Melbourne International Jazz Festival Unveils Massive 2017 Program

Victoria will be overrun by a smorgasbord of local and international jazz icons this July when Melbourne International Jazz Festival welcomes the likes of legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisel, Grammy-winning singer Dianne Reeves, Singapore’s The Steve McQueens and more to the 10-day celebration.

Dishing up one of their biggest line-ups to date to commemorate 20 solid years, the festival has confirmed an epic 500 artists from across the globe to participate in over 120 events.

“Over the past twenty years the Melbourne International Jazz Festival has developed into a centrepiece of Australia’s cultural scene that continually delivers a world class event which attracts amazing jazz artists,” Artistic Director Michael Torton said.

“This year is no exception, with a program that pays homage to the past while also showcasing new directions, both from the international scene and our own thriving Australian jazz community.”

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Melbourne International Jazz Festival will take over bars, clubs and venues across the city from June 2 – 11, with other highlights including a four-night residency from Sydney experimental jazz trio The Necks while US legends and contributors to David Bowie’s Blackstar The Donny McCaslin Group sign on alongside talent from Israel, Japan, Switzerland and more.

The 2017 Melbourne International Jazz Festival line-up:

Modern Masters

Bill Frisell: When You Wish Upon A Star

Kenny Barron Trio

Bill Frisell Trio

Carla Bley Trio

Jobim’s Masterpieces feat. Vince Jones and the Orquestra do Brasil

Dianne Reeves

Explorations in Jazz

Donny McCaslin Group

Brenton Foster 6tet

The Steve McQueens

Tigran Hamasyan: An Ancient Observer

The Necks

Monash University Jazz Futures feat. Ari Hoenig Trio

Appearing Nightly feat. Carla Bley Trio & The Monash Art Ensemble

Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles

Kira Kira

Luke Howard Trio

Hue Blanes: Things That Have Been Said

Special Events

A Celebration of Ella and Louis featuring Patti Austin, James Morrison and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Second Line Street Party

Play School’s Big Jazz Adventure

Swing City

KAGE: Out Of Earshot

Jazz On Film

Bridging The Divide: Addressing The Underrepresentation Of Women In Jazz

Conference: Agency In Jazz And Improvisation

Club Sessions, The Toff In Town

Ari Hoenig Trio

Jim Black Quartet

BFK + Pascal Schumacher

Now. Here. This.

Club Sessions, The Jazzlab

Tal Cohen Quintet

Yotam Silberstein Quartet

NAK Trio

MaxMantis

Moons Of Jupiter

Still Night: Music In Poetry

Speedball

Late Night Jams

Club Sessions, Uptown Jazz Café

Stephen Magnusson Trio

Scott Tinkler Standards Quartet

Jamie Oehlers Quartet

Sam Keevers Quartet

Andrea Keller Trio

Bopstretch

Carl Morgan Quartet

Dale Barlow Quartet

Dale Barlow Quintet

Hetty Kate Quintet

Julien Wilson Trio

Club Sessions, Dizzy’s Jazz Club

Roger Clark Quintet with Sarah Maclaine

Tribute to Blue Note

Craig Schneider Trio

Dizzy’s Big Band

Warren Willis

Unspoken Rule

Club Sessions, Lido Jazz Room

Bob Sedergreen & Friends

James Sherlock Quartet

Emma Gilmartin Quartet

Peter Baylor’s Ultrafox

Margie Lou Dyer Quintet

Jackie Bornstein Quartet

Ruth Rogers-Wright Quartet

Wilbur Wilde Quartet

Jazz Out West

Au Dré

Shio

Senegambian Jazz Band

Maria Moles & Adam Halliwell

Old Grooves for New Streets

Music Yared

Game Changers: Lost In Translation

La Grande Soirée

Gospel Sundays

Free Events

Juilliard Free Lunchtime Jazz

Artist Workshops, Monash University

Artist Workshops, Melbourne Recital Centre

Close Encounters

Sound Walks

Sound Portraits

Check out the Melbourne Jazz website for more info.