This week at The Ellington

We have a big night celebrating what would have been Duke Ellington's 113th birthday this Saturday night - and we've flown in some big guns from the big apple (The Adrian Cunningham Quartet) to help with the celebrations. All new shows this week from Sean Pollard and Ben Witt (Friday early show) and Danny Martin and Matt Bell doing Kanye West - Interpretations (Friday late show). Also worth getting in early for the 30th of April UNESCO International Jazz Day concert that is selling fast.

MONDAY 7.00pm Song Lounge
Song Lounge features a selection of Australia's leading singer-songwriters together for an evening of wine, tapas and storytelling. Featuring Andy Newman - Not quite soft enough to be considered folk and not groovy enough to be blues, he blends these folk and blues styles through a varying array of finger picking styles. Holly and Tom - this brother & sister collaboration was born when classically trained percussionist (Holly) took up the piano and bedroom guitar idol (Tom) decided the time was ripe to step into the glow of a critical audience. Junior Bowles - expresses an old fashioned attitude; with raw and honest lyrics that represent his soulful "heart on his sleeve" approach to life, love and the blues. Jnr was soaked in the pre-war blues and grew up naturally with a keen taste for the rough road, hard times and organic music. Helen Shanahan -  her songs ride the joys and sorrows of love and life and draw the listener into an articulate and heartfelt world of story, melody and guitar.  Click here for tickets

TUESDAY 8.00pm Selections of Swing featuring Trent White
Perth’s very own young crooner, Trent White is back at The Ellington for a powerhouse show packed with a sizzling selection of songs dedicated to all this swing, Sinatra, and suave. Tonight is a special showcase of repertoire stretching from classic songbook favorites to stunning Charlie Chaplin ballads to the bossa-nova grooves of Jobim and everything in between. With Perth’s hottest rhythm section creating the perfect backdrop for Trent’s sparkling interpretations of these treasured tunes, this is a night not to be missed. Graham Wood (piano), Ray Walker (guitar), Nick Abbey (bass) and Chris Tarr (drums). Click here for tickets

WEDNESDAY 8.00pm Bloozology
Formed in 2007, this band consists of some of the most experienced musicians in Perth - Alan Lyford (Vocals / Bass), Alan McCowat (Vocals / Guitar), Mike Nelson (Vocals / Keyboards), Paul Millard (Sax) and Vince Pavitt (Drums). Singer Alan Lyford was lead singer with the fusion band, 'Manteca' when they were recorded for national broadcast by the ABC. He has played with the Doobie Brothers and Simply Red, supported Suzie Quatro, Lou Rawls, America, Tom Jones, Roberta Flack and toured with Ian Moss (Cold Chisel). All other band members have equally impressive and extensive CV's. Standby for a great night of Blues. Click here for tickets

THURSDAY 8.00pm Cathrine Sumnmers
Cathrine has a well-earned reputation for her zest, passion and natural presence on stage. With her husky, soulful voice and magnetic charisma, Cathrine performs with a deeply personal approach to her singing, reminiscent of the icons she so admires. Cathrine will take you back to the golden jazz era with to-tapping favourites from greats such as Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O'Day. You'll be in for a evening full of warmth and intimacy and leave with a smile on your face. She brings a couple of her top notch band members from Sydney with her - Glenn Doig on Piano and Brendan Clark on Bass as well as local legend Chris Tarr on the drums. Click here for tickets

FRIDAY 8.00pm An evening with Sean Pollard and Ben Witt
Lead singers and primary songwriters in two of Perth's brightest new bands, Sean Pollard and Ben Witt are teaming up for a great show at The Ellington not to be missed. The boys are both gearing up for major releases in 2012. Pollard's Split Seconds have had a massive 12 months, picking up 5 WAMI Awards last year (including Best Male Vocalist for Pollard himself) and taking in tours with The Panics, Owl Eyes and Jebediah. Witt's baby is The Chemist, who have been holed away in the studio of late piecing together their much anticipated debut album. They've toured with acts such a Boy and Bear, Birds of Tokyo and The Beautiful Girls and are gearing up for a huge 2012. This may be the last time you'll see these lads in such intimate settings, so jump at the chance while you can. Click here for tickets

FRIDAY 11.30pm Kanye West - Interpretations
Inspired by the underground hip hop and jazz scene in New york, Matt Bell and Danny Martin bring you interpretations of the music of Kanye West. As of 2012, West has won a total of eighteen Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all time.  Tonight expect music like the man: unpredictable, sometimes controversial but always brilliant.  Click here for tickets

SATURDAY 8.00pm Celebrating the Duke - The Adrian Cunningham Quartet with James Flynn

