Australian Jazz - 2000 and Later

2000 and Later

During the 1990s and early 2000s, there was a noticeable trend back towards jazz by many popular performers who had been associated with the rock genre. Most notable amongst these were Kate Ceberano, Dannielle Gaha and The Whitlams who all released traditional jazz or jazz-influenced albums within a very short space of time.

Compared to the latter years of the 1900s jazz lost some of its impetus in Australia in the first decade of the twenty first century. However it is still very visible in a number of venues including Melbourne's Bennett's Lane Jazz Club and concerts in Sydney staged by groups such as Sydney Improvised Music Association, Venue 505, The Jazzgroove Association, and The Jazz Action Society. The Melbourne Jazz Co-operative since 2007 has run three jazz concerts a week in Melbourne, the most active jazz presenter organisation in Australia.

In 2010 jazz music continues to be a valid and visible form of expression in Australia. Although jazz is virtually ignored by mainstream media there is considerable coverage in alternative media outlets such as community radio, and the ABC Dig Jazz digital radio station now plays jazz 24 hours a day non-stop, with a considerable amount of local content.

The standard of musicianship amongst younger players entering the scene continues to be high, and in recent years there has been a trend towards contemporary groups playing primarily original material, rather than standards and jazz standards.

A non-college style of jazz has also evolved with a harder"street edge" style.The Conglomerate, The Bamboos, Damage, Cookin' on Three Burners, John McAlls Black Money are examples of this.

There are also a number of jazz festivals that continue to be staged including the Melbourne Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival, Wagga Wagga Jazz Festival, the Jazzgroove Summer Festival in Sydney and the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.

One should also not forget the likes of Andrew Atwill, born in Australia & now residing in New Zealand. Bass player extraordinaire, arranger & composer & having played with many of the greats in both Aus & NZ as well as in Europe. His last 2 albums have taken the jazz world by storm because of their innovation & finesse. Russell Garcia had this to say about Atwill's album entitled "3 sides of the same coin"...."A landmark in composition, performance & arranging & a must for any jazz music collector." (Steve Martin on Andy Atwill).