The Stonnington Jazz Festival is coming up, so it’s time for all you jazz heads to start getting excited and pumped for great Australian music.  This year, the line up is fantastic, and below are 5 gigs that I reckon are must-sees.

Lance Ferguson Presents Black Feeling
We want the funk, we gotta have that funk. Guitarist, producer, broadcaster and mastermind behind The Bamboos, Lance Ferguson, has released the third of his ‘secret’ album series Black Feeling. The albums are disguised as crate-digger compilation records, but are actually just recorded here in Melbourne. Absolutely a must-see!

The Australian Songbook
This gig is an amazing chance to hear and support incredible vocalists performing Australian music. The ‘Australian Songbook’ performance has been commissioned especially for the Stonnington Jazz Festival, and will feature an array of vocalists, including Wilma Reading, Gian Slater, Mama Alto, Chelsea Wilson, Josh Kyle and Clancye Milne. Musical Director James Mustafa will lead the orchestra backing the vocalists. Support Australian music!

The Soul Session
Get your dancin’ shoes ready, because you’re gonna want to get down and boogie! We’re very lucky to have a thriving soul scene here in Melbourne, and the Stonnington Jazz Festival is bringing the soul south side with The Soul Session. Featuring the killing Fulton Street and The Meltdown with support from DJ Lyndelle Wilkinson, it’s gonna be a soul party!

New Orleans Street Party
New Orleans is the home of jazz. In the true spirit of New Orleans, the Street Party is bringing the brass bands, southern-style food and a street march. And it’s free! This party will take over Green Street in Windsor, and will feature the awesome talents of the Horns of Leroy, Henry Manetta and The Trip, The Sugarfoot Ramblers, Brass Knuckle Brass Band and DJ Mohair Slim.

Worldwide Jazz Party
Two of Melbourne’s most exciting jazz acts are coming together to take you on one big international jazz journey. Clave Mania, led by acclaimed saxophonist/flautist Paul Van Ross, will be performing music from their most recent album, ‘Mi Alma Cubana’. The album was produced in Havana, in the same studio that the Buena Vista Social Club used. The Senegambian Jazz Band will be joining them. These guys fuse 1960s-era Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, jazz, afro and funk, and boy oh boy they will have you grooving along with them.

Check the website here for details, the full program and ticketing info.