Live jazz music in Melbourne, Australia. Vocal and instrumental bands, large and small.
The duo of Ann and Kevin debuted at Open Studio on Saturday, 18 April, playing the late afternoon set.
We’ll return on Anzac Day and have been invited to make a more regular arrangement.
Thanks to everyone who came and for the kind comments:
‘great to witness such musical expertise from this duo!’
‘you guys were fab, well done’
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Sat, 18 April 2015
We came on after a beautiful and delicate set by the Tony Gould Trio that held the audience spellbound.
Wanting to sustain that moment, we changed our set, starting with Fool On The Hill: primarily guitar (Kevin) with Ann’s beautiful flute and just a little bass (Daniel) and drums (Allan) in the middle.
Earlier that day, I’d heard Cute described as a drum solo with instrumental fills so, to Allan’s surprise, he introduced Cute with a 16-bar drum solo.
Wade had wowed a small audience on Saturday night in the Stadium, but Sunday night saw a large and enthusiastic audience enjoy his mellow tones as he took us through jazz standards, musicals, more Beatles and a sensuous rendition of Mustang Sally (with backing vocals from a significant proportion of the audience!).
Thanks to the kind audience who took the trouble to come up and tell us that this set was the highlight of the Festival.
‘Sounding Awesome.’
Wade Morgan (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Allan Smith (drums)
Photographs by Marion Blazé & Neville Sampson
Sun, 8 March 2015
To create the party atmosphere of our Melbourne Music Performers events, we decided to augment Jazz Notes with some extra talent by inviting some individuals whom we heard during the Festival.
Wade, Ann, Kevin and Daniel dashed from their Warrawee set to find that some of those player hadn’t turned up so things weren’t looking good for a while. (Thanks for being there, Michelle!).
Special thanks to the sax- and trumpet-players who volunteered to take the stage. They MADE the night! There were so many people dancing (on and off the stage).
Pippa fronted the band for a couple of songs, including Birth Of The Blues and was then surprised to find herself singing backing vocals with Nicole Thorne and the band for Wade Morgan’s rendition of Mustang Sally.
On the following day (at the Picnic), several people told us that this was the best event of the Festival.
And, on Facebook:
‘Sunday night was UNSURPASSABLE… A ONE OFF.. Such a blast..’
Pippa Wilson (vocals and backing vocals)
Wade Morgan (vocals)
Nicole Thorne (backing vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Chuck Probert (trumpet)
Shaanine Dove (trumpet)
Ashley Thomas (saxophone)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Michelle Johns (piano)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Marek Podstawek (drums)
Photographs by Marion Blazé & Neville Sampson
Sun, 8 March 2015
Ann and Kevin will be appearing at Open Studio, Northcote on:
Sat 18 April 2015, 5-7pm
Sat 25Â April 2015, 5-7pm
A feature of the Inverloch Jazz Festival has been the Picnic in the Glade on the Monday following the weekend festival.
Jazz Notes was one of the five bands to play at the Picnic and we were fronted by Chris Le Bon. We first met Chris three years ago, when he joined some of the Melbourne Music Performers at a monthly Soirée Musique.
Chris brought his Parisian sounds and debonair style to the Picnic.
Chris Le Bon (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Alan Richards (drums)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Mon, 9 March 2015
Our first set was on Saturday evening. Allan Smith had already advised us that he was double booked so we had organised another drummer – or so we thought!
Technology failed us and the final message didn’t get through so, when we arrived, we had no drummer.
Worry not! The sound man, Andy Rowe, told us that he played drums – so he did! But there were some challenging moments, especially for Daniel.
Wade Morgan’s first set at the Festival and he acquitted himself well, overcoming the nerves to put in a very good performance.
Wade Morgan (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Andy Rowe (drums
Photographs by Neville Sampson and Marion Blazé
Sat, 7 March 2015
A couple of months ago, we learned of Wade Morgan and had him along to Soirée Musique in January.
The Inverloch Jazz Festival will see Wade’s debut with us:
Saturday 5-6pm, Stadium
Sunday 9-10pm, Warrawee
Wade Morgan (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Marek Podstawek (drums – Saturday)
Allan Smith (drums – Sunday)
The Grampians Jazz Festival 2015 saw Ann & Kevin playing as ‘The Ann Craig Duo’ (we played under ‘Jazz Notes’ with Pippa Wilson).
The Duo’s first set was early in the programming and the room was filled for what was described as ‘Gentle Jazz’. In fact, we covered jazz, pop, classical, folk, … .
Although one the photographs might suggest some tension, it was ALL light-hearted and the audience joined in the fun.
We were quite overwhelmed by the response. Many people returned for our second set and some followed us in our other bands.
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Fri, 13 February 2015 and Sat, 14 February 2015
It was hot! And not just the weather.
Pippa Wilson (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Andrew Eames (bass)
Rob Mercer (drums)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
13-15 Feb 2015
Jazz Notes started the New Year with a debut performance at Ruby’s Music Room.
This is a nice venue with good sound so we hope to return there soon.
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Andrew Eames (bass)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Thursday, 1 January 2015
We didn’t know it, at the time, but this was our last event at The Treble Clef.
A few days later, it was announced that The Treble Clef would be closing for a year or so, while Damon, Bernie and Chris take a break and seek a larger venue. Our thanks to them for supporting us and live music generally and best wishes for the future.
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Sunday, 14 December 2014
A large audience was present for this double-bill event:
We weren’t quite sure how things would run but they did: a night of almost uninterrupted music, with two sets from each band.
Roger and Rory also joined Jazz Notes as we backed Sevil Sabah in ‘Autumn Leaves’.
Thanks to everyone who came – even one fan from Canada!
We hope to do it again in 2015.
Sevil Sabah (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Daniel Pickard (bass)
Tom Doublier (drums)
Annie Smith (vocals)
Roger Clark (saxophone)
Rory Clark (piano)
Paige Smith (bass)
Allan Smith (drums)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
It was a quick dash to Somerville after work on Friday.
A beautiful spring evening playing at Vesbar – clearly a popular gathering place for groups of friends.
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Friday, 21 November 2014
It seems that Kevin’s flute-playing will advance very slowly: this was the first ‘real’ lesson and lasted at least 5 minutes. The good news is that sounds were heard, at last. In fact, there might have been a bit of a duet.
Prior to this, there were the rather more familiar flute and guitar sounds. Thanks to all who came along.
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photographs by Marion Blazé
Sunday, 9 November 2014
This event drew together several musical contacts.
It’s been some years since Kevin backed Buddy, so he was pleased to renew the musical acquaintance of Buddy Love. Buddy’s singing style is reminiscent of Vince Jones and Chet Baker, two of Kevin’s favourite male singers.
Ann (flute) has recently recorded with Buddy for his upcoming CD.
Kevin and Jess (bass) had played together at the Castlemaine Jazz Festival, a few months ago. And Spike (drums) came to the notice of Kevin and Ann at one of the events of the Melbourne Music Performers.
It was our first time at The Famous Blue Raincoat, a really nice venue where we were well looked after by James, Vanessa and Holly.
Unfortunately, the venue is changing hands and live music might not be in the future plans.
Buddy Love (vocals)
Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Jess Wood (bass)
Spike Kiernan (drums)
Photographs by Saraid.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
