Julien Wilson Trio

For jazz enthusiasts October looms as an exciting month with a series of performances showcasing the best in Aussie jazz.

The Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) will hold shows starting from Friday, October 9 and running until Saturday, October 31.

The Julien Wilson Trio will open proceedings with an eclectic combination of tenor saxophone, guitars and piano accordion. The trio has been playing sold out shows for over a decade, with their performances being described by The Age “as close as you’re likely to get to dreaming with your eyes open”.

“From what I know, there isn’t really any precedent for our sort of instrumentation with accordion, guitar and saxophone,” Wilson said.

Julien (saxophone) and his fellow trio members Stephan Magnusson (guitars) and Stephan Grant (accordion), provide a unique Jazz experience with influences from Brazilian and Argentinian musical forms.

They have performed sold out concerts at the Berlin Jazz Festival, Sydney Opera House and Melbourne International Arts Festival and have appeared at festivals in Jakarta, Korea, New Zealand and throughout Australia.

The next act for the line-up features upcoming jazz vocalist Elissa Rodger and her band. Rodger, who has been performing form a young age, launched her jazz career after undertaking studies at Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University.

The band will play an hour show on Friday, October 16.

The Julia Messenger Quintet will warm audiences with her show In a soulful mood. The Melburnian’s exquisite vocal technique and her unique ability to get to the heart and soul of a song has earned her rave reviews around the world.

The quintet will be dazzling audiences in two shows on Saturday, October 17.

Jazz vocalist Hetty Kate will continue the spring line-up with a compilation of classics and curios from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and more.

Kate and her band will be playing Tuesday, October 20 for an afternoon of beautiful vintage music, perfect for reminiscing, singing along and enjoying.

Finally, rounding off a superb month of jazz, the Janet Seidel Trio, including Melbourne piano great Joe Chindamo, is performing a night of pure romance in music.

To find out why Janet is described as “Australia’s most popular jazz vocalist” and “first lady of Australian jazz vocals” and why Joe Chindamo is routinely described as one of the world’s greatest pianists, you will need to purchase tickets to either of their two shows on Saturday, October 31.

All shows will be held on the Salon stage, a beautifully intimate way to spend your October.