We are the Brisbane Jazz Club

The Brisbane Jazz Club is a not-for-profit enterprise founded in 1972 and run by a voluntary  Committee of Management, comprising the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and eight Committee Members. All Committee of Management members serve a 12 month term and a new Committee is elected at the AGM in September every year.

The Club has a small number of paid employees in Front of House,  Administration, Bar Duties, Artistic Direction, Sound Engineering, Graphic Design and a large number of  Volunteers who assist in maintenance and Club night duties.

Catering services are currently supplied by Story Bridge Hotel.

The Club books a wide variety of jazz entertainers to present live jazz at the Club every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus regular monthly events – Jazz Singers Jam Night and Jazz Brunch.  Appearances by International artistes are frequently featured at the Club, often on a Thursday night.

Patrons are encouraged to become members of the Club to enjoy discounted admission rates and other benefits.

The Club’s long history and unique location on the banks of the Brisbane River, just across from the City Centre, have made it an iconic venue on the Brisbane entertainment scene.

It is one of the few jazz venues which boasts its own building and its own band;  the 19-piece Brisbane Big Band, while independently run, has been the Club’s resident band since 1974.

• • • •

Rita Laurie – President

Rita’s love of jazz began in her teens in the UK in the late 1950′s, as did her love of theatre, dancing, and singing in Church choirs.

She became involved with the Club about 5 yrs ago, first as a volunteer, then Secretary for 3 years, and is currently serving her second term as President/Club Co-ordinator.

Rita’s working background has always been in management, so she feels it is a privilege to be heading the management team which is taking the BJC into it’s 41st year.

 

David Herbert – Vice-President

David ‘s career has mainly been in government.  Initially training and working in the social welfare field in hospitals, community health and mental health settings, he has since held positions in industrial relations, change management and strategic management.

While toiling away 9-5 he has harboured several passions – live jazz, old British sports cars, good red wine and his Great Dane, for which his daughters tell him he has an unhealthy love.

As retirement looms, David intends to allow these passions to completely overtake his life and being a BJC Committee member is part of the plan.

 

 

Tony Freedland – Treasurer

Tony has been a member of the  Brisbane Jazz Club for many years and was co-opted onto the Committee in 2006. At that time Committee Members did just about everything that had to be done to run the club. Tony took on the role of Treasurer in 2007,  and has continued in that role ever since.

The Club’s  operation  has progressed and improved in many ways over those  years and Tony hopes that he has contributed to this in some small way.

Significant development is planned for the next year or two and he hopes to remain as part of the team that will be overseeing this.

 

Di Clark – Committee Member

Di joined the BJC in 2008 when Jazz Singers Jam Night took up residence at the club. She joined the committee for the first time in September 2011. Although finding heaps do on this volunteer Committee she says it’s all very enjoyable and everyone chips in to spread the load.

For her the reward is getting to see some fab musicians that she perhaps wouldn’t make the effort to see if she wasn’t on the committee.

While starting off as a ‘general dogsbody’, Di is finding heaps more to do since recently been appointed to the BJC Promotions sub-committee.

 

Sarah Collyer – Committee Member

Sarah delights in being part of the Brisbane Jazz Club Committee and contributing to the longevity and continual improvement of one of Brisbane’s most iconic live music venues.

As an accomplished singer/songwriter, voice coach and musician, Sarah has performed throughout Australia and Japan. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music, with Honours in Jazz Voice and a Master of Music Studies in jazz voice and vocal pedagogy.

Sarah’s current recording This Way  is played on radio stations and cafes throughout Australia and she performs originals, jazz standards and covers regularly with her band “Elegance Jazz” and solo.

 

Paul Day – Committee Member 

As a director of a major property development company Paul
has brought his considerable expertise in dealing with Council and Government Departments and building companies to the
benefit of the BJC.
He is keen to develop the BJC as one of the leading jazz venues in Australia and will be Acting Treasurer while our Treasurer is away
abroad this year.

As a dyed-in-the-wool jazz-lover he worked energetically at promoting “Jazz at the Hangar” which he ran at New Farm for a number of years,  together with his wife – jazz vocalist Karen Anderson.

 

Irene McLeod – Committee Member

From Volunteering in 2008, Irene joined the current BJC committee in 2011. Whatever she lacks in height she gains in enthusiastic passion for the fabulous people and experiences that make up the very heart of the Brisbane Jazz Club.

When not jazzing it up she can be found staring forlornly at 2 large computer screens attempting to create technical illustrations and graphic wonders and also creating wonderful ceremonies as a Civil Marriage Celebrant.

Irene has travelled from Scotland to some magic places including Tibet, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and this year maybe to the Galapagos Islands (if Rita will give her the time off)!!!!!

 

Keryl Michener – Committee Member

Keryl has a great affection for the Brisbane Jazz Club and enjoys a wide variety of jazz styles including vocal, contemporary and Manouche.

She has been a member since 2003 and, as a Kangaroo Point resident, believes in the importance of local support for the Club.

