Vince Jones Quintet
***SOLD OUT***
WHAT: Vince Jones Quintet in concert
WHEN: Saturday 14 October, 2023
TIMES: Concert 7:30pm + Meet & Greet 9:30pm
TICKETS: $55 / $50
BOOKING LINK: Please click here to book
ASSOCIATED EVENT: Quintet musicians: Matt McMahon, James Hauptmann, Karl Dunnicliff and John Mackey are offering a one-off master class on the afternoon of the concert. Please click here for more information and booking links.
Vince Jones Quintet
“His effortless sublime voice and command of his loved trumpet, will have you swooning under his captivating spell”. Iain Sheden, The Australian
Tuggeranong Arts Centre is delighted to welcome for the very first time…3 x ARIA award recipient Vince Jones. Join us for a magical evening of Jazz in our beautiful lake side surrounds – submerged in the lush warm velvet tones of legendary Jazz vocalist Vince Jones and his sublime Quartet.
Jones has set the benchmark for Australian Jazz singers since his emergence in the jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 70s and early 80s. His 22 album and international career has never hesitated in its musical evolution – a career played in the moment. He is that rare genre-defying artist who creates music without borders. Particular about the musical company he keeps, he continues to enjoy playing with the best jazz musicians the country has to offer and his shows reflect the respect all involved have for the art form that is Jazz. As a vocalist he resists showing off technique to the detriment of feel. Confident in his musical literacy and sings like there’s nothing to prove! It’s a refreshing approach that gives the audience the chance to be really moved…
With a career now in its 40th year of performing; Jones has a catalogue of 22 albums, ARIA awards – amongst others, and has sold close to a million CDs worldwide; including his iconic Come in Spinner album, the highest selling Australian Jazz album of all time. Reaching various mile-stones along his path, many which have sustained and enriched him internally, Vince is often invited to mentor and share his pearls of wisdom with the next generation of up-coming Jazz musicians at Conservatorium’s around Australia.
As a man who thinks deeply about the state of the world and our need to get back to a simpler way of living, themes of love, loss, our environment, justice, nature and peace are woven through his original works. He is not afraid to speak out for causes close to his heart.
An evening with Vince Jones, is set to be a night of musical indulgence. Audiences will enjoy his mellifluous timeless tones. Jones performs original material as well as new contemporary interpretations of his favourite jazz standards by other greats, such as Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, etc
Vince’s musical roots stem from his Scottish parents. Both musicians – his mother a singer and his father a horn player, they imparted their astute understanding of music, something that has always stayed with him and continues to inform his own unique style.
Jones comments, sometimes uncomfortably, about the world we live in from an unashamedly idealistic perspective. His readings of the Great American Songbook are true to composer and artist as are his Van Morrison Masterpiece concerts and his Art Of Protest shows; respecting the song, while making it his own.
Still, his creative output remains intense. New work with long-time collaborator Paul Grabowki is due in early 2024, their first recording winning an ARIA-award. His 2020 retrospective, A Personal Selection confirmed how important his contribution to Australian music has been.
Always particular about the musical company he keeps, he’s enjoyed playing with the best musicians the country has to offer and for these concerts the tradition continues with the extraordinary; Matt McMahon – piano, Karl Dunnicliff – Double Bass, James Hauptmann – Drums, and Canberra’s John Mackey – Saxophone.
“A magical performance by Vince Jones, who now has one of the Best in a long line of exceptional bands” SMH
MEET THE BAND
Vince Jones – Voice & Trumpet
Vince Jones has set the benchmark for Australian Jazz singers since his emergence in the jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 70s and early 80s. His 22 album, international career has never hesitated in its musical evolution – a career played in the moment. He is that rare genre-defying artist who creates music without borders. From Iris DeMent’s folk Our Town to his original piano heavy, new age Wonderworld, he comments, sometimes uncomfortably, about the world we live in, from an unashamedly idealistic perspective. His intuitive readings of the Great American Songbook are sensitively true to composer and artist. He is a wonderful trumpet player as his style has developed a distinctive reserve and subtlety. He plays a little less and draws a good deal more from it than he did in early days. A brief solo from Vince is worth a hundred notes played with less discretion. Particular about the musical company he keeps, he continues to enjoy playing with the best jazz musicians the country has to offer. He is, quite simply, a national treasure.
Australia’s leading jazz vocalist, Vince Jones, is also a remarkable interpreter and composer of songs in a contemporary jazz style – a style that appeals equally to listeners and his musical peers. As a vocalist he resists showing off technique to the detriment of feel – he’s confident in his musical literacy and sings like there’s nothing to prove. It’s a refreshing approach that gives us, the audience, the chance to be really moved. Vince Jones also plays trumpet and over the years his style has developed a distinctive reserve and subtlety – he plays a little less and draws a good deal more from it than he did in earlier days. A brief, thoughtful solo from Vince is worth a hundred notes played with less discretion.
