The West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra has been nurturing local talent for 40 years. Ara Jansen gets in the groove with some illustrious alumni ahead of a weekend of birthday celebrations.
Tag Archives: Mace Francis
Reviews
More than jazz enough
5 November 2022
The Perth International Jazz Festival is off and swinging and Kristian Borring says the diverse opening night program promises a great weekend in Perth and later in the south-west.
Features
All that jazz for everyone
25 October 2022
The Perth International Jazz Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a banquet of tasty and different flavours from Australia and overseas. Whether you’re a jazz aficionado, curious to dip your toes in, or just love good music, there’s something for all, writes Ara Jansen.
Features
Women in jazz – the elephant in the room
17 June 2021
After years of witnessing gender inequality in the jazz world, Gemma Farrell is calling it out with the release of an ambitious debut album by the Artemis Orchestra.
Reviews
Festival ends with more fizzle than bang
15 March 2021
Though it started promisingly, Perth Festival’s tour through the history of jazz left Rosalind Appleby wanting more.
Podcasts
A Festival to crush cultural cringe
18 November 2020
Listen to Perth Festival Artistic Director Iain Grandage tell Nina Levy why he’s so excited to be presenting a local line-up in 2021.
Opinion
Jazz orchestra’s history of success
28 October 2020
Garry Lee, the first administrator of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, goes behind the scenes to discover the organisation’s secret to 37 years of success.
Reviews
COVID the catalyst for songs of freedom
18 September 2020
The pandemic has had an enormous impact on jazz and Garry Lee says there was an atmosphere of joy and relief as WAYJO musicians returned to the stage last night.
Reviews
Birthday gift from big band
21 August 2020
The Mace Francis Orchestra has had a big impact on the WA jazz scene over the last fifteen years and Rosalind Appleby explains why.
Q&A
Big Band Birthday
13 August 2020
“You will be taken to another world of orchestral jazz sounds that you may have never heard before… elements of jazz, funk, psychedelic rock, film music and classic big band sounds.” Mace Francis promises a big party to celebrate his orchestra’s anniversary this month. Rosalind Appleby reports.
