Jack Pantazis is one of the most respected jazz guitarists on the Australian Jazz scene. Pantazis calls  Melbourne his home and he has carved out a career as a performer, educator and composer crossing all styles of music.  Pantazis has a rich musical heritage that extends back to before he can remember. He has been a professional musician for over 35 years and as his website says, "Jack is fundamentally a jazz musician whose mastery skills and artistry also cross over into other styles such as…pop, rock, fusion, latin, classical…" Pantazis has perfomed with ‘The Daryl McKenzie Jaz ..read more

Michelle Nicolle is one of Australia's most respected and recognised Jazz vocalists.   Over the years she has developed her own unique take on classic jazz standards as well as written and recorded many award winner compositions of her own.      Nicolle has worked with some of the greatest musicians on the planet including the great Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  Of late she has released her 9th recording entitled ”The Bach Project" and it features her long standing quartet of Ronny Ferella on drums, Tom Lee on Bass and Geoff ..read more

David Dower is a Piano player a composer specialising in original jazz and contemporary music, and has performed widely throughout the UK, Bulgaria, Ireland, France, Malaysia, and Australia. He currently lives in Melbourne and has recently released a new recording that was inspired by his many trips to Bulgaria entitled "Mravka". David stops by to talk about how he became a Jazz pianist, how he came to have an affinity with the music and the musicians in Bulgaria and also how he was able to compose the latest album and incorporate the language and the instrumentation that is unique to Bulgari ..read more

Mace Francis is a big band composer that hails from Western Australia, he has a new recording out called "Isolation Emancipation." He will be talking to us about how he got into composing for big band, how his studies with legendary composer Bob Brookmeyer has shaped  him as a composer and how it has guided him as artistic director of  WAYJO,  the Western Australian Jazz Youth Orchestra. We will also feature a track that  friend to the podcast Elly Hoyt has kindly given us access to,  it is called "Speaking in Code" written by another friend of the show and amazing com ..read more

Anton Delecca is a jazz saxophonist a composer with a new kicking recording out and he is our special guest on this episode of the A-JaG podcast. Anton is a native  Melbournian  and has great new recording called "The Offering" out on "Earshift records" which we will hear a few tracks off, he will be talking to us about how that came about and also his time studying in New York. We will also hear a new track off the latest recording from Mike Nock, Hamish Stuart, Jonathan Zwartz and Julian Wilson called “Another Dance,” out on Lionshare Records as well as  a killer groove track ..read more

Tamara Murphy is a Melbourne based Composer and jazz musician, she is also the leader of Spirograph Studies, a group that is comprised of Tamara on Bass, Luke Howard on Piano, Fran Swinn on Guitar and James McLean on drums. They released their latest recording at the Melbourne international Jazz Festival, Tamara stops by to talk about how the band came into existence, what her vision for the band was when they started and how they achieved that vision over time.   We also hear new Music from composer and conductor Johannes Luebbers, he has a new recording called "Divide and Conquer" that ..read more

Eugene Ball is a jazz trumpeter, a composer and an educator.  Ball has played with the best in the business, both here in Australia and on the International stage, he sits down and talks to us about what it is like to run his own band, what he learnt from being  a contributor and a permanent member of the Allan Browne Quintet. He also talks about the importance of not only being a Jazz musician  but also being an educator and the effect that has had on his development. We also hear music from Sydney band  "Green Thumbs",  they have a new recording we will hear a track ..read more

Episode 8 of The Australian Jazz and Groove Podcast is super funky and features new music from Melbourne based funk outfit "Pickpocket" who will be releasing their latest recording on December 18 of 2020. We talk to band leader and bassist Craig Strain about how he put this album together with his "Pickpocket"band mates. Craig gives us an insight into the way he composed this material also how he ventured into the word of lyric writing. In this episode we also hear a track form Brisbane jazz trio "Nimble" with a track from their 2018 release "From All Sides", and finally a track from Melbourn ..read more

David Jones is a master drummer,  percussionist, composer and a hell of a nice guy. David has been a monumental force on the world scene when it comes to his musical craft, he has played with some of the most recognised artists around the world and is known both internationally and of course hear in Australia, we talk to him about where it all began and how he discovers new sounds every time that he sits at the drum set. We also talk to him about the importance of kindness on the bandstand and silence as part of the musical experience.  We will also hear new music from Brisbane compo ..read more

Episode #3 of the Australian Jazz and Groove podcast features the amazing singer and composer Elly Hoyt. We talk to her about growing up in Tasmania, how that has effected her musical journey and how  her latest release "The Composer Voice: A Celebration of Australian Women Composers came together. We will also hear tracks from bassist and composer Nick Abby, Brisbane based group The view from Madelines Couch, Jazz Guitarist Michael Anderson and Hand Pan master Lachlan Hawkins.  ..read more