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


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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'crozak5' are a collection of some of Melbourne’s most eminent young talent, brought together through a shared love of contemporary repertoire from New York City and beyond. The ensemble was assembled in early 2026 by emergent trombonist and composer Chris Rozakeas, and is comprised of both current students and recent graduates from the Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University.


Taking inspiration from modern-day jazz luminaries such as Immanuel Wilkins and Joel Ross, 'crozak5' presents a unique take on the state of the modern American jazz tradition, informed by their own personal experiences and musical outlooks. They will play a curated selection of cutting-edge tunes written in the last ten years from NYC, as well as familiar choice standards and originals.


'crozak5' is:

Harry Travis - alto sax

Chris Rozakeas - trombone

Charlie Smith - piano

Jack Smythe - bass

Pat Skarajew - drums


Doors open at 7:30pm, music starts at 8:00pm

For bookings, please visit uptownjazzcafe@email.com





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

More

Bookings- uptownjazzcafe@email.com

Trumpah giant Scott Tinkler leads this all star quartet through some of the best deconstructed/reconstructed jazz standards in the book.

Scott Tinkler - trumpet
Sam Keevers - piano
Sam Anning - double bass
Dave Beck - drums



One of the most incredible trumpet players in the world today, Scott Tinkler is a founding member and the Associate Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra and plays regularly in Melbourne in trios and quartets with musicians such as Marc Hannaford, Sam Pankhurst, Alan Brown, Philip Rex, Harry Shaw-Reynolds, Paul Grabowsky Ken Eadie and Carl Dewhurst.

Current projects include Chiri with the Australian drummer Simon Barker and Korean Pansori singer Bae Il Dong. In 2011 at the invitation of the Australian Department of Foreign affairs, Chiri toured to Korea, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan finishing with a performance at the Smithsonian in Washington USA and two 2012 tours to Korea.
ARIA Award and Australia Council fellowship winner, we are very proud to have him as a Melbourne icon and a leader of the local improvised music scene. 







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

New York pianist Brett Williams up this Saturday playing modern standards and ballads to blow your mind. Although well known as the keyboard player in the Marcus Miller Band, his love and proficiency in straight ahead jazz is outstanding and a joy to experience. Expect tunes by Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, Charlie Parker and more....

Brett has performed with artists & musicians including Stevie Wonder, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Marcus Miller, Mumford & Sons, Billy Joel, Chris Thile, Mino Cinelu, Kevin Garrett, Snarky Puppy, Robert Glasper, Jose James, Sean Jones, Keyon Harrold, & Charles Haynes. He has also performed regularly with Jon Batiste on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Williams has already accomplished a significant level of experience on the bandstand & more recently in the studio as well. It is Williams’ openness to a wide range & myriad of musical styles & genres, his “old soul”, & his musical honesty that have helped him create & mold a dynamic sound & voice as a pianist & composer. He released his debut EP S3asons in 2019.



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