Although still in full-time employment,  Keryl  is currently serving her fourth year on the Committee. She is currently part of the BJC Promotions administrative team where she maintains a new contacts database to ensure  that our patrons receive all the latest news on club events by email.

 

Mal Page – Committee Member

Before joining the Committee in 2010, Mal played trumpet with various bands at the BJC for many years  -  Cloudland Dance Band, Brass Hats, Swing Chronicles, Glen Miller Tribute Band, Swing Fever and currently with Decahedron and the ever-famous Brisbane Big Band.
With a welcome lesser work load  (gigs on weekends) and a grown-up family, he may now nurture some further social skills while hearing a wide variety of great jazz, and meeting and talking with some very talented musos.
Apart from musical abilities Mal contributes many handyman skills and diligent hard work towards creating more vibrant and spectacular nights at the Brisbane Jazz Club.

 

Alan Western – Committee Member

Alan joined the Club as resident vocalist with the Brisbane Big Band in 1989 and joined the Committee after becoming manager of the band in 2008.

Apart from running the BBB and his own band, the Jazz Gang, and as vocalist/compere with Decahedron, Alan is very active as Chairman of the Music & Events and BJC Promotions sub-Committees.

As a well-known and popular entertainer Alan uses his long experience in cabaret, radio and TV –  vocalist, compere,  actor,  songwriter and in various other businesses, to good advantage, constantly devising musical and promotional activities and encouraging youth in jazz at the Club.

 

Malcolm Wood – Artistic Director

With over 20 years as a professional musician, bandleader and educator, Mal enjoys the responsibility for securing world class jazz acts for one of the world’s warmest swinging jazz venues, upholding the traditions and integrity passed down from wonderfully clever jazz musicians and jazz-lovers who have established the BJC as such a special place in which artists can paint their live jazz story.

Every day he reviews and responds to applications for performances at the BJC – researching, negotiating and engaging live jazz bands from all over the world. Daily communication with past, present and future jazz artists is essential in achieving a balance between established and emerging jazz styles.

 

Brad Esbensen – Musical Director: Brisbane Big Band

Brad Esbensen is a Brisbane based trumpet player, arranger, composer, copyist and educator. His association with the BJC stretches back to 1986 with involvement in jazz workshops with Rick Price and as President of the erstwhile Brisbane Junior Jazz Club set up under John Morris.

Among other things, he is currently the Musical Director with the Brisbane Big Band, an association which stretches back to 1987, and Herb Armstrong and the Royal Street Krewe; both groups appear regularly at the BJC.

 

Clemency Cartillier – FOH & Marketing Co-ordinator

Clemency shelved her Promotions and Public Relations career to live in France and while teaching French in 2009, heard that the BJC needed a dynamic Marketing & Social Media Manager. She applied and thus changed the course in herstory (sic).

Clemency ensures that the Club runs smoothly, overseeing FOH staff and liaising with Committee, Bar and Catering personnel, with seats booked and patrons ready to have a ball each night. Her promotions expertise also keeps the BJC’s FB page happening and growing…

” On first walking into this very special little club I could never have imagined working with such wonderful and diverse people, meeting amazing musos and being jazzed by such eclectic music……….”

 

Mark Smith – Sound Engineer

Controlling and producing the sound of the music is an important feature of shows at the BJC.  Mark uses his skills from long experience as a musician and sound specialist in producing great sound – well regarded by musicians, vocalists and patrons alike.

A member of the Music & Events sub-Committee, Mark looks after all the Club’s musical, sound and lighting equipment.

Mark has lead the production of BJC ‘High Tide I and II’ CDs and, under his business name Real Productions, his first-class recordings for artistes and bands,  both at the Club and in his own studios,  are always in demand.

 

Jeremy De Vere – Bar Manager

Jeremy is a popular recent addition to the BJC team.  With his good knowledge of beer, wine and liquor he’s the man that you have to see to get a drink around here!

Jeremy has a background in Retail Management, but is fast becoming at home behind the bar………the way he shakes those cocktails  you’d think he was in a Latin band.

He’s quick with a joke, or to light up your smoke and there’s NO place that he’d rather be.  (Boom, boom)!

 

George Macionis – Membership Officer

George joined the Jazz Club in 2000 and subsequently, after a short period of volunteering at evening events, was persuaded by Melissa Western (the Club President at the time) to take over the Club Membership Officer role in 2005.

As membership officer, George maintains the club’s membership database, prints and mails out the membership cards and keeps a record of all new and renewed memberships each year.

 

• • • •

Since 1972, the Brisbane Jazz Club has provided a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for enjoying the best local and international jazz.

We’ve always been committed to the music, with a loyal set of regular performers and customers, as well as our education programme for students. Our delicious meals are provided by The Story Bridge Hotel.

We strive to support both established and emerging artists and, above all, to ensure that your experience at the Club is unforgettable.

Spend an evening at the Brisbane Jazz Club…