Born in Glasgow, Vince and his family came to live in Australia when he was 11 years old. He grew up in Wollongong, NSW, listening to his musician father’s collection of great jazz albums, and the feel, style and essence of the music became a natural part of Vince’s world. Starting his jazz performance journey as a bebop trumpet player, the young man had no idea that in 10 years, then 20 years – his superb voice would touch the hearts and minds of many listeners – in Australia and beyond. At 20, Vince began playing the club circuit in Melbourne. He was drawn to R&B music – a genre in which the emotive force of the voice is matched by technical and improvising skills. To a young man steeped in jazz and blessed with a good voice – it was natural to meld these elements together and so began the evolution of Australia’s great jazz vocalist.
Matt McMahon – Piano / MD to Vince Jones
Matt McMahon is a Sydney-based pianist/composer. Matt is the longtime Musical Director, Pianist and collaborator to Vince Jones. He is the recipient of several awards including the National Jazz Award and the Freedman Jazz Fellowship, and appears on ARIA and Bell award-winning albums. He leads his own groups and works in collaboration with many of Australia’s most respected musicians, performing within Australia and internationally. He appears on over one hundred albums, including ten as a leader/co-leader. He has performed with some of Australia’s leading musicians and groups – Band of Five Names, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Joseph Tawadros, Gurrumul, Bernie McGann, Katie Noonan, Jonathan Zwartz, Steve Hunter, Jamie Oehlers, Emma Pask, Simon Barker, Andrea Keller, Carl Dewhurst, and Phil Slater. Matt has performed with many visiting artists to Australia, including; Wynton Marsalis, Veronica Swift, Bobby Previte, Greg Osby, Sharon Shannon, Bob Hurst, Aaron Goldberg and Mary Coughlan. In addition to his busy schedule he also enjoys being an educator at the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music.
John Mackey – Saxophone
John Mackey, a renowned Australian saxophonist, recording artist, and educator, began playing professionally at age 14. Mackey has performed with international artists including Nat Adderley, BB King, Ray Charles, Johnny Griffin, Phil Wilson, Dame Kiri Tekanawa, Woody Herman, Toshiko Akyoshi, Lee Tabackin, Richie Cole, Red Rodney, Eddie Henderson, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Werner, Bob Mintzer, Mark Levine, Julian Arguelles, Emil Viklicky, Kendrick Scott and Kurt Elling. National artists include Vince Jones, Dale Barlow, Virgil Donati, James Morrison, Bob Sedergreen, Andrea Keller, Mark Isaacs, Don Burrows, Mike Nock, James Muller, Sam Keevers, Matt McMahon, Carl Mackey, Stephen Magnusson, Andrew Gander, David Jones, Sandy Evans, Jamie Oehlers, Bernie McGann, John Pochee, Miroslav Bukovsky and many more. John has been an invited soloist on many albums over a period 35 years. In 2021, European label Galen, released the 2018 ABC Live at Wangaratta recording of the Emil Viklicky Trio, featuring Czech pianist Emil Viklicky, Miroslav Bukovsky on trumpet/flugelhorn and John Mackey on tenor saxophone.
Karl Dunnicliff – Double Bass
Since graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where Karl studied with acclaimed bassist Craig Scott, Karl Dunnicliff has been highly in demand as a double and electric bass player. In 2008 and 2015 he was selected as a finalist in the National Jazz Awards for double bass at Wangaratta, the largest annual jazz festival in Australia. He regularly supports some of Australia’s best-known musicians. His current projects include Joseph Tawadros, Trish Delaney-Brown and Kevin Hunt.
James Hauptmann – Drums & Percussion
James Hauptmann is one of Australia’s most in demand Jazz drummers who also made a name for himself touring and recording with the ARIA award winning indie pop band Bluejuice. He hops genres with ease and is also a member of Bandaluzia who are one of Australia’s most celebrated flamenco acts who are known for their powerful performances, unique sound and explosive displays of dazzling musicianship and virtuosity. James has also shared the stage and toured with iconic artists including Vince Jones, Katie Noonan, Mark Isaacs, Dale Barlow, James Muller and Steve Hunter as well as contributing his unique playing to numerous recordings in a wide variety of genres. James has performed at most major Australian music festivals including Big Day Out, Main Stage, Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Southbound, Good Vibrations, JJJ One Night Stand, Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Grooving the Moo. James has toured internationally through the UK, Indonesia, China and the USA, which included a performance at The Viper room in LA. James is currently endorsed by Yamaha Drums and Roland