Live Jazz in Melbourne

The Harmonix Experience: Jazz with Swagger, Funk with Soul Every other week at Bird’s Basement, The Harmonix Experience takes the stage — and takes no prisoners. This genre-bending outfit blends jazz, acid jazz, funk, and a splash of rock into a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is irresistible. Led by Albare on guitar, with Jake Mason on Hammond, Phil Rex on bass, Andrew Swann on drums, Paul Williamson on alto sax, and Salva Persico on percussion, the band kicks off each set with a simple sketch — then lets instinct and groove take over. Expect deep grooves that’ll make you move your feet and more. This is jazz that sweats, funk that thinks, and music that never plays it safe.

Wed, Jul 1, 7:30 PM

Oscar Edwards Quintet

The JazzLab / Brunswick / Map

Young Melbourne drummer Oscar Edwards is preparing for a significant move to the UK to take up the sole undergraduate jazz drums position at the Royal Academy of Music in London. A 2025 James Morrison Scholarship finalist and VCASS graduate, Oscar has established himself as a prominent emerging voice on the local scene, performing alongside musicians such as James Sherlock, Mark Fitzgibbon, Julien Wilson, Grant Windsor, Tamara Murphy, Hugh Stuckey, Ben Robertson, Daryl McKenzie, Gordon Goodwin, Darrin Archer, James Shortland, Miro Lauritz, James Bowers, Tiana Young, James Lockwood, Zoe Frater, and many others. For this performance at The JazzLab , Oscar leads an ensemble of musicians he greatly admires, presenting a selection of original compositions alongside jazz standards. This show marks his final local performance before commencing his international studies at the Royal Academy. Line up: Oscar Edwards – Drums Carl Mackey – Saxophone Ben Robertson – Bass James Sherlock – Guitar Mark Fitzgibbon – Piano

Thu, Jul 2, 7:30 PM

‘Syn-chro-ni-ci-ty’

Paris Cat Jazz Club / Melbourne CBD / Map

PLS NOTE: DOORS OPEN AT 7PM FOR A 7.30PM SHOWTIME (SHOW DURATION IS 7.30PM-9.30PM) ‘Syn-chro-ni-ci-ty’ ALBUM LAUNCH!!!! ALBUM LAUNCH!!! ALBUM LAUNCH!!!! Synchronicity is finally releasing its debut album of original ‘Jazz/Rock Australian Fusion’ and, you have an opportunity to be there to listen to all the music, take home a physical hard copy of the album or scan a special QR code on the night or both!!! On the gig you will be able to hear all of the new pieces the band has been developing…and for the ‘fans’ don’t worry…the band will still be playing some of your ‘jazz-rock’ favorites that this band is known for….” So…if you like your jazz with a touch more ‘Rock’, ‘Funk’ and topped off with a sprinkle of ‘Smooth’…..then you’ll be blown away with not only the repertoire of this band but also what each individual member of this group will brings to it…..this is… ‘Syn-chro-ni-ci-ty’. In amongst the bands originals you may also hear classics from: from legends such as Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern….and more!! So please join… Lachlan Davidson - sax, flute Gianni Turcio - keys, J

PLS NOTE: DOORS OPEN 8.30PM FOR A 9PM SHOWTIME (SHOW DURATION IS 9PM-11PM) Red Hot is the dazzling show starring Sarah Maclaine and Jennifer Salisbury - two fiery redheads taking on some of the hottest songs of the last 100 years, backed by an all-star band. With velvet vocals, and vintage microphones, this show revives the classics and re-imagines modern favourites meeting old and new with a swingin’ twist. All this, accompanied by Mark Morand’s masterful arrangements & guitar, and a superb band that transforms every song into something wonderfully unique. Brilliantly executed and thoroughly engaging from start to finish, this show brings the fun and unites the audience through the love of classic jazz and modern hits. Featuring: Vincent Bradley - trumpet, flugel horn Paul Winter - reeds Annette Yates - bass Lachlan Wallace - drums Genre - Jazz/Swing

