The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was officially opened today at a press conference featuring Australian jazz legend Graham Bell, Jamie Oehlers and the once imprisoned for playing jazz music North Korean pianist Kim Cheol Woong.
The festival, which runs until next Sunday (May 13), will tonight kick off with a performance at Melbourne's famed Hamer Hall with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock.Until next Sunday, the festival will showcase some of the highlights of Australian jazz as well as the legends.
Today Graham Bell criticised jazz programs on community radio for not doing enough to promote Australian talent, dedicating their shows to the classics. He suggested an 80% Australian content quota. In the meantime, we'll have to settle for great lineups like this.
During the week jazz fans in Melbourne will be awestruck as Chick Corea, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Dave Liebman, James Morrison (not the English pop star but the Australian jazz legend), Gary Burton, Frank Gambale, Jens Winther and many many more play at venues across Melbourne.
For the complete timetable and to book tickets, head to The Melbourne International Jazz Festival's official website at http://www.melbournejazz.comhttp://www.melbournejazz.com.
