Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Vince Jones vocals and composer
David Theak ANJO Conductor & Artistic Director
arrangers Vanessa Perica, Andrew Murray, Johannes Leubbers, Florian Ross, & Nick Mulder
Saxophones Carl Mackey (VIC), Angela Davis (VIC), Julien Wilson (VIC), Mike Rivett (QLD), Nick Bowd (SA)
Trumpets Mat Jodrell (VIC), Simon Sweeney (NSW), Ricki Malet (WA), Nadje Noordhuis (NSW), Dan Quigley (QLD)
Trombones Jordan Murray (VIC), James Greening (NSW), Nick Mulder (VIC), Colin Burrows (NSW)
Guitar Aaron Flower (NSW)
Piano Matt McMahon (NSW)
Bass Sam Anning (VIC)
Drums Ben Vanderwal (WA)

Australia’s leading jazz vocalist, Vince Jones, is also a remarkable interpreter and composer of songs in a contemporary jazz style – a style that appeals equally to listeners and his musical peers. As a vocalist he resists showing off technique to the detriment of feel – he’s confident in his musical literacy and sings like there’s nothing to prove. It’s a refreshing approach that gives us, the audience, the chance to be really moved. Vince Jones also plays trumpet and over the years his style has developed a distinctive reserve and subtlety – he plays a little less and draws a good deal more from it than he did in earlier days. A brief, thoughtful solo from Vince is worth a hundred notes played with less discretion.

Born in Glasgow, Vince and his family came to live in Australia when he was 11 years old. He grew up in Wollongong, NSW, listening to his musician father’s collection of great jazz albums, and the feel, style and essence of the music became a natural part of Vince’s world. Starting his jazz performance journey as a bebop trumpet player, the young man had no idea that in 10 years, then 20 years – his superb voice would touch the hearts and minds of many listeners – in Australia and beyond. At 20, Vince began playing the club circuit in Melbourne. He was drawn to R&B music – a genre in which the emotive force of the voice is matched by technical and improvising skills. To a young man steeped in jazz and blessed with a good voice – it was natural to meld these elements together and so began the evolution of Australia’s great jazz vocalist.

The Australian National Jazz Orchestra is the brainchild of Sydney saxophonist and bandleader David Theak. Australia has a long history of big bands ranging from the all-female Trocadero big band during the war years to the Daly Wilson Big Band in the 70's and 80's to more recent editions; The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, ATM15, Mace Francis Orchestra, Vanessa Perica Orchestra, Mike Stewart Big Band, Divergence Big Band, Sirens Big Band, Bennett’s Lane Big Band, Dan Barnett big Band, Sydney All Star Big Band, Perth Jazz Orchestra, Enthusiastic Musicians Orchestra (EMO) and in 2017 David Theak decided it was time to establish a truly national orchestra that reflected the diversity and talent that Australia has to offer both as musicians and composers. ANJO exists primarily to perform, record, broadcast, tour, and commission new Australian work by Australian artists. 

Ticket details

Festival Gold Pass - includes entry into all Festival events and a ticket to the Gala Concert and Vince Jones meets ANJO
$169 / $152 concession. (no student pass)

Festival Day Pass - includes entry into all events except Gala Concert and Vince Jones meets ANJO
$99 / $90 concession/ $45 student.

Gala Concert w/ Linda May Han Oh Quartet & This World
$59 / $53 concession / $20 student

Vince Jones meets ANJO
$59 / $53 concession / $20 student

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 9351 1400 or by email to con.boxoffice@sydney.edu.au

Featured artists

• Jazz/improvisation by Vince Jones
• Jazz/improvisation by Australian National Jazz Orchestra (ANJO)
• Music of Johannes Luebbers
• Music of Vanessa Perica
• Music of Vince Jones
• Music of Andrew Murray
• Music of Nick Mulder
• Conductor David Theak