Ann & Kevin playing as a duo
Ann Craig – flutes
Kevin Blazé – guitars
Contemporary jazz standards, popular and classical music revoiced for chamber jazz
Playing a mix of gentle and upbeat jazz with classical, pop and Latin twists, the Duo combines the delicate sounds of Ann Craig (flute) and Kevin Blazé (guitar) to suit wide-ranging tastes.
Ann and Kevin are both classically trained but, after independently undertaking short courses with Australian jazz legend, Bob Sedergreen, both found the liberation offered by jazz. Then, a chance meeting led to the collaboration that is now Jazz Notes.
Our sets feature the seductive combination of flute and guitar playing music from Bolling to Burrows, Jobim to Monk, Lennon/McCartney and more: a sophisticated mix of contemporary jazz standards, and popular music revoiced for chamber jazz.
Although we play in many combinations and with some fabulous singers, we absolutely love the magic that happens when we play together as a Duo – and audiences do, too!
The Duo performs regularly at retirement villages, jazz festivals and private parties.
Depending on the occasion, we play as The Ann Craig Duo, A & K Melodies or the Jazz Notes Duo.
‘Take five – Everything’s alright’
Jazz Notes Duo
Ann Craig (flute) and Kevin Blazé (guitar)
‘Meditation’
Jazz Notes Duo
Jobim’s (1960) haunting bossa nova standard played on alto flute by Ann Craig with Kevin Blazé on guitar.
‘Fool on the hill’
Jazz Notes Duo
The Lennon-McCartney classic from 1967 treated with a touch of Leo Brouwer’s classical arrangement and morphing into bossa nova.
‘Emily’
Jazz Notes Duo
Written in 1964 by Johnny Mercer for the movie, The Americanization of Emily, it became identified with the great jazz pianist, Bill Evans.
‘Teach me tonight’
Jazz Notes Duo
Ann Craig (flute), Kevin Blazé (guitar)
‘Somewhere over the rainbow’
Jazz Notes Duo
Ann Craig (flute), Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Jazz Notes CD ‘A Smooth One’ – it’s here!It took a little longer than we expected but we are thrilled to have our CD available NOW for purchase.
We hope you enjoy our first CD: we certainly loved recording the tracks!
There are 18 tracks from Ann and Kevin and one bonus track from Caught In The Act! with Ashley Thomas (saxophone), Tony Luxmoore (keyboard), Frank Morgan (bass) and Simon Atkinson (drums).
At this time of social distancing, there are no festivals or venues at which we can have a CD launch so we have had a virtual CD launch: thanks to John Kumnick of 96.5 Inner FM.
It’s the perfect time to imagine you are having your own private concert, so pour a glass of something special and maybe some lovely cheese as an accompaniment, sit back and enjoy A Smooth One.
We are already working on our second CD (from a distance) and we have a rather large repertoire but would welcome your suggestions.
The Ann Craig Duo at the Port Fairy Jazz Festival 2019Ann Craig (flute)
Kevin Blazé (guitar)
Photos by Marion Blazé
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