Based in NYC since 2008, Adrian has been playing regularly in the Big Apple, throughout USA and Europe. In 3 short years he has appeared some of NYC's finest clubs- Smalls, Birdland, 55 Bar, Fat Cat, the Apollo Theater, Dizzy's (Lincoln Centre) and even a private event at the hallowed Village Vanguard; with such luminaries as Lew Soloff, Wycliffe Gordon, George Coleman Jr and Bucky Pizzarelli. Popular, smooth toned vocalist James Flynn will be special guest for the night a will pay tribute to the Duke on his birthday. An evening of quality music, performing Ellington’s incredible repertoire: The midnight sun, In a sentimental mood, Mood indigo,  In a mellow tone, Don’t get around much anymore, Satin doll,  Take the A train, Caravan and many more. Adrian Cunningham (NYC) – Reeds & flute, Gordon Webster (NYC) Piano, Rob Adkins (NYC) - Bass, Ben Falle (WA) – drums. Click here for tickets 

SATURDAY 11.30pm Late night groove series featuring B.U.M.P
Your Saturday late night is in safe hands this week with another dance party driven by the express train of groove BUMP. Come and join Hans, Adam, Trevor, Roy, Hussy, Ricki and Dan as they power through a late night session of feel-good discotized and funkified hits. Warning: you won’t hear any Neo-Soul at this gig, it’s old-school all the way. Click here for tickets

SUNDAY 3.00pm Jazz Voyces
This fresh Perth based group now takes to the Ellington stage to perform some sensational jazz standards and soulful spirituals. With a lineup of twenty-five vocalists and rhythm section, this evening promises to pack all the punch you'd expect from big band jazz. The group is fast making a name for itself premiering works never before heard in Perth or in fact the world. VOYCES seeks to be an interactive and involved performing group in the local WA and wider Australian musical community. VOYCES is an innovative and versatile group which challenges the stereotype about choral music. Click here for tickets

SUNDAY 6.00pm Shameem
Come and enjoy the golden, soulful vocals of this exceptional young songstress, her slick rhythmic band and the heartfelt stories that she tells through her music. Shameem Taheri-Lee was born in Australia to a Chinese-Malaysian father and an Iranian mother. The diversity of her heritage has not only contributed to her exotic looks but has influenced her distinctive eclectic approach to music. Her talent for jazz sees her regularly in demand at the finest of jazz clubs and sophisticated music venues. However, her passion lies in creating songs infused with soul, R&B and groove. Her unique fusion of 90s-esque R&B with jazz, a love of live instruments, her naturally soulful voice and sense for conscious lyrics is both refreshing and infectious. Click here for tickets

MONDAY April 30 7.30pm UNESCO International Jazz Day
This event is bought to you by The Ellington Jazz Club, The Perth Jazz Society, The Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, The Jazz department at WAPPA and JAZZWA
On the 26th August 2011, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated the 30 April each year as International Jazz Day. It is intended to unite communities, schools and other groups all over the world to celebrate and learn more about the art of jazz and how it has become part of our culture. UNESCO notes that jazz represents a very unique form of music which can be a unifying force for positive engagement among diverse groups. Herbie Hancock was recently named as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Promotion of Intercultural Dialogue. April 30 will be a day highlighting the joy that jazz can bring as a unifying force and we invite you to join us in celebrating the innaugural UNESCO International Jazz Day. This evening will feature perfermances by some of Perths' leading Jazz professionals including Jamie Oehlers, Graham Wood, Allira Wilson, Carl Mackey, Ricki Malet, Jeremy Greig, Karl Florisson and Jacob Evans. Also an outstanding ensemble of Jazz students from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Click here for tickets

Coming soon:
May 2 The Airbenders (Adelaide)
May 6 Eran James (Melbourne)
May 11 & 12 Kristin Beradi (Sydney)
May 18 & 19 (Late shows) Natasha Mousuff (Melbourne) EP Launch
May 20 Hannibal Means (Austria/USA)
May 25 & 26 Hank Marvin Quartet
May 27 Barney McAll (NYC)
May 30 & 31 Bob Hirst (NYC)
June 2 Josh Kyle (UK)
June 3 Sean Coffin (Sydney)
June 4 & 5 Samuel Yirga Quartet (Ethiopia)
June 14, 15 & 16 Tim Freedman (The Whitlams) Fireside Chat
June 19 Trevor Watts and Veryan Weston (UK)
June 27 Nadia Ackerman (NYC)
June 28 Benny Lackner Trio (USA)
July 27 & 28 Narissa Campbell (NYC)
August 9 Bob Barrett (USA)