Melbourne’s own JazzLab Orchestra presses reset on the big band tradition, creating visionary, original, genre-bending jazz music with a strong focus on diversity and inclusivity. Led by composer-arrangers Cheryl Durongpisitkul and Madison James Smith, the orchestra celebrates Melbourne’s next generation of instrumentalists. The ensemble continues the legacy of the Bennetts Lane Big Band through its monthly residency, with a focus on entirely original repertoire by both current and past members. Saxes: Cheryl Durongpisitkul Flora Carbo Shaun Rammers Hector Harley Mia Barham Trombones: Josh Bennier Elliot Lamb Darcie Foley Kit Millais Trumpets: Hugh Parsons Niran Dasika Erin Sherlock Gemma Horbury Rhythm Section: Patrick Jaffe Stella Anning Madison James Smith Naomi Tan

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

Barney McAll’s Non Compliance Trio

The JazzLab / Brunswick / Map

Grammy-nominated, ARIA Award-winning pianist and composer Barney McAll joins forces with the brilliant young drummer Ebs Daramola and the free-wheeling virtuosity of Cuban bassist Yunior Terry. “Barney has always been a spiritual and positive voice, a conceptualist with great empathy and humor. His activities were always intriguing and his powers on the keys formidable.” Kurt Rosenwinkel Barney McAll – Piano Yunior Terry – Bass Ebs Daramola – Drums Check out Barney McAll

Yunior Terry is a Cuban bassist, violinist, and composer, internationally recognised for his complex grooves and contagious rhythms that fuse jazz with Afro-Cuban traditions. The youngest son of one of Cuba’s most gifted musical families, Terry is a prolific performer driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of live music. Regarded as one of New York City’s most sought-after bass players, he has toured extensively with artists including Jerry Gonzalez and Fort Apache, Eddie Palmieri, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ravi Coltrane, The Latin Jazz All Stars , and Jeff “Tain” Watts , among many others. Featuring: Tim Wilson Sax Grant Windsor Piano Yunior Maden Percussion Ebs Daramola Drums Check out Yunior Terry: Instagram YouTube

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

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

Mon, Jul 6, 7:30 PM

Niran Dasika Trio

The JazzLab / Brunswick / Map

Niran Dasika (trumpet), Helen Svoboda (double bass) & Andrea Keller (piano)

A night to celebrate improvisation and spontaneity. The Hue Blanes Trio hosts an evening where anything is possible, and where everyone is invited to create musical magic on Melbourne’s most hallowed podium. About Hue Blanes: Hue Blanes is no stranger to Australian ears. The musical savant has graced Melbourne’s jazz clubs for more than two decades, appearing in various trios and duos, curating his own shows, and as a founding member of electro hip-hop outfit The Melodics. In 2017, Blanes won the prestigious PBS Young Elder of Jazz award and received multiple Green Room nominations for his MIJF comedy show Hue Blanes and the Moon . The past seven years have seen him based in the Netherlands; however, Hue is now back in Melbourne to wow audiences and once again call the four-seasons city home. Hue grew up in the small Victorian town of Healesville, where he began his musical life playing local fêtes, concerts and festivals. He received a scholarship to study at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) and graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Music Perf