Our festival opens in style! Have you booked your tickets yet for An Evening with the @chris_johnstone Guitar / @matjodrell Quartet?
Join us for an unforgettable night of world-class jazz as two of Melbourne’s most compelling voices — Chris Johnstone (guitar) and Mat Jodrell (trumpet) — come together for a concert of rare chemistry and musical depth.
Expect a rich program of jazz standards alongside original works from Mat’s acclaimed albums Grateful and Insurgent, brought to life with the powerhouse rhythm section of @benmhanlon (bass) and @fishyfisch14 (drums).
From deep swing to lyrical ballads and fearless improvisation, this quartet promises an evening of dynamic interplay, spontaneity, and pure musical connection.
✨ Whether you’re a dedicated jazz lover or simply after a night of extraordinary live music, this is one not to miss.
📍 St Ambrose Hall
📅 Fri 5 June
🕢 7:30 PM
🎫 woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au (link in bio)
Queensland-born Chris Johnstone, now a key figure in Melbourne’s jazz scene, joins acclaimed trumpeter Mat Jodrell for a rare and unmissable collaboration.
#WWAF2026 #Jazz #LiveMusic
Launching his debut Australian album of his originals, Mulberry Tree, guitarist Onur Puza performs with trumpeter Mat Jodrell, bassist Philip Rex and drummer Felix Bloxsom tonight (Sunday). $30/$25 con.
Looking forward to the launch gig of Mulberry Tree, at @thejazzlab March 15th, presented by @melbjazzcoop
of course with @matjodrell@felixbloxsom #philiprex
#australianjazzmusicians #australianjazz #jazzguitaristsofinstagram #jazzguitarist
This Sunday night @thejazzlab the MJC is super excited to present the James Muller Quartet (bringing together some of the country's outstanding jazz artists, from Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne). James Muller (guitar), Mat Jodrell (trumpet), Sam Anning (bass) and Ben Vanderwal (drums) playing James' challenging originals. $35/$25 concessions.
Check out this snippet of celebrated Melbourne bassist Sam Anning’s composition ‘Sweathearts’ from his album ‘Across a Field as Vast as One’, which was released on Earshift Music in 2018.
In Sam’s words, Sweathearts is “a sort of rebellion against the dense and complex harmonic and melodic homework of my masters studies at the Manhattan School of Music. It first appeared in a voice memo recording made when I should have been practicing the more esoteric requirements for school. I just wanted two simple chords and a nice melody!”
You can listen to Across A Field as Vast as One on all streaming services and via our Bandcamp Page!
#ausmusic #ausjazz #bassist #jazzrecord #jazzalbum
What an honour to play with the great Harry Connick Jnr these last couple of weeks recording his new orchestral work in memory of his mum. What a trumpet section @nxw_music@markbraudmusic and @edfairlie , not too mention the incredible @orchestravictoria under the baton of @jessicagethinconductor . Stay tuned for the recording/doco!
⚡ MIJF: Speedball Live at The JazzLab | Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025
Get ready for no-holds-barred, high-intensity jazz from some of Australia’s finest musicians! Captured live at The JazzLab during the Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025, this performance by Speedball is pure, electrifying energy.
🎺 Mat Jodrell – Trumpet
🎷 Carl Mackey – Saxophones
🎹 Grant Windsor – Piano
🎸 Sam Anning – Bass
🥁 Daniel Susnjar – Drums
Formed in 2000, this all-star quintet brings together five of Australia’s most accomplished improvisers — each a powerhouse in their own right, with credits alongside jazz legends like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Gregory Porter, Ron Carter, and Terrence Blanchard.
After eight years, Speedball returned to MIJF to launch their highly anticipated new album, delivering a set of thrilling virtuosity, unstoppable swing, and dynamic interplay. From the first note, the chemistry between these artists is undeniable — a musical force built on years of collaboration, trust, and fearless creativity.
🔥 Watch the full concert — and more from the Melbourne International Jazz Festival — now on-demand, exclusively on Oh! Jazz
.
#OhJazz #MIJF #MelbourneInternationalJazzFestival #Speedball #TheJazzLab #MatJodrell #CarlMackey #GrantWindsor #SamAnning #DanielSusnjar #AustralianJazz #LiveJazz #ModernJazz #JazzFestival #OhJazzExclusive
🎺 Artist of the Week: Mat Jodrell Quartet 🎺
Stop scrolling and turn up the volume! Our Artist of the Week is the incredible trumpet virtuoso, Mat Jodrell.
Mat is the definition of a world-class jazz artist. After completing his Masters and even teaching at Juilliard, he’s shared the stage with giants like Ron Carter, Benny Golson, and Maria Schneider. As Miles Davis once observed, “I can tell if a cat can play, just by the way he holds his horn”—and Mat Jodrell certainly holds his!
Now back home, he’s quickly become a leading voice in the Aussie jazz scene, mixing the old-school cool with a fresh “New York sauce”.
You can watch the Mat Jodrell Quartet’s full, electrifying concert, recorded live at JazzLab, exclusively on our platform right now! Link in bio to watch the show.
#artistoftheweek #matjodrellquartet #jazztrumpet #livejazz #fullconcert #jazzlab #juilliard #roncarter #jazzmusic #jazzdownunder
