Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) returns for its 27th year, 18-27 October, bringing together a hotbed of international and local talent to Australia's jazz capital.
With a collective tally of 34 Grammy wins, 99 Grammy nominations, and 1 Oscar win amongst this year's line-up, MIJF showcases some of the world's most accomplished musicians. Plus, over one-third of the programme is free offering broad access to this extraordinary celebration of jazz.Over ten jam-packed days, audiences will be treated to an array of awe-inspiring performances (109 events across 34 venues), including special festival-only experiences, unique multi-art-form collaborations, first-time guests from the experimental jazz scenes in the UK and Japan, and a New Orleans street parade through the CBD to kick off the festival celebrations.
MIJF embracers the New Orleans feels back with the Second Line Street Party opening the 2024 programme, featuring NOLA's beloved TBC Brass Band, followed by Free Jazz at Fed Square showcasing music and films all weekend long. Last year saw record-breaking crowds boogie their way along the Yarra to Federation Square, and the festival is aiming for even bigger crowds in 2024.
Later on Saturday evening, head down the road for Jazz at the Bowl, MIJF's annual blockbuster celebration of jazz, funk and soul. This huge, five-hour line-up is headlined by the iconic Herbie Hancock performing under the stars to an open-air crowd, plus American bass virtuoso Marcus Miller and local soul star Bumpy.
Elsewhere on the bill, five-time Grammy-winning American bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding will present a transformative, festival-only experience featuring two contemporary dancers. While one of the biggest names in the UK jazz scene, Nubya Garcia will perform a mind-blowing show at 170 Russell, blending orchestral arrangements with R&B, jazz, broken beat, and dub.
Jazz luminary Mexican Antonio Sánchez returns to Australia to perform his critically-acclaimed improvised solo drum score live onstage alongside the Oscar-winning film 'Birdman'. Also at the Melbourne Recital Centre, multi-award-winning vocalist extraordinaire American Jazzmeia Horn makes her Melbourne debut.
For orchestral jazz lovers, Orchestra Victoria celebrates 100 years of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with a special evening featuring Japanese piano virtuoso Makoto Ozone and Melbourne's Panorama Brasil.
Award-winning composer, vocalist, and Noongar woman Bumpy premieres her new work 'Tooni' at Arts Centre Melbourne's Fairfax Studio – commissioned by MIJF and the Australian Art Orchestra as part of their First Nations Artist Residency Program.
"MIJF 2024 will be one of our most ambitious festivals to date, with a prolific line-up of gifted musicians set to join us this October in Melbourne," MIJF Artistic Director Michael Tortoni says.
"Whether it's in a parade, at the Bowl, in the city or out west, we're so excited for audiences to join us again, celebrating all there is to love about this music."
Tickets are on sale.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2024 runs at various venues from 18—27 October.
