Jazz Clubs Serie - 10

History of Perth Jazz Society




Founded in 1973 the Perth Jazz Society is a non-profit incorporated association. Its aims and objectives are to embolden the artist, enhance the artform and facilitate the performance. It has had a long and distinguished history in presenting jazz of the highest quality through its weekly Monday night performances, which, for twenty seven years were based at the Hyde Park Hotel.

On 1 October 2007, the PJS moved to its new venue at the Charles Hotel, 509 Charles St, North Perth (enter from Ellesmere St).

In September 2003 the Perth Jazz Society celebrated its 30th Anniversary, making it the oldest modern jazz society in Australia. Over the last 25 years it has presented regular jazz at the Hyde Park Hotel every Monday night, and now also on occasional Sundays. It remains the main focal point for modern jazz in Western Australia.

Its beginnings were humble, but as early as 1976 the PJS presented legendary Stephane Grappelli and later in the same year the brilliant Jacques Loussier Trio. Groups such as the David Liebman Quartet from the US and the Ronnie Scott Quintet from the UK were followed by the famous American swing-era pianist Teddy Wilson. Other celebrated artists presented were the vibraphone player Milt ‘Bags’ Jackson, Ritchie Cole, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Blossom Dearie, Georgie Fame, Ray Brown, Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander, who came back to Perth as the headline of the 2003 Fremantle International Jazz Festival, and many others. Having performed for the PJS in 1989 and 1996, Sheila Jordan, jazz icon of the Charlie Parker era, returned for a PJS performance at the end of 2002. The 2003 highlight in the PJS program was the performance by Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist Gary Bartz with his quartet from NYC. 2004 saw performances by the seven-time Grammy-nominated American vocalist Kurt Elling with the award winning Chicago Laurence Hobgood Trio as well as the performances by jazz icon and vocalist extraordinaire, Mark Murphy and acclaimed saxophonist Dave Liebman with the Guilfoyle/Nielsen Trio from Ireland. In 2005 the celebrated award-winning Swedish group E.S.T. Esbjorn Svensson Trio as well as renowned pianist Barney McAll, NYC, performed at the Society to standing ovations and highlights of the 2006 PJS international event calendar were performances by the Geri Allen Trio, NYC, and Pierre Dorge’s New Jungle Orchestra, Denmark. E.S.T. Esbjorn Svensson Trio returned to the PJS in January 2007 with a stunning concert and the Jens Winther European Quintet from Denmark had their debut performance at the Society in May 2007.

Many national musicians have been welcomed at the PJS over the years, recent visitors being the Mike Nock BigSmallBand, the Alister Spence Trio and the Sandy Evans Trio from Sydney, as well as the Peter Knight Quartet, James Sandon, Jamie Oehlers and the Michelle Nicolle Quartet from Melbourne.

As well as presenting established musicians, the PJS has a long history of supporting young and upcoming musicians, many of whom have studied at the WA Academy of Performing Arts. Over the years, a symbiosis evolved, enabling the PJS to introduce to Perth audiences the new talent emerging from WAAPA, while at the same time serving as a springboard for these able young people.

The Society has a long-standing tradition of presenting the best of modern jazz in WA and is highly regarded by audiences and artists alike. Internationally-celebrated American jazz guitarist Mike Stern proclaimed the Perth Jazz Society to be one of his two favourite jazz rooms in the world. The late Art Pepper, who performed with his quartet at the PJS in 1981, commented: “Each performance in Australia has been so well received. I can’t really say how much we’ve enjoyed coming here, but our most enthusiastic crowd was here [at the PJS] last night”.

The JazzReview publishes information of upcoming gigs, a ‘What’s Happening in Jazz’ column and CD Reviews. You may also list your e-mail address on the PJS database for weekly media releases, which gives in-depth information on upcoming gigs and musicians. For further information check out this website, contact Eve on 9284 2578 or write to eve@perthjazzsociety.com

The Society has commissioned four major works from WA composers (Four Seasons, Common Ground, The Three Faces of Eve and Indian Ocean Trilogy) and in 1998 produced a 55 minute video of live performance by W.A. artists entitled - Jazz off the Record.
In 2001 it toured its project - The Billie Holiday Music Story, performing at fifteen regional centres and towns throughout Western Australia to an audience of over two thousand five hundred people and travelling over 11,000 kms. In 2001, a show entitled the Billie Holiday Music Story toured 11,000km throughout WA, playing at 15 venues to more than 2,500 people.

However, its main focus is on its weekly program for Western Australian jazz musicians, nurturing its younger players and creating opportunities for mature musicians. It has a strong subscription base and is delighted to welcome new members and the general public to its Monday night performances.
Its main focus is on staging a varied weekly program of modern jazz at the Charles Hotel, featuring the best of WA, Australian and overseas jazz musicians.
Starting time is 8.00pm except on public holidays when performances start at 5pm. Members receive the monthly program/newsletter JAZZREVIEW, and substantial discounts on their tickets.