions, with influences from Count Basie, Louis Jordan, Fats Waller and boogie-woogie piano greats. Their performances range from raucous uptempo numbers to smooth, bluesy grooves delivered with infectious charm.

Rebecca Barnard’s musical roots run deep. Her grandparents ran The Kath Barnard Jazz Band in the 1920s and her father, Len Barnard, joined the band at just 12, recording Australia’s first microgroove LP in 1952. Growing up in a jazz environment, Rebecca absorbed a rich legacy of live performance, improvisation and swing. Over decades, she has carved her own path — from singing with her father’s band as a teenager to leading Rebecca’s Empire, touring extensively and releasing acclaimed solo jazz work including her celebrated album The Night We Called it a Day. Her voice brings warmth, soul and storytelling to every performance.

Together, The Shuffle Club and Rebecca Barnard promise a festival set that is joyous, electrifying and impossible to resist — music that will have you tapping your feet, clapping along and dancing from start to finish.

The Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Melbourne’s jazz scene for over two decades, bringing big band swing, jazz and blues to stages across the city. Known for their tight arrangements, lively performances and warm community spirit, the band has built a reputation for musical excellence and audience-focused fun. Jazzeoke combines this expertise with playful audience interaction, giving everyone a chance to shine alongside professional jazz musicians.

Their repertoire spans classic jazz standards from legends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald, through to contemporary swing and blues favourites. Whether you’re belting out a solo or sharing the spotlight in a duet, Jazzeoke offers an unforgettable afternoon of music, laughter and big band energy — a true highlight of the festival.

From her early performances sharing the spotlight with icons like Margareth Menezes and Timbalada, to her dynamic appearances in Melbourne’s jazz and world music scene, Dany fuses the percussive energy of Samba, Afro and Forró with the smooth elegance of Bossa Nova and Brazilian pop. Her magnetic presence and mastery of rhythm make every performance an irresistible invitation to move, dance and celebrate.

Accompanied by the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music Brazilian Ensemble, led by Alastair Kerr, this performance moves from intimate Bossa Nova to dance-inducing Samba, showcasing Brazilian music at its most joyous and vibrant, brought to life in Melbourne.

Aaron Choulai is a composer, pianist, and conductor whose practice spans more than two decades of innovative work across Australia, Japan, Europe, and the United States. Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra and Director of the Tatana Village Choir, he is widely regarded as a leader in contemporary music. Born in Papua New Guinea and raised in Melbourne, Choulai signed with Sunnyside Records in his early 20s before relocating to New York, where he performed with leading jazz figures and led his own projects. He later spent 15 years in Tokyo, becoming a respected figure in Japan’s experimental and underground music scenes while completing postgraduate studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts.Roman MC is an award-winning artist, freestyle MC, and storyteller who has been performing on international stages and engaging with diverse audiences for over a decade. Alongside a career in higher education and outreach programs workshopping with students, he has engaged with communities across Australia and abroad using creativity and self-expression as vehicles for developing self-belief, resilience, and a growth mindset. As a lead performer in internationally touring live bands like BULLHORN and Life On Earth, and the urban circus 360 Allstars, Roman’s freestyle performances have impacted audiences worldwide, including sold-out solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The award-winning Monash Art Ensemble (MAE), based at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, is a polystylistic ensemble blending composition, improvisation, and new technologies. Founded in 2012, MAE commissions and performs new Australian music, connecting students with leading artists and mentors. The group collaborates with national and international figures, features regularly at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and has released several acclaimed albums.

Yunior Terry followed his family’s rich musical tradition, joining the National Philharmonic Orchestra after graduating from Havana’s National School of Art. In 1998, he moved to California to attend The California Institute of Arts, earning his B.A. with honours in 2002 and expanding his musical horizons under Charlie Haden, Derek Oles, Rajeev Taranath and Alfred Ladzekpo. In 2009, he won the Van Lier Fellowship for the creation of new musical work and in 2017 completed a Master’s in Jazz at Rutgers University. Terry has toured with Jerry Gonzalez and Fort Apache, Eddie Palmieri, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ravi Coltrane, The Latin Jazz All Stars, and Jeff “Tain” Watts, among others.

Vashti Sivell is an energetic keys player, music creator and educator whose career spans Sydney, Melbourne, Japan, Portugal, Macau, Colombia and the USA. A national winner of the Musicoz Awards (World Music category, 2005), she holds a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) from the Sydney Conservatorium and a Master of Music (Performance Teaching) from the University of Melbourne.

Vashti has performed at leading festivals including The Big Day Out, WOMADelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Brisbane Festival Spiegeltent and The Byron Bay Blues Festival, as well as internationally at the Tokyo Hilton, Macau Venetian Casino, Hong Kong Disneyland and the UK Spiegeltent. Based in Melbourne since 2017, she has performed with The Women of Soul, The Chantoozies, Nina Ferro, Eugene Hamilton, Damien Leith, Mayito Rivera and many more. She has produced music for emerging artists, podcasts and TV series and currently lectures at Monash University in Latin music and theory.

Joining them for this special performance is acclaimed vocalist Michelle Nicolle. Known for her ability to get right to the heart of a song as well as being an in the moment improviser Michelle has continually developed and nurtured her art form with the help of her quartet. An accomplished live artist, she has toured extensively throughout Australia and internationally including shows in South Korea Finland Czech Republic Asia Pacific Festival (Russia) Tokyo Jazz Festival North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland) New Zealand Turkey Estonia Indonesia and Singapore.

Australian Jazz Bell Awards winner 2017 (Jazz Vocal Album of the Year) Mo Award 2001 2003 & 2004 (Australian Entertainment Ind) National Jazz Award (1998) winner and ARIA Nominee 2001 2004 (Australian Recording Industry) her discography includes full-length LPs. Michelle Nicolle started her musical career when she began the violin at the age of eight in the Barossa Valley South Australia in the 1970s. Based in Melbourne she is now celebrated as Australia’s finest jazz singer. Leading her band with a quiet dignity Nicolle’s apparent ease at difficult and varied improvisation brings to mind the skills of singers like Betty Carter, Mel Torme or Ella Fitzgerald but she sounds like none of those singers. Michelle Nicolle is a jazz singer in the true jazz tradition, a creative and masterful improviser with the technique to match any instrumentalist.

Featuring:
Michelle Nicolle (Vocals)
Peter Gaudion (Tpt/Main Vocals)
Richard Miller (Clt/Sax/Vocals)
Chris Ludowyk (Trom/Vocals)
Stephen Grant (Piano)
Jeff Arthur (Gtr/Bjo)
James Clark (Bass/Tuba)
Rod Gilbert (Dms/Main Vocals)

Commanding the stage with a heady mix of jazz and blues Alma Zygier’s mesmerising presence brings to this timeless music a truly authentic yet modern grit. Her idiosyncratic songwriting and vocals teeter on the edge of playful and peculiar a balancing act she has perfected. Alma masterfully portrays both her power and fragility delivering performances that are enigmatic and provocative. Accompanied by her live band the daughter of Australian music legends Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier redefines songs made famous by the greats alongside her own original tracks breathing new life into jazz and blues.

Alma Zygier (Vocals)
Freyja hooper (drums)
Harry Mitchell (piano)
Jules Pascoe (bass)