Jazz

From homegrown heroes to visiting legends, here are Australia's favourite classical music and jazz stories this year.

From a small town in New Zealand to playing in Sydney’s jazz clubs, Jann Rutherford was a pioneer and role model for many. A memorial award ensures her legacy lives on.

Samara Joy has been compared to singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. She's performing in Australia for the first time and bringing some new music.

Composer Jack Symonds and Sydney Chamber Opera have taken out multiple awards at the annual celebration of art music in Australia.

A brilliant pianist and composer, Bailey will also be remembered for her devotion to jazz education in Australia.

Chuck Mangione achieved international acclaim with his single Feels So Good before gaining a new audience starring on King of the Hill.  

Keith Jarrett's best-selling album, The Köln Concert, nearly didn't happen. We reflect on Jarrett's life in music and explore the mishaps that lead to this iconic recording.

This year's audience poll of Australia's favourite classical music features the most music by women ever, thanks to their centuries-long connection with the piano.

Ahead of his latest Australian tour, the jazz maestro explains how anime and his four-year-old daughter have inspired his latest work.

On Mayhem, Lady Gaga flexes her credentials as a rock — not pop — star, with references spanning many decades and genres.

Women have been making great music for centuries. Two radio festivals on ABC Classic and ABC Jazz are a chance to hear more of it.

One of the longest-performing and most far-out jazz outfits ever seen, on this planet at least, is coming to Australia.

From Aussies like Simone Young trailblazing on the world stage through to the improvisatory genius of Bill Bailey, 2024 was a great year for music.

These US musicians were recruited as 'jazz ambassadors'. Unbeknownst to them, some played a role in a coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1961.  

Western Australia's best up-and-coming jazz players have hit the stage with a hip hop artist to inspire a new fan base and help the emerging musicians plan their futures. 

Herbie Hancock recounts his first steps towards becoming one of the most famous jazz pianists and his ongoing passion for finding new directions in music, as he prepares for the tour in October.

When Melbourne musician Mark McGurgan moved to country Queensland he brought the smooth sound of saxophone with him, and it's given locals a "golden opportunity".

Flow can help you be more absorbed and resistant to distraction during creative or problem-solving tasks, but it isn't always easy. New research unlocks some of the secrets.

This week's listening recommendations are eclectic, to say the least, but well worth your time.

From international legends like Herbie Hancock to the young Australians bringing their lived experiences to the ever-evolving jazz sound, ABC Jazz is one-of-a-kind.