Every Tuesday night, the Civic Hotel in Inglewood transforms into a lively hub of brass, bass and swing, as The Jazz Club of WA keeps Perth’s jazz tradition alive — one note at a time.
Founded in 1983, the club grew out of Perth’s early jazz festival days.
“For a while, that scene was quite a big deal, but when it fizzled out, the club kept going strong,” Treasurer for The Jazz Club of WA, Paul Bird said.
The Jazz Club of WA presents jazz in an accessible and enjoyable way that most people can “get their teeth into”.
Each week, the audiences range from regular musicians, listeners and enjoyers.
Different bands perform each week, with a focus on traditional jazz and “a few addons.”
“We really build what we offer around traditional jazz, but we pepper that with swing, gypsy, and a few other styles,” Mr Bird said.
The weekly nights have become an accessible platform for both experienced and up-and-coming talent to perform.
Mr Bird said the club is focused on growing interest with younger musicians and has seen interest growing among the group within WA.
WAAPA student, Jared Hemara, is in his fourth and final year of his Jazz Performance major.
With over 14 years of experience, opportunities for performance and networking have led Jared to be able to broaden his perspective on music and bass.
“My whole idea of bass was hearing one note, and I thought that was kind of boring,” Jared said.
Jared said his love for music grew once he started attending high school in Fremantle.
“But when I came to Perth in 2018, at my high school I was able to listen to a lot more styles where bass was much more prominent.
“And I was able to see, that bass wasn’t as boring as I thought it was.”
Through performing with other WAAPA students, filling in for non-WAAPA jazz bands, and meeting new WA musicians, he has had the opportunity to perform live on many occasions throughout his degree.
“With jazz, the adrenaline comes from the in-the-moment improvisation and talking back to each other through our instruments.”
The Perth International Jazz Festival returns to Perth on October 18 – November 2.
Established in 2012, the festival is home to events aiming to bring jazz to the wider community.
In previous year, the festival has run over multiple weekends, offering many performances across Perth’s suburban and regional spaces.
Through the use of these spaces, the event has been able to feel less like a single concert, and more like a “city-wide celebration of jazz”.
The event will feature both international and local acts with a range of free and paid performances.
Jazz performances will fill out venues across Hyde Park, Perth CBD, Subiaco, and more.
As Mr Bird said, interest among young musicians is growing, and is only encourages by opportunities to see high-profile jazz artists filling out venues in Perth.
The presence of students, community bands, and WAAPA alum in both the local clubs and festival line-ups shows how the local scene benefits from an accessible jazz scene.
For The Jazz Club of WA, when bigger festivals come and go, weekly commitment and grassroots enthusiasm is highlighted through an effort of locals “keeping the spirit alive.”
