Birth of Melbourne, The

Legendary Grammy award-winning vocalist Patti Austin and Australian trumpet maestro James Morrison come together to relive the timeless hits of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in their new album on ABC Jazz. Recorded live in concert across two sold-out nights at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Austin and Morrison are joined by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in a celebration of the centennial of Fitzgerald’s birth.

Tim Davies, who led a big band in his native Australia before relocating to Los Angeles in 2000, reprises that experience on parts of The Expensive Train Set, returning home to supervise his Melbourne ensemble on four selections, presiding over his Los Angeles-based band on four others, and somehow managing to blend the two groups together as one on the ambitious title song, which Davies calls "the centerpiece of the album," as well it should be. Whereas Davies' previous album, Dialmentia, was focused in part on his recurring nightmares, Train Set undrapes a more amiable theme, the singular experience of becoming a father, as Davies recently did. In fact, the opening number, "Conceivilization," is arranged to depict in musical terms how shall we say this? the act of making love, with two soloists in each movement playing the part of the lovers. Be sure not to miss the exciting climax!

Beethoven’s 16 string quartets occupy a place of honour in the chamber repertoire and, like his nine symphonies and 32 piano sonatas, trace his progression through his creative life. 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth, and Quatuor Ébène is recognising this with an extensive tour, entitled Beethoven Around the World, which runs from Spring 2019 to December 2020. Over that period the French ensemble will give over 120 concerts in a total of 21 countries on six continents, focusing on complete cycles of the quartets from February 2020. Beethoven Around the World encompasses live recordings for Erato, building a complete cycle, made in seven of the world’s great cities: Vienna (at the Konzerthaus); Philadelphia (Kimmel Center); Tokyo (Suntory Hall); São Paulo (Sala São Paulo); Melbourne (Melbourne Recital Centre); Nairobi, and, with the support of UNESCO, Paris (Philharmonie de Paris).

Grandmaster Ip Man spent his whole life as champion of the cause of Wing Chun Kung Fu. He was responsible for advancing Wing Chun Kung Fu to its eminence today. Throughout the world, students of Wing Chun Kung Fu continue to publish articles about Grandmaster Ip Man, his life and achievements. Therefore to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Grandmaster Ip Man this chronicle is being produced for all those interested in Wing Chun Kung Fu.