Francesca returns with a quartet - James Waples on drums, Alex Boneham on bass, and Nic Verdanega on guitar.

“Steven Barry, a young New Zealander, has brought his dazzling skills as a pianist and composer to Sydney. He shrugged aside cliche, deployed scintillating articulation, and gave his colleagues such ingenious raw material as the Bartok-inspired Clusters. Boneham's solos were a lesson in how vigour may be harnessed to sensitivity, while Firth layered rhythmic puzzles into the grooves without rendering them academic, and soloed with panache...” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

Steve Barry crossed the ditch in early 2009 and has quickly become one of Sydney’s most sought-after pianists, having worked with many prominent Australasian and international artists including John Hollenbeck (USA), Theo Bleckmann (USA), George Coleman Jr. (USA), Arun Luthra (USA), Tricia Evy (FRA) and the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra.

Joined by the heavyweight rhythm section of Alex Boneham on bass and the incredibly sympathetic Cam Reid on drums, the Steve Barry Trio focuses on lyrical melodies, deep grooves and group interaction, and demonstrates a unique collective rapport.

Steve Barry (piano) Alex Boneham (bass) Cameron Reid (drums)

Originally from Indonesia (In 2005, she led her quartet in the Jakarta International Java Jazz festival) but currently based in Sydney, Francesca Prihasti is now studying under Mike Nock at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and recently played with Dale Barlow in his sidewomen project.  It's the first time we've had the pleasure of hearing most of these young musicians - James Waples (drums), Alex Boneham (Double bass) , Nic Vardanega (guitar), Chris O Dea (Sax), and Simon Ferenci (trumpet) - it will be a great six piece band plaing Francesca's original compositions and new arrangements of standards

A rare chance to hear these three great Sydney jazz musicians in a trio setting, playing classic jazz standards including some repertoire from some of the classic piano trios.  Groove, taste, and time will be the order of the day.

Back in NZ from several years living in Boston, James Wylie is a saxophonist/clarinetist involved in microtonal music and active in many styles including improvised music and jazz, contemporary classical and bluegrass. In this project he will present a woodwinds/bass/drums trio exploring a program of new and borrowed compos...itions and improvisations hinting at themes from Federico Fellini to Hank Williams.

Joining him will be two of Australian Jazz’s rising stars - Alex Boneham (James Muller Trio, The Vampires, Steven Barry) on bass and James ‘Pug’ Waples (Mike Nock, Bernie McGann, Jackson Harrison Trio) on drums.
www.jameswyliemusic.com

We'll be celebrating Nat King Cole's 92nd birthday (he only lived to 45) with an evening of his songs from the 40s and 50s.

with Cam Reid (drums) and Alex Boneham (bass)

Steven arrived at the Sydney Con from Auckland last year, with nothing but the shirt on his back and the blessing of Roger Manins.  he's travelled far though, winning awards including Most Outstanding Musician, Best Pianist and Best Composition at the Tauranga International Jazz Festival, and being fawned over by the likes of us.

this is the best young jazz trio in sydney.
let's call it a christmas party.

Playing homage to classic 50s and 60s jazz piano trios - Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Red Garland etc. Rather than trying to recreate the works of these classic trios note for note - we will be presenting some of their repertoire in our style, aiming to capture a certain "classic" trio sound in terms of dynamics, finesse and arrangements.

Andrew Dickeson is steeped in this history, lecturing in jazz drumming at the sydney conservatorium. Peter Locke is the perfect pianist for the project - he is an unsung talent & a master of many styles. With Alex Boneham on bass it will be a magic combination.