PLS NOTE: DOORS OPEN 6PM FOR A 6.30PM SHOWTIME (SHOW DURATION IS 6.30PM-8.10PM) Hot Club Swing’s unique style of French Gypsy Jazz is alive and well; music originating in the 1930s but still thriving in the 21st century. The group draws its influences from an exotic palate of Latin America, Eastern Europe and of course, classic American swing music, painting on a canvas that can be eloquently French, starkly rustic or darkly and romantically gypsy. The quintet features: Ben Calderazzo (leader/guitar); Sophia MacRae (Clarinet); Rob Gador (double bass); Jeremy Bourke (rhythm guitar), and Nadine Joy (vocals) and is inspired by the original masters, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with influences from more modern groups from Europe and beyond. In their 30 years as a band, some notable performances include: Port Fairy Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, the 53rd National Jazz Convention, Boite World Music Café, inclusion on the charity CD Waterfront Christmas for United Way and support for Hank Marvin at the Oz Manouche Festival of Gypsy Jazz. Hot Club Swing's first two al

Sat, Jul 4, 8:00 PM

Tracey Miller — Queen Of The Creek

The JazzLab / Brunswick / Map

Tracey Miller brings her acclaimed new album Queen Of The Creek to Jazzlab in a powerful live performance featuring a stellar 10-piece band led by saxophonist and producer Darcy McNulty. Recorded live at The Archies Creek Hotel and featuring an all-star cast, the album captures a unique moment of collaboration and creativity. Joining Miller are Jazzlab favourites Tamara Murphy (bass), Hue Blanes (piano), Eamon McNelis (trumpet), and Lachlan Mitchell (guitar). “Very few singers can serve you power and vulnerability at the same time in the way that Tracey Miller does. She has that thing that quiets a noisy room with her first note; a quiet room explodes by her last. Tracey has that double life that many artists lead — calling down thunder on the stage with a 10-piece band on Sunday, writing fragile acoustic songs in the backyard on Monday. I feel like the approach to Broken Line was to bring these separate halves of Tracey’s musical identity together — and for me that’s the power of this wonderful record, and of this song in particular.” Harry James Angus

PLS NOTE: DOORS OPEN AT 6PM FOR A 6.30PM SHOWTIME (SHOW DURATION IS 6.30PM-8.30PM) Julian Banks Quartet brings together four of Australia’s most creative improvisers in a group that is both fiery and fluid. Led by saxophonist and composer Julian Banks, the quartet performs original music that carries echoes of the jazz tradition while reframing it through a distinctly contemporary lens. Balancing spontaneity with structure, the music creates space for deep listening, bold interplay, and moments of raw intensity. Having performed extensively throughout Australia, as well as making international appearances, the quartet is currently workshopping new material for an upcoming album. With Joe Talia on drums, James Gilligan on bass, and Louis King on guitar, the group shapes rich harmonic textures and lyrical melodies into a sound that is unmistakably its own — come hear the band at its best. Saxophone - Julian Banks Guitar - Louis King Bass - James Gilligan Drums - Joe Talia Genre - Contemporary Jazz

Emerging young Sydney saxophonist Gabriella Hill and her rhythm section of Henry Hall (double bass) and Daniel Raymond (drums) join with dynamic young Melbourne pianist Abi Lee in a premiere. Hill performed at the SIMA Women’s Jazz Festival 2025 with Eric Tsai (guitar) and Jacques Emery (double bass). Hill and Lee shared a double bill at the Monday Night Confessions series while Lee was touring to Sydney, and discovered a shared passion for more exploratory improvisation. Lee will be moving to New York in mid-July to study at the New School. Presented by the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative: The Melbourne Jazz Co-operative is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting original live jazz performance by established and emerging artists in Melbourne. Since 1983 our objectives have been to increase the exposure of contemporary jazz performance by making it accessible to audiences, and to provide award waged performance opportunities for emerging and established artists. In addition to support derived from member contributions, the MJC is assisted by the Victorian Gove