Welcome to The CareFusion Manly Jazz Festival 2009

Program Change Announcement:

Sunday 4th October 2009

The following two bands have had a timeslot change:

Ian Cooper's Swingin' Fiddle Band will now be playing at the Manly Wharf Forecourt Stage at 12:00pm

Steve McKenna Quartet will now be playing on the CareFusion Stage at 1:30pm

Click the link below to download the CareFusion Manly Festival brochure:

 Full Festival Program 2009 - 967 KB

Highlight Acts

George Coleman Jnr (USA)

George Coleman Jnr is the son of legendary saxophonist, George Coleman Sr (of Miles Davis Quintet fame) and jazz organist Gloria Coleman.  He learnt his craft from jazz masters such as Max Roach, Jamil Nasser and Biliy Higgins who called him “one of the most talented and creative drummers on the New York jazz scene”. 

George joins multi award winning saxophonist, Dale Barlow, who was a member of the Cedar Walton Quartet and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He has also performed with legendary jazz artists like Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Lee Konitz and Ernie Watts.

George and Dale have played together for years and their rapport will be evident as they thrill audiences with their hard driving, bebop approach to original tunes and classic standards.

Charito (Japan)

Distinctively a most prominent jazz vocalist in Japan with multi-awarded albums recorded and released internationally, she has toured the world extensively.  Her personal and expressive vocal style incorporates the breadth of her musical interests, from straight-ahead soulful ballads to hard-swinging grooves and improvisational adventures. Her approach is fresh and invigorating, paying tribute to the jazz tradition while interacting and exploring, always seeking to express herself in the moment.

In Ms. Nancy Wilson's words, "The first time I heard Charito, I physically and emotionally embraced her and thought myself BEAUTIFUL, that came from the heart and the soul. She has a warm way of presenting a song and she represents what a singer really is, a song stylist." This Girl (1990).

Andrew Speight Quartet with special guest James Morrison

Aria Award winning,Manly saxophonist, Andrew Speight, returns from the USA where he is Professor of Jazz Studies at San Francisco State University.  Andrew has performed with major artists on the jazz scene, like Jimmy Cobb (of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” fame), Benny Carter, Jimmy Heath, Phil Woods, Nat Adderley and Wynton, Ellis and Branford Marsalis

Andrew Speight Quartet, is joined on stage by multi-instrumentalist, James Morrison, who has worked with many jazz greats during his diverse career.  You won’t want to miss this dynamic combination as they blend their talents together to bring you a performance of searing improvisation with fiery, hard swinging style.  You won’t want to miss this performance.

Mike Nock Quartet

Pianist/composer Mike Nock conitnues to attract critical acclaim worldwide. His has worked across many genres with top musicians such as Johnny O'Keefe, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Hampton and Michael Brecker, giving his live performances a rarely heard breadth and depth.

Trumpet Summit

This performance brings together three of Australia’s most highly regarded musicians, trumpeters, Bob Barnard, Bob Henderson and Warwick Alder.  With a stellar rhythm section backing them up, this performance will be one to catch.

The Translators

The Translators have created a unique blend of music that fuses the improvisation in Jazz with the rhythms and harmonies of Flamenco in their original compositions.

Erana Clark Band

Erana is one of the most successful and sought after singers in Australia.  She has many awards and has toured extensively internationally, singing with Thelma Houston, Tom Jones, INXS, Renee Geyer, Kate Ceberano and Marcia Hines.  She is Vocal Coach/Arranger for Australian Idol, runs her own Singing Song Writing Course and has opened her own recording studio, Meshach Records.

Buddy Bolden Revival Orchestra

Hear some of Sydney’s finest musicians present the kind of music Buddy Bolden played in the early days of jazz. You’ll also get an education as the compere takes you back to early jazz history

Erroll Buddle Quintet

Apart from being a master of about a dozen woodwind instruments Buddle is regarded in Australia as being one of a select group of brilliant recording, studio, big band and orchestral performers. and has  toured the US extensively with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the Cannonball Adderley Quintet and Miles Davis Band.