The second annual Berry Jazz Festival features a wonderfully eclectic mix of music styles within the broad church of jazz. Held over two days on the ‘Mother’s Day’ weekend, the festival features some of Australia’s finest jazz talent with a program that literally has something for everybody – of all ages!  The festival closes with a special Mother’s Day Luncheon at the award winning winery, Coolangatta Estate on Sunday 8 May. This event features Australian jazz singer Emma Pask and ‘The Voice’ runner up, Darren Percival as they reinterpret popular classics from the abundant song book of Neil and Tim Finn. The historic and picturesque town of Berry, just two hours from Sydney by car, is the superb setting for the festival, utilizing the town’s numerous heritage buildings and other country style facilities.

The Program at a Glance:

Saturday 7 May:

1pm: Jazz Workshop for Kids, Berry Pavilion ($15)

2pm: New Orleans Parade & Performance, Pavilion to the Courthouse (FREE)

2.30pm: The Glorious Sousaphonics, Courthouse ($25/$20/$15)

4.15pm: Ellen Kirkwood & Aaron Flower Duo, Courthouse ($15/$10)

8.30pm: Mister Ott, Bowling Club (Dinner + Show $55/$50/$40, Show Only $35/$30/$20)

Sunday 8 May:

1.30pm: Finnland, Coolangatta Estate

 What: 2016 Berry Jazz Festiva

Where: Berry, NSW

When: 6-7 May 2016

To Find Out More Information Click Here

Saturday 7 May – 1pm

Berry Pavilion, Showgrounds

NEW ORLEANS SECOND-LINE WORKSHOP FOR KIDS

Get into the festival spirit with this music workshop for young musicians aged 5 to 13 years. This activity is suitable for all children, with parts for all skills levels. The one hour workshop concludes with a New Orleans inspired Second Line Parade from the Pavilion to the Courthouse where students will perform a song with the Glorious Sousaphonics. Workshop: $15 per child 

Saturday 7 May – 2.30pm

Berry Courthouse

THE GLORIOUS SOUSAPHONICS

Magnificent genre-bending jazz

The Glorious Sousaphonics have brought their pint-sized brass band power to countless festival stages, venues and school yards since 1997. A favourite of the Musica Viva in Schools touring program, the Glorious Sousaphonics is a unique and heady brew of wind, strings, voice and percussion. They draw on Doo-Wop, Balkan Brass, Brazilian Samba, New Orleans second line, jazz and anything else that takes their fancy. Their sound is uplifting and engaging and the hive of activity that characterises each performance is unparalleled. Sam Golding (sousaphone, trumpet) Matthew Ottignon (saxophone, clarinet) John Hibbard (trombone) Evan Mannell (drums) facebook.com/TheGloriousSousaphonics/ 

Saturday 7 May – 4.15pm 

Berry Courthouse 

ELLEN KIRKWOOD & AARON FLOWER DUO

An intimate recital of guitar and trumpet improvisations

Showcasing two of Australia’s most exciting and unique young jazz composers, the Kirkwood/Flower duo will both surprise and delight music lovers and jazz fans alike. Featuring the rarely heard combination of guitar and trumpet, this recital showcases the virtuosic guitar of National Jazz Award-winner Aaron Flower against Kirkwood’s playful and melodic trumpet improvisations. Both accomplished composers, this concert promises a superb afternoon of new music and re-imagined original compositions in a pared-down and intimate setting. Ellen Kirkwood (trumpet), Aaron Flower (guitar) www.facebook.com/aaronflowerguitar

Saturday 7 May – 8.30pm

Berry Bowling Club

MISTER OTT

High-octane Ethiopian inspired jazz

Fronted by celebrated saxophonist Matthew Ottignon, Mister Ott exhibits a strong ‘Ethiojazz’ influence as cultivated by the fathers of the movement Mulatu Astatke and Getatchew Mekurya. Drawing on jazz, traditional Ethiopian music and 60s and 70s soul, this electric six-piece ensemble creates high energy music. With a mesmerising eastern sound that is blended with free-form improvisation and syncopation for which African-pedigreed jazz is renowned.

Hypnotic dance grooves, funk-heavy bass lines and big saxophone solos, Mister Ott is an infectious melting pot of world music, jazz, funk and Ethiopian music.

Matthew Ottignon (saxophones) Ellen Kirkwood (trumpet) Ben Panucci (guitar) Daniel Pliner (organ/piano) Eden Ottignon (bass) Dan Kennedy (drums) www.misterott.com

Sunday 8 May – 1.30pm

Coolangatta Winery Estate 

EMMA PASK and DARREN PERCIVAL in FINNLAND

Inspired by the abundant songbook penned by Neil and Tim Finn, Finnland features two of the most respected vocal artists working in Australian jazz today. Described by James Morrison as “the greatest gift to Australian Jazz Vocals in the last decade”, the exquisite Emma Pask pays tribute to these iconic compositions alongside the warm and powerful tones of Darren Percival. Conceived by jazz pianist Gerrard Masters, Finnland brings together leading Australian artists to reinterpret these popular classics. 

This exclusive concert experience is accompanied by a delicious two-course meal at the South Coast’s most awarded winery, Coolangatta Estate. The perfect gift for mum on Mother’s Day! Bookings are essential and special festival accommodation packages are available. Please contact Coolangatta for more information.

Emma Pask (vocals) Darren Percival (vocals) Gerard Masters (piano) Aaron Flower (guitar) Evan Mannell (drums) Zoe Hauptmann (bass) https:// www.emmapask.com darrenpercival.com