A Great Day in Harlem
Sun 19 Oct, 3:00pm
Fed Square
See full program
A powerful, multidisciplinary commission from composer, percussionist and proud Kamilaroi man Adam Manning.
Explorations
Adam Manning
Australia
Sun 19 Oct, 7:00pm
Melbourne Recital Centre, Primrose Potter Salon
An evening of spontaneous creation and boundary-pushing sound, as two adventurous musical forces meet for the very first time.
Explorations
Before Nightfall: Speak Percussion + Banksia Trio
Japan / Australia
Thu 23 Oct, 8:00pm
Quad Club
Sold Out
“Bill Frisell plays the guitar the way Miles Davis played the trumpet” – The New Yorker
Club Sessions - Modern Masters
Bill Frisell Trio
USA
Fri 24 Oct, 7:00pm - Sun 26 Oct, 9:30pm
The JazzLab
“Beautifully layered and organic, trippy and hypnotic. This is the good stuff, don’t waste a drop of it” – Blues And Soul Magazine
Explorations
Black Jesus eXperience feat. Sean Ryan
Australia
Opening Act: Cool Out Sun
Sun 26 Oct, 7:00pm
Howler
“Danilo Pérez is a man with some serious jazz cred. The Panamanian pianist got his start playing with Dizzy Gillespie, and continued with Wayne Shorter. As a composer and bandleader himself, he’s practically peerless.” – NPR
Modern Masters
Danilo Pérez
Panama
Opening Act: Michelle Nicole Quartet
Sat 18 Oct, 2:30pm
Melbourne Recital Centre
Family - Free
Free Jazz at Fed Square
Australia
Sat 18 Oct, 12:00pm - Sat 18 Oct, 3:00pm
Free Jazz at Fed Square
“…One of the very best who has ever picked up the instrument” – late jazz critic, Stanley Crouch
Explorations - Modern Masters
Gary Bartz
USA
Opening Act: SO.Crates
Wed 22 Oct, 7:30pm
170 Russell
Jazz Fest is taking over Spotswood hotspot Grazeland with two huge days of free music. Enjoy a vibrant mix of local jazz, bossa nova, funk and West African grooves as you explore the West’s favourite playground for foodies.
Family - Free
Grazeland Takeover
Australia
Fri 17 Oct, 5:30pm - Sat 18 Oct, 12:30pm
Grazeland
Modern Masters
Hiromi: The Piano Quintet
Japan / USA
Sun 26 Oct, 7:30pm
Arts Centre Melbourne
The most popular instrumentalist on the French music scene brings a celebration of musical freedom, cultural fusion, and pure creative fire.
Modern Masters
Ibrahim Maalouf
Lebanon / France
Opening Act: Firas
Thu 23 Oct, 7:30pm
170 Russell
Don’t miss this vibrant two-day celebration of Italian culture — featuring a special Italian Festa Jazz Club. With over 150 stalls, live music, street food, wine tasting, art and fashion exhibitions, expect a joyful showcase of Italian heritage, creativity and community — with jazz taking centre stage in 2025.
IF Jazz Club
Italy / Australia
Sat 18 Oct, 3:00pm - Sun 19 Oct, 3:00pm
Royal Exhibition Building
Family - Free
Inside Out: Jump, Jive, Jazz
Australia
FAMILY
Thu 23 Oct, 10:30am - Sun 26 Oct, 10:30am
ArtPlay
Sydney’s acclaimed record label Earshift Music presents a dynamic triple bill of cutting-edge Australian jazz: the explosive genre-bending My Quartet Album from pianist-composer James Bowers; the mystical jazz-folk fusion of Visions of Nar; and Redleaf, a deeply expressive new work by award-winning guitarist Hilary Geddes.
Explorations
James Bowers Quartet + Visions of Nar + Hilary Geddes
Australia / Japan
Tue 21 Oct, 7:30pm
Chapel Off Chapel
Harry Connick Jr. headlines the final weekend of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, with a 6-hour feast of jazz, soul and New Orleans classics at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Family - Modern Masters
Jazz at the Bowl feat. Harry Connick, Jr.
USA / Australia
Sat 25 Oct, 2:00pm
Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Explorations
Jazz re:freshed presents: Amy Gadiaga & DoomCannon
UK
Tue 21 Oct, 7:30pm
Max Watt's
A local bar hop with a difference — Footscray Sunday Sessions brings Melbourne’s dynamic jazz scene to some of Footscray’s favourite venues, for an afternoon of free music and cool beverages. With all four venues just a short walk apart, Footscray Sunday Sessions is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an eclectic mix of local Melbourne musical talent and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the West.
Free
Jazz Westside: Footscray Sunday Sessions
Australia
Sun 26 Oct, 2:00pm
Various Footscray Venues
Melbourne’s jazz scene hits Moonee Valley with beloved venues in Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds and Essendon hosting live sets from 2–6pm. Soak up the city’s best jazz in one spot or hop between them all — then cap it off with a free rooftop screening of Mo’ Better Blues at Palace Cinemas Penny Lane.
Free
Jazz Westside: Moonee Valley Sunday Sessions
Australia
Sun 19 Oct, 2:00pm
Various Moonee Valley Venues
Jam Sessions
Late Night Jams
Australia
Fri 17 Oct, 11:00pm - Sun 26 Oct, 11:00pm
The JazzLab
A daring new MIJF commission from jazz powerhouse and GRAMMY-winning bassist-composer Linda May Han Oh, featuring trailblazing vocalist and media artist Pamela Z (USA).
Explorations
Linda May Han Oh
Australia / USA
Opening Act: Richard Pavlidis Quartet
Sat 25 Oct, 7:30pm
Melbourne Recital Centre
Award-winning Norwegian pianist and composer Liv Andrea Hauge makes her Australian debut with Sydney’s Chloe Kim (drums) and Jacques Emery (bass).
Club Sessions
Liv Andrea Hauge’s Australian Trio
Norway / Australia
Tue 21 Oct, 7:00pm
The JazzLab
Under the artistic direction of Paul Grabowsky AO, the Monash Art Ensemble presents Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender, a powerful new work by ARIA-nominated composer Nat Bartsch.
Explorations
Monash Art Ensemble presents Nat Bartsch
Australia
Sun 19 Oct, 7:30pm
Monash University Music Auditorium
One night, eleven venues, 100+ musicians. Melbourne’s music scene comes alive as your favourite CBD venues and bars swing open their doors for a wild night of free music, all within crawling distance.
Explorations - Free
Night Crawl
Australia / USA / UK
Fri 17 Oct, 5:30pm
Various CBD Venues
The Australian Jazz Museum opens its doors to the public on Saturday 26th October — featuring live bands and small museum tours.
Free
Open Day at the Australian Jazz Museum
Australia
Sat 25 Oct, 10:00am
Australian Jazz Museum
Explorations
SOLUNE’s Mad Vantage
Australia
Opening Act: AXIS
Mon 20 Oct, 7:30pm
The Night Cat
A world-premiere international collaboration between three singular artists reshaping the boundaries of sound and genre.
Explorations
Sunny Kim + Joanna Duda + Helen Svoboda
Poland / Australia / South Korea
Thu 23 Oct, 8:00pm
Chapel Off Chapel
Melbourne music scene stalwart and creative force of nature, Tamil Rogeon, brings his 16-piece orchestra to The Night Cat for a kaleidoscopic night of jazz, dance and orchestral sounds.
The Tamil Rogeon Orchestra
Australia
Opening Act: Evening News plays Aphex Twin
Sat 18 Oct, 7:30pm
The Night Cat