Arts Centre Melbourne to Host Jazz High Tea 2016

Step back to a time of tea dresses and lounge suits for luxurious afternoons of delicious sweet treats and sophisticated jazz at Arts Centre Melbourne. Returning after two sell-out seasons in The Famous Spiegeltent, Jazz High Tea features a different act on the first Sunday of every month until October. Jazz-lovers and newcomers alike will enjoy knockout vocalists delivering jazz classics and derivatives of the chic genre, including blues, soul and gypsy swing.

Combining Melbourne's two great loves, food and culture, this high tea experience at The Pavilion will delight all the senses. Guests will be greeted with a glass of bubbles on arrival, before indulging in house-made cakes, pastries and savoury delights, and freshly brewed tea from bespoke Melbourne tea merchant Tea & Sympathy.

The curated jazz series running from March until October will begin with the smooth tunes of acclaimed London-based, Australian-born singer-songwriter Nina Ferro. The powerful songstress with the "knock out voice" has performed with greats Tony Bennett, Gregory Porter, Chick Corea and Chris Botti.

In April celebrated jazz drummer and vocalist Rod Gilbert will join the line-up. Performing live since the age of 16, he is firmly established as one of Australia's most sought-after front men and talented drummers. Critics have compared his smooth warm tones to the likes of Sinatra and Bobby Darin and his drumming style to that of Art Blakey, Max Roach and Ed Thigpen.

In May energetic husband and wife duo Kimba & Ryan will bring some quirk and whimsy to the season before Chelsea Wilson performs in April. The Melbourne-based jazz and soul vocalist's debut album was declared the runner-up Album of the Year by ABC Radio National.

Kelsey James, one of Melbourne's most exciting jazz vocalists will take to the stage in June and in August sassy vocalist and cabaret chanteuse Tamara Kuldin will wow audiences.

To round off the season the September edition of this high tea experience features Le Grand Soiree, a gypsy swing collaboration between vocalist Julie O'Hara and jazz manouche band Ultrafox. The series will then conclude with jazz, blues and soul vocalist Vanessa Fernandez. Bringing new life to much loved classics, Vanessa grew up listening to Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.

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