Stonnington Jazz Festival announces inaugural Jazz Industry Summit: “There’s incredible work being created here”
The program covers panel discussions, keynote speakers and performance workshops.
The Stonnington Jazz festival in Melbourne has announced the inaugural Jazz Industry Summit.
Festival curator Chelsea Wilson tells TMN, “It’s building upon the professional development program which we started two years ago.
“I’m very passionate about creating opportunities for artists to develop their skills and to network
“So it was time for an entire dedicated day for this for jazz musicians.”
The program throughout the day (Saturday May 12 at Chapel Off Chapel) covers panel discussions, keynote speakers and performance workshops.
It will look at recording and releasing, publicity and marketing, revenue streams, funding, international touring, pitching to labels, and going the independent route.
Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
The how-to’s for emerging artists include pitching their music to labels, promoting their gig, funding, applying for grants, getting airplay and securing album reviews.
Wilson says, “There are issues that affect jazz musicians which are unique to the jazz genre, and also a lot more universal challenges for musicians of any genre.
“I find that industry conferences very seldom cover jazz.”
She believes learning about the industry’s business side is invaluable for the hundreds of students from the “incredible jazz tertiary education programs across the country.”
Wilson herself is from a diverse background.
Her debut album I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me was lauded #2 Album of the Year on ABC Radio National and nominated for Best Soul album at The Age Music Victoria Awards.
In 2015 she toured Europe and the UK for the first time, including a slot on the Glastonbury festival.
Her weekly radio show Jazz Got Soul airs every Thursday 11am on PBS 106.7 FM.
She also curates the Women of Soul series and is on Music Victoria’s ‘Women in Music’ advisory panel.
Some major names have been tapped for the summit to provide insights.
Keynote speaker is America’s Don Lucoff, artistic director of the Portland Jazz Festival who has worked with Antonio Carlos Jobim, BB King, Bill Evans, Max Roach and Mel Torme, and represented labels as Blue Note, Impulse! and Verve.
“Don has a diverse range of skills,” Wilson points out. “He’s across marketing, PR, artist liaison and programming.
“He clearly has a really deep love and passion for jazz, and forged a career of several decades working in that industry.
“He’s made a huge contribution to jazz in the US, and it’d be great to get a perception and knowledge from him.”
In the performance workshops jazz legend Dr. Judy Bailey demonstrates her radical approach to jazz improvisation and developing a unique style.
Queensland Conservatorium of Music vocal teacher Kristin Berardi helms a vocal workshop while pianist, composer and radio presenter Adam Rudegeair presents one on the piano.
Wilson says, “One of the things I’m excited about is the conversation about export and getting Australian jazz into the international market.
“We have incredible talent in Australia. There have been great breakouts like Sarah Mackenzie and James Morrison.
“But so many artists who’re at the top of their game and playing premier venues in Australia are not known overseas.
“Australian jazz has a unique sound. It’s because we’re isolated.
“The music has its roots in African American culture but the Australian version has grown to reflect its environment.
“There’s incredible work being created here, so it’d be great to have people in the same room and have conversations about how we can work together and how we can think outside the box.”
Speakers at the Stonnington Jazz Industry Summit:
Adam Rudegeair (musician/PBS 106.7FM)
Angela Davis (musician, winner of the Brian Boak Bursary)
Alexie Jell (executive artist manager - James Morrison Enterprises)
Bethany Atkinson-Quinton (Express Media)
Brenton Foster (artist)
Catherine Nichols (Warner Music Australia)
Dean Linguey (Creative Victoria)
Don Lucoff (Portland Jazz Festival/DL Media USA)
Jennifer Kerr (Melbourne International Jazz Festival)
Jenny Branagan (APRA)
Jessica Nicholas (ABC Jazz)
Sarah Guppy (This Much Talent)
Sarah Hamilton (This Much Talent)
Sean Foran (artist)
Simon Winkler (RRR 102.7FM)
Steven Richardson (Creative Partnerships)
Tom Ford (Universal/EMI)
Tickets cost $15 - $20 - includes all panels and workshops, and on sale now stonningtonjazz.com.au
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Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
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