The Western Australian Jazz Project returns to Perth Concert Hall next month with an exciting new concert, putting their own jazzy spin on classic themes from the world of sci-fi, fantasy, anime and gaming.
Made up of seventeen of Perth’s finest jazz musicians, the WAJP’s vision is to enrich and expand jazz music in WA. Since their debut in 2021, the ensemble has performed a number of exciting concerts at Perth Concert Hall and recently concluded Music on the Terrace’s 2022 season with a magical, sold-out concert in the Government House Gardens.
Childhood photo of WAJP Artistic Director and saxophonist Niels Rosendahl
Staying true to their slogan ‘Jazz done differently’, the WAJP will surprise and delight pop culture fans next month with their upcoming concert, Heroes, Sci-Fi and Sorcery: a tribute to Comic-Con. The concert will feature jazzy explorations of music from some of the world’s favourite movies, TV shows, comics and games, including but not limited to Batman, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Incredibles, Men In Black and Super Mario.
The concert will be hosted by Shane McCarthy, a WA-based freelance writer whose work (including Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Detective Comics (starring Batman), Star Wars Adventures, Transformers: All Hail Megatron and Deadpool: Team Up) has been published internationally by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, IDW and more. Shane is an avid gamer and anime fan, as well as a jazz music enthusiast.
Niels Rosendahl plays a jazz ballad version of 'Leia's Theme' from Star Wars
While jazz and pop culture fandom might seem like an unusual pairing, WAJP Managing Director and trumpeter Adrian Kelly explains how the two worlds are actually not so far apart.
"In putting together the second season of music for the WA Jazz Project, we considered what makes jazz and jazz audiences so special. We thought about how jazz is about transforming and personalising existing musical works spontaneously and collaboratively. We also considered how passionate the jazz community is, and how a jazz performance is always a one-of-a-kind unique experience.
These thoughts led us to the fans of all things Comic-Con: a passionate group of supporters creating unique experiences of people interacting across all walks of life… just like jazz! Both jazz and Comic-Con have always been a source of cultural and societal expression, and let’s face it, jazz fans and Comic-Con fans are all nerds!
There is also a rich history of jazz in sci-fi and superhero media – just think of those classic Neil Hefti charts that scored the 60’s Batman TV show, the raging big band score to Anime’s Cowboy Bebop!, or the recurring use of jazz in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Jazz and Comic-Con fandom are both powerful forms of self-expression, allowing people to express themselves in different and personal ways, while connecting with those who share the same enthusiasm – a match made in heaven!"
Don’t miss Heroes, Sci-Fi and Sorcery: a tribute to Comic-Con on Saturday 25 March, 7:30pm. Find tickets & more information.
