Record breaking attendance at Melbourne Jazz Festival

PRESS RELEASE:

The 2015 Melbourne International Jazz Festival came to an unforgettable close on Sunday night with the divine Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield and big-band powerhouse the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra bringing the near-capacity crowd at Hamer Hall to their feet and dancing in the aisles.

Now in its 18th year, the 2015 Festival saw record-breaking attendance, with over 42,000 people coming together to experience jazz in the city’s venues, clubs, bars and laneways.

The program presented the world’s leading jazz masters and sonic innovators, shining a light on some extraordinary musical collaborations from around the world and at home. 

Opening Night saw a sell-out performance and a standing ovation from two pioneers of the artform Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock reuniting in a historic world tour. 

The theme of collaboration continued throughout the 11 days, including the world premiere of Paul Grabowsky’s new work Nyilipidgi blending the musical heritage of Australia’s first people with contemporary composition and improvisation.

2015 also celebrated the final year of Melbourne’s iconic Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, with packed houses enjoying top-flight jazz into the early hours, every night of the Festival.

The Festival saw over 25 sold out events, a 6% increase in attendance and widespread community involvement in Festival’s free event series, including the second instalment of the Jazz Out West series in Footscray, Juilliard Free Lunchtime Jazz and the In Conversation series hosted by Gerry Koster.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival Artistic Director Michael Tortoni said: “2015 has been a record-breaking year, the enthusiasm with which our audiences have embraced the many experiences offered by the Festival program cements Melbourne’s reputation as the live music capital of Australia and showcases the importance of jazz in the 21st century”.

Image: Pharoah Sanders

Photo Credit: Jamie Williams