Tag: jazz

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Flea Releases Jazzy Frank Ocean Cover

When an artist goes solo, I appreciate a left turn. Don’t give me more of the kind of music you make with your band. I want to hear something new, out of the box. And you don’t get much more out of the box than the music that Naarm/Melbourne-born creative Flea, best known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, has recorded for his solo album. His forthcoming album Honora features Flea on trumpet and bass making fantastic jazz music. I’m totally digging his version of “Thinkin Bout You,” originally recorded by Frank Ocean.

“Channel Orange! When that record came out, it really blew me away,” Flea enthused. “I listened to it ten million times. It was something I just couldn’t stop listening to. I loved it so much and still do. Just one of those real watershed moment records for me. ‘Thinkin Bout You’ is one of the many great songs on that record, and I thought it would be fun to play on trumpet. Then I went to Nate Wolcott, who plays keyboards on Honora on several tunes. He did that string arrangement for me. He stepped up to the plate and really did something beautiful. I just wanted to get the honest beauty of the melody because it’s a great song.”

Flea will release Honora on March 27 before embarking on a solo tour in May.

7 May 2026 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
9 May 2026 – The Opera House, Toronto
10 May 2026 – Théâtre Beanfield, Montreal
12 May 2026 – Webster Hall, New York
13 May 2026 – Black Cat, Washington, DC
16 May 2026 – The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles
21 May 2026 – Heimathafen, Berlin
22 May 2026 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
26 May 2026 – Koko, London
28 May 2026 – Alhambra, Paris
Photo credit: Gus Van Sant

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bird’s Basement Brings Jazz to Melbourne

Jazz lovers are in for a real treat with Bird’s Basement set to open its doors in Melbourne.

The club has already assembled an impressive line-up for its opening month, with American jazz legends Ravi Coltrane and Lee Ritenour scheduled to play on the first night, and Wendy Matthews, Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows, Albare, Joe Chindamo, Mike Nock, The Young ‘uns, and even Brian Mannix shows within the first month.

Bird’s Basement is a purpose-built club in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. It will offer two shows nightly – one at 6 pm and the next at 9:30 pm, accompanied by an Italian a la carte menu. Now this is how I want to see music. Melbourne, I’m officially jealous.

Bird’s Basement will welcome music lovers from March 1. You’ll find it at 11 Singer’s Lane.

Image used with permission from Cavanagh PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Molly Ringwald @ Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay – 26 May 2013

Every generation has a woman that makes a difference. She’s the kind of woman who inspires us. She’s the one that girls want to be, and guys want to be with. And for my generation, that woman was Molly Ringwald.

I remember being in awe of Molly as I grew up. I admired her strength as I watched her on screen railing against stereotypes and social classes. I desperately wanted to kiss Andrew McCarthy and Judd Nelson too. All those feelings I had about Molly never went away, so there was no question in my mind that I had to be there when she closed the Sydney Writers Festival with her jazz music.

Honestly, I went to bask in her presence, not to appreciate her music. She could have said she’d be there to read the phone book and I would have bought a ticket. For the first few songs I couldn’t think of anything else other than the fact that this woman who means so much to me was right there, breathing the same air as me, under the same roof as me.

But as the evening wore on, I found that I appreciated so much more than that. Admittedly, Molly isn’t technically the world’s best singer. Her voice is a little thin, and you can hear her struggling to reach the high notes. But her voice has so much character, and the charisma she oozed on the silver screen translates well to the musical arena.

I also appreciated that she really knows music. Her songs were so carefully chosen, jazz classics that aren’t overdone by the countless artists that delve into the Great American Songbook. The influence of her father, a jazz musician in his own right, was apparent. Her knack for telling a story was showcased beautifully in “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” and “Ballad of the Sad Young Men”.

She also gave so much of herself, chatting in between every song about the music, her family, and her life. By the time she closed her regular set with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, a tribute to the late great John Hughes, we were all on her side. There was no doubt we’d ask for an encore. She might be best known as an actress, but as a jazz musician Molly Ringwald certainly holds her own.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ray Beadle & Jill Barber Come Out Swinging with Jazz Tour

They come from different sides of the planet, but a shared love of jazz will see Aussie blues guitarist Ray Beadle and Canadian chanteuse Jill Barber staring a stage this October and November. The artists will showcase their jazz chops and some of the genre’s most beloved classics on their Come Out Swinging tour.

Ray Beadle and his band The Hightones will pay tribute to the bluesy jazz stylings of America’s west coast. Think Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson, Kim Ramos, and Lynwood Slim. Jill Barber’s long been inspired by artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf, so don’t be surprised to hear songs from these great dames, as well as tunes from her own recent release Mischievous Moon.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

18 October 2012 – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane
19 October 2012 – Woombye Pub, Sunshine Coast
20 October 2012 – Burleigh Underground Drummers, Gold Coast
24 October 2012 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
25 October 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
26 October 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
27 & 28 October 2012 – Sydney Blues & Roots Festival
31 October 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
1 November 2012 – The Abbey, Canberra
2 November 2012 – Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne