Perth International Jazz Festival celebrates expansion into regional Western Australia

With additional funding through a federal RISE grant for $612,000, the Perth International Jazz Festival is celebrating the guaranteed delivery of its 2021 and 2022 event and an exciting expansion into regional Western Australia.

The new look Perth International Jazz Festival is holding a 2021 program launch party on 23rd September at The Rechabite Hall to reveal the jazz performers, venues, and special events happening at its annual festival being held in Perth from 5th-7th November and Busselton on 13th November.

Festival Director, Dr Mace Francis notes “the RISE fund will finally, after almost 10 years, enable us to employ staff to take on much of the heavy lifting throughout the year, while also expanding the Perth focused festival and to take the Festival ‘On Tour’ into WA’s regional south and north.

“This is an absolute game changer for PIJF and one that we are very thankful for.” 

New job positions at the Festival will be advertised soon, and interested arts professionals should follow look Perth International Jazz Festival (PIJF)’s LinkedIn for updates.

The Australian Government Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) grant complements the generous support also being received from long-term PIJF project partners Lotterywest, City of Perth, City of Vincent and ECU/WAAPA.

The 2021 Perth and Busselton programs will be unveiled at the launch party along with live performances, door prizes, and a photo exhibition of past festival highlights. Audiences will be able to book exclusive pre-sale tickets to PIJF, bid for some impressive partner packages in a live auction hosted by jazz/swing singer Tim Parish, and also get first look at the Festival’s new branding and web site.

Live performances will include Bad Whip – the improvisational dance music duo of drummer Alex Reid and keyboardist Josiah Padmanabhan from prominent Perth outfit, Grievous Bodily Calm; as well as one of WA’s premier jazz vocalists Penny King collaborating with acclaimed pianist Tom O’Halloran.

The renowned Nick Abbey Trio featuring bassist Nick Abbey and pianist Chris Foster will be joined by inimitable drummer Peter Evans who has recently returned to Perth from New York. They’ll present a modern take on the classic piano trio with striking acoustic jazz compositions including selections from Phantoms (Nick Abbey, 2019), In Motion (Chris Foster Trio, coming 2022), and some brand-new tunes.

Recently nominated for ‘The Freedman Jazz Fellowship’ (2021), trumpet player Jessica Carlton will be joined by drummer Talya Valenti and bassist Kate Pass for the Carlton/Pass/Valenti Trio. Fresh from the studio after recording an album together (along with Alana Macpherson), they’ll be performing original music and their own take on existing jazz compositions.

There are two ways to get tickets to the 2021 program launch party on 23rd September at The Rechabite – either by becoming a Jazz Messenger (a new membership program for lovers of jazz) which includes a free ticket along with many other exclusive benefits including a 20% discount on PIJF ticketed performances, or by purchasing general admission tickets direct.

Perth International Jazz Festival 2021: program launch
When: Thursday 23rd September, 6:30pm
Where: The Rechabite Hall, Northbridge
What: Live performances from Bad Whip, Carlton/Pass/Valenti Trio, Nick Abbey Trio, Penny King & Tom O’Halloran ▫ 2021 PIJF program reveal & pre-sale tickets ▫ photo exhibition ▫ win door prizes ▫ live auction hosted by Tim Parish
Cost: Free for Jazz Messengers or $35 + bf for non-members

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