Musician. Bandleader. Composer. Producer. Educator. Activist. Multi-Grammy Award winner. Charlie Haden is one of the most significant and influential musicians in jazz history. A double bassist of iconic talent, Charlie Haden has performed with some of the most important names in jazz including Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny. Having contributed pivotal music to a wide scope of genres including avant garde, Latin, big band, world music, folk and gospel, Charlie Haden's instinctive and imaginative transcendence of musical boundaries has reshaped jazz bass playing, reflecting his guiding philosophy towards life and music. A Melbourne International Jazz Festival artist-in-residence, witness Haden's music, teachings, mastery, humility and innovation.


Charlie Haden brings his critically acclaimed romantic project Quartet West to Melbourne. Exploring uncommonly heard jazz standards and the nostalgic soundtracks of film noir, Quartet West was formed in 1987 and has attracted international praise for its melodic invention and beauty under Haden's direction

Charlie Haden – Double bass
Larry Goldings – Piano
Ernie Watts – Tenor saxophone
Rodney Green – Drums


In 1969, Haden joined forces with pianist/composer Carla Bley, founding the Liberation Music Orchestra. The group's self-titled debut is a true milestone of modern music, blending experimental big band jazz with the folk songs of the Spanish Civil War to create a powerfully original work of musical/political activism.

This performance is a one-off world exclusive collaboration between Charlie Haden and a band of Australia's leading jazz musicians interpreting the LMO's extraordinary music for the very first time and free to the public.

Charlie Haden - accoustic bass
Jamie Oehlers - tenor saxophone
Julien Wilson - tenor saxophone
Phil Noy - alto saxophone
Scott Tinkler - trumpet
Paul Williamson - trumpet
Shannon Barnett - trombone
Phil Rex - tuba
Andrew Young - french horn
Stephen Magnusson - guitar
Simon Barker - drums
Paul Grabowsky - piano


This iconic cross generational trio premiered at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival in 2008 as a one-off exclusive appearance. The Trio combines multi Grammy award winning jazz double bass icon Charlie Haden, fellow Grammy winner and contemporary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and next-generation pianist Ethan Iverson of irreverent New York Trio, The Bad Plus. The sheer beauty and artistry of the project will take you on an extraordinary improvised jazz journey through sound and space. Uniting a trio of living jazz innovators, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival is honoured to bring this exclusive project to Australia for the second ever performance in a concert setting.

Presented in Association with City of Melbourne