SUMMER TWILIGHT JAZZ & VOICE @ Federation Square

FREE Concert Series @ Federation Square
Saturdays 7th, 14th & 21st January 2006 6-8pm
Fridays 3rd, 10th & 24th February 2006 6-8pm

Multicultural Arts Victoria will kick off the New Year with a unique summer world jazz and voice free concert series profiling Melbourne’s finest jazz sounds from around the globe. Enjoy traditional, improvised and contemporary world jazz and voice spanning a multicultural mix of genres and styles.

Download February 2006 Brochure (page 1)
Download February 2006 Brochure (page 2)

Saturday 7th January: 6pm Fiona Burnett Trio - Acclaimed soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett is a remarkable and unique musical voice widely recognised for her striking original sound and her dynamic, expressive and virtuosic improvisations. 7pm Liz Cavanagh - Australia’s leading indigenous jazz vocalist, Liz is fast earning a reputation not only for her captivating vocal ability and imaginative musical journey, but the ambiance she creates when she steps on stage.

Saturday 14th January: 6pm Way Out West Led by Melbourne composer/ trumpeter Peter Knight, Way Out West is a beguiling combination of sounds blending jazz with Vietnamese and African influences. 7pm Zebra Crossing With Ray Pereira on West African percussion, Leo Dale’s European jazz sax and flute and the expressive and dynamic vocals, guitar and kalimba of Valanga Khoza, Zebra Crossing’s sound is as exciting as it is beautiful.

Saturday 21st January: 6pm Doug de Vries & Diana Clark Experience the mellifluous beauty of Diana Clark's voice with the rich harmonic pallette of Doug de Vries's guitar as the two team up to perform a repertoire of new originals & classics from the bounty of musica brasileira. 7pm Ileana Posas El Salvadoran singer of renown, Ileana Posas will dazzle the audience with her rich warm voice and appealingly exuberant personality as she teams up with some of Melbourne’s hottest jazz musicians to perform her own originals as well as songs from her homeland.

Friday 3rd February 6pm Sudanese Catholic Choir Singing in many different languages including English, Swahili and other Sudanese languages the Sudanese Catholic Choir celebrates the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music. 7pm King Marong & Afro Mandinko King Marong has earned a reputation Australia wide and internationally for his high voltage performances with both traditional and contemporary West African ensembles. His new ensemble Afro Mandinko is an unforgettable musical experience where high energy afro beats and tunes combine with smooth reggae and jazz influences.

Friday 10th February 6pm Maori Choir Let your spirit be uplifted as the Maori Choir sing traditional songs of love and joy describing the beauty of their island home. This group who recently performed at the Festival New Zealand, captures a strong sense of traditional Maori culture through their songs. 7pm Mandaela Featuring piano legend Bob Sedergreen, Mandaela are a sensational blend of smooth jazz, West African guitar melodies, traditional Senegalese songs, jazz style tap dance improvisations, impassioned saxophone incarnations and the funkiest keyboard sounds on this side of the planet.

Friday 24th February 6pm Sokoly The Sokil is a falcon of the mountainous Western regions of Western Ukraine known for inspiring in men an indomitable spirit and love of their homeland. The ensemble specialises in traditional Ukrainian folk songs from the nation’s many and diverse cultural groups to create a moving and vibrant choral experience. 7pm Unified Gecko Led by Turkish born singer/ songwriter/guitarist Murat Yucel, Unified Gecko features an impressive lineup of talent from Melbourne’s world, jazz, reggae and hip hop scenes. With irrepressible drum grooves, funky phat basslines, electro harp, a growling horn section and driving darabuka rhythms, the group is well known for its energetic and soulful blend of gypsy, reggae, jazz, funk and dancehall.