House of Bop – Now’s The Time

The House of Bop is a group of elite modern Jazz musicians with a deep musical history going back many years. They have come together for Manly Jazz 2023 to pay tribute to their recently departed friend, saxophonist Andrew Speight. They will be playing repertoire they shared with Andrew over the years. Expect high energy, swinging modern Jazz to touch the soul and get your feet tapping.  

Big ‘Ol Bus Band

This big ol’ rollicking road-band first kicked over in Nashville Tennessee, but has since featured many of Australia's top jazz, blues and soul musicians on horns, double bass, drums, vocals, guitar… and up front the dynamic songwriting duo Grace Hickey and Hugh Scott Murray III (on piano).  The pair’s swaggering, high-energy festival set is not to be missed, featuring original tunes inspired by their adventures on the backroads, and a few new takes on the songs that inspire them. 

Hot Potato Band

Hot Potato Band’s larger-than-life brass collective is a breath of fresh air, setting a new bar for energetic and interactive musical performances. Finding home in Sydney, Australia, their positive coastal energy pushes euphoric boundaries in their bold quest to reignite acoustic instrumentation. The bands 10 year street performing history and unique sound is built on the backs of three drummers, a sousaphone and five horns that cover catchy chorus lines, providing a beautiful harmonic cloud for Ben (vocalist) to float above. 

Blaine Whittaker – Strange Universe 

An Australian who has paid his dues by playing all around the world, went to New York in the 90s to hone his craft and studied with Wynton Marsalis, George Coleman and Vincent Herring.  Back in Australia, he became a member of James Morrison’s touring band for almost 10 years, Morrison being the country’s foremost Jazz trumpeter and musical icon.  

Tribute to Don Burrows

Don Burrows' musical colleagues play a tribute to his enormous contributions to the careers of generations of Australia musicians. 

Musicians - Kevin Hunt piano, Andy Firth clarinet flute and saxophones, John Nicol guitar/voice, David Pudney bass, Gordon Rytmeister drums.

Dan Barnett Big Band

Dan Barnett was born into music being the son of the legendary Sydney Bassist Cliff Barnett he began his musical life as a Trombonist and quickly developed a love for singing and has since carved out an enviable reputation on the Australian music scene. Dan has worked and recorded with some of the greats in Australian and world music.  

JC Stylles & Andrew Dickeson's Manhattan Project 

Guitarist JC Stylles, part of the fabric of the New York City Jazz Scene for nearly 20 years, revisits the Manly Jazz Festival for the first time in many years, rejoining early bandmate and drummer par excellence  Andrew Dickeson in presenting their Manhattan Project together.