Western Australian Jazz Project launches

A group of musicians has established the Western Australian Jazz Project with the hope of it becoming the flagship organisation for the artform in the state.

With startup funding from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, musicians Adrian Kelly, Grant Windsor and Melissa Skinner launched the initiative last night.

Mr Kelly, Mr Windsor and Ms Skinner have played internationally and with musicians including Olivia Newton-John and Michael Bublé, as well as in local ensembles with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Perth Symphony Orchestra.

The band, made up of 17 musicians, will perform its debut concert, A Very Jazzy Christmas, in December at the Perth Concert Hall with musical theatre actor and singer John James O’Hara.

Mr Kelly, who is the managing director of the organisation, said he hoped to see the project become the benchmark for jazz in the state.

“WA is renowned for producing outstanding musical talent, and we felt that a flagship for jazz in our state was well overdue,” he said.

“Having a jazz presence in Perth of the same calibre as WASO, WA Ballet, and WA Opera benefits the entire state, bringing exciting new experiences and diversification to the arts community.”

Mr Kelly said he wanted to give younger artists the opportunities he had in his early career, when the Perth Jazz Orchestra and Jazz West were performing.

The Western Australian Jazz Project is planning a series of concerts, activations and education activities in Perth and around the state. 

It will be primarily supported by ticket sales.

Mr Kelly said the Perth Concert Hall would have to be two-thirds full for a show to break even.

He said the organisation was also testing out the community’s appetite to support it via membership platform Patreon.

Mr Kelly said if just 1,729 people (Perth Concert Hall capacity) could sign up to Patreon and pay $3 a month, the band's administration costs would be covered for a year.

Special projects the band orchestrates would be funded by the government or philanthropy, he said.