Uptown Jazz Cafe - Melbourne's newest jazz and improvised music venue

Craig Fermanis is one of Melbourne’s most in-demand jazz guitarists. He has shared the stage with a diverse range of artists including Ricki Lee Jones, Mavis Staples, Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Tim Ries Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones), Vince Jones, Joss Stone, Archie Roach, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Michelle Nicole, Mat Jodrell, Julien Wilson, Jamie Oehlers, Kate Ceberano, Christine Anu, and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, to name just a few.
Craig has studied in Melbourne with jazz guitar master Doug De Vries, and in New York with jazz legends Jim Hall and John Abercrombie. He has toured Europe 15 times and recorded on over 90 CDs and records. His debut album Machines was rated 9/10 and ranked as the third best Australian jazz release of 2002 by All About Jazz. A Cadence magazine review of Machines states “Fermanis is as strong a modern guitarist as any of the Scofields or Abercrombies.”
Over his 30-year career Craig has performed more than 7,000 gigs at concert halls, festivals, clubs and bars. He was a finalist in both the Wangaratta National Jazz Awards and the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship.
“One of the most gifted young guitarists I have had the pleasure to teach.” Jim Hall

Melbourne based saxophonist, Carl Mackey has been a stalwart on the Australian jazz landscape for more than three decades. Renowned for his versatile and emotionally charged playing style, he has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists, including Lionel Hampton, Kurt Elling, Sammy Figueroa, Ben Wendel, James Morrison, Kate Ceberano, Boy and Bear, Blur, Noel Gallagher,
and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
He has supported international stars such as James Brown, Harry Connick Jnr, The Yellowjackets, Ray Charles and Dianne Reeves.
Co-leader of award-winning group Speedball, he is a member of the Sam Anning Sextet, Australian National Jazz Orchestra, lead alto in the Vanessa Perica Orchestra and can be heard in groups as diverse as Andrea Keller’s Composer’s Circle through to latin orchestra, La Influencia.
A two time James Morrison Scholarship finalist, and a Freedman Fellowship finalist in 2006, Mackey has toured extensively with appearances in the United States, UK, Italy, India, and is a regular fixture on the national jazz festival scene with regular performances at the Melbourne, Perth, Wangaratta, Brisbane and Sydney International Jazz Festivals.



Tix $30/25 concession - seats still available
Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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Ben Vanderwal drummer from Perth has assembled some Melbourne mates to play through some fun music.

Old and New Dream hits, Some Don cherry songs, some of his songs, and some brazilian tunes are all on the table.
Featuring:

Alcides Neto - Percussion and Vocals 
Julien Wilson - Saxophone
Stephen Magnusson - Guitar 
Grant Windsor - Keyboards



Tix $30/25 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

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Sam Keevers is one of the most amazing jazz pianists in the country. This week features him with a stellar line up playing swinging standards and lyrical songs by composers as diverse as, Fats Waller, Thelonious Monk and the Buena Vista Social Club.

Sam has performed and recorded with international artists such as Chris Potter, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Bobby Previte's Project and Joe Bataan. 

In 1996 he formed the 14 piece Latin Jazz group "Los Cabrones" which continues to perform around Melbourne and has performed at international festivals in China and New Caledonia. 

In 2004 Sam toured Europe with the Jamie Oehlers Quartet performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Galway Arts Festival, a tour of Ireland and a residency at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. 

Sam was a finalist for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2005 and was nominated for an ARIA award for the album "Grace", a duo recording with Jamie Oehlers. 

Long time member of the Vince Jones ensemble, founding member of Australia'a premier afro-cuban jazz orchestra "Los Cabrones," the Jamie Oehlers Quintet, the Sam Keevers Nonet featuring Bernie McGann, and the "Red Fish Blue," Sam's music is always joyful and inspired and a treat to be part of, whether playing swinging standards in the 60's Herbie Hancock vein or his heavily latin influenced originals, Uptown is very much looking forward to this performance....


Sam Keevers - piano
Chris Hale – bass
Danny Fischer – drums

Tix $35/30 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

More

bookings - emailuptownjazzcafe@email.com and just pay for tickets on arrival

bookings - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

One of the world's leading improvised music guitar players

Guitarist and composer Stephen Magnusson is a musician at the height of his powers. From the precocious virtuoso who dazzled the music world when he crashed onto the scene, to a musician so mature, complete and respected that when people talk of an “Australian sound” of instrumental music, it is Magnusson’s influence – his tone, his touch, his compositional watermark and his deep sensitivity – that they hear.

founding member of SNAG, FESTA, Assumptions Trio (Julien Wilson and Will Guthrie) Julio and The Stevies (again with Julien and also Stephen Grant), his trio MAG (Frank DiSario and Dave Beck) and the latest quartet – Magnet (Carl Pannuzzo, Eugene Ball and Sergio Beresovsky) Steve is one of the most vital, musical and leading exponents in this music. Plus he's a sweetheart....

featuring everything from hard swinging Ornette Coleman tunes to delicate originals and distinctive ballads, sometimes even a cover of a Cold Chisel or The Police, Steve captivates and meserises with his incredible musicianship and openness....


with -


Chris Hale -  bass

Dave Beck – drums



Tix $35/30 concession - seats still available

Cash entry - cards fine at the bar

Doors open 7.30, music from 8pm.

bookings please email us - uptownjazzcafe@email.com

More

bookings - emailuptownjazzcafe@email.com and just pay for tickets on arrival