Celebrating the history of jazz in Western Australia

Perth Jazz Society (PJS), the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) and The State Library of Western Australia are joining forces to celebrate the history of jazz in WA with a special one-off live music and heritage event.

Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History will take place at The State Library of Western Australia on Saturday, December 9.

Homecoming signals important anniversary years for the PJS, which celebrates its 50th anniversary and WAYJO, which celebrates 40 years of operation. To commemorate these significant milestones, Homecoming will honour the rich legacy of jazz in Western Australia with a showcase of live music, the launch and screening of newly recorded oral histories with key WA jazz figures and a showcase of State Library materials relating to both organisations.

The setlist for this concert, featuring significant West Australian jazz compositions from the lifetimes of PJS and WAYJO, has been curated by WAYJO Artistic Director Mace Francis and outgoing PJS president Kate Pass.

Several notable guest musicians will perform, including renowned vocalist Libby Hammer, esteemed guitarist and WAAPA educator Ray Walker and contemporary composer and saxophonist Gemma Farrell (pictured).

The intimate concert will be interspersed with the debut of six oral history recordings from key figures of the local jazz scene. These recordings, which have been acquired as part of the State Library’s collection, will then live on forever within the State Library’s archives and provide invaluable insights into the evolution of jazz in Western Australia.

Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History takes place at The State Library of Western Australia on Saturday, December 9, 2023. For more info and to buy tickets, head to slwa.wa.gov.au