DEC 13 - Katarzyna Wiktorski Octet

with FEMINA

evening show 7.30PM

co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Co-op

The Jazzlab Sunday Dec 13 doors 7pm Show 7.30pm

Tickets HERE $25/$20 Bookings essential

Co-presented with The MELBOURNE Jazz Co-op

Katarzyna Wiktorski Octet 

Polish born, Melbourne-based; Katarzyna is a pianist, composer, arranger, director and producer. Fusing an unconventional string quartet with a jazz quartet, her music is influenced by classical, jazz, film music and contemporary sensibilities. Kat’s music explores light and dark landscapes that create an emotional, ornate listening experience. The ensemble will be performing pieces from various 2020 releases including the recent EP From a Distance. 

Katarzyna Wiktorski - Piano/ Compositions/ Arrangements
Jade Nye – Alto Saxophone
Chloe Sanger – Violin 1
Blakely McLean Davies – Violin 2
Alexi Kyrkilis-Kalathas – Cello 1
Ffion Stoakes – Cello 2

William Base – Bass
Oliver Ledi Hanane – Drums

OPENING SET: Femina (Sth Korea/Sth Africa)

FEMINA Duo 

FEMINA is a dynamic and virtuosic vocal/piano duo with the special addition of violin. Classic jazz standards have been arranged by Mina Yu to create colourful sounds full of mirth and melancholy. 

Fem Belling voice, violin

Mina Yu piano, arrangements 

MINA YU

Since moving to the USA from South Korea in 2010, jazz pianist Mina Yu has made a powerful impression on other musicians and the public for her prodigious musical talent and the contemporary flavour of her music. These attributes have made her highly in demand as a bandleader, session player, recording artist, educator and writer.

Above all, Mina believes in the power of music; the positive energy created through music. She believes music can heal people. Her music captures the feeling of small moments and makes them magical.

“I love music that is warm and beautiful. Good music is often mysterious. It takes me into a new fantastic world and brings back the time of being an embryo.”

Mina’s music is part of a legacy of jazz pianists such as Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and Brad Mehldau. She is also highly influenced by a wide range of contemporary artists, which makes her music unique. These include James Farm, Aaron Parks, SF Jazz Collective, Robert Glasper, Bilal, Radiohead, Bjork and Daft Punk.

Before moving to the USA, Mina was raised in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of 4, she began studying piano with her mother, Kyung Hee Kim, a highly renowned piano teacher. Beginning her training as a professional classical pianist, due her listening skills and perfect pitch, she found it more fun to play pop, blues and jazz. Her talent was soon recognized and she became the youngest winner of many piano competitions in Korea, including the Sirius Star Project by Sony BMG and the Khung Hyang Youth Competition.

In 2008, she gained a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During her time at the college she had the opportunity to meet and play with many great musicians such as Greg Osby, Ron Reid, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Samuels and Sean Skeete. She also received the Mary Jane Earnhart award and Professional Division award and was the pianist for the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Writers Collective.

Mina Yu completed her Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music in 2015 and her Bachelor of Music degree at Berklee College of Music in 2012. Whilst at the Manhattan School of Music, she was the recipient of many awards, including the CJ Culture Scholarship and the MSM Scholarship for academic results and merit.

Whilst staying in New York, Mina has performed at the Carnegie Hall, Columbia University, Webster Hall, New York Live Arts, The Metropolitan Room, Berklee Performance Center (BPC), Jordan Hall, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Bitter End, The Cutting Room, The Lilypad Jazz club, Ryles Jazz club and many others. Mina has toured internationally, performing at the Jazzaar festival in Switzerland with Adam Rogers, Helen sung and Terri Lyne Carrington. She has also toured England, performing at the Guil Fest.

During the last two years Mina has appeared on a number of projects. These include albums by ZEDSIX , “The Shape of Jazz” and Richard Butler, “Without Within”.

In addition to her work as a pianist, Mina is also an accomplished composer and arranger. Since relocating to Melbourne, she has performed her music at Melbourne Recital Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Steinway Hall (Armadale), St Paul’s Cathedral, Parliament House, 170 Russell, Jazzlab, the Paris Cat Jazz Club and Melbourne University. She is also serving as the musical director/pianist for the 2018 Melbourne concert of renowned K-pop star, Tae Woo Kim (G.O.D).

FEM BELLING

South African born vocalist and violinist, Fem Belling, is a trailblazer on the international jazz scene and has imprinted herself as one of Australia's most formidable and in demand performers. Her African Jazz roots powerfully augment her unique musicality and interpretations. “A breathtaking storyteller through music.”

The jazz world hums with ubiquitous young singers revisiting the great American songbook, ‘then one comes along with an instrumentalist’s refrain”, with tandem voice and violin improvisation, Fem is a master force in the art of standard’s-singing and equally at home with the soul, funk side of jazz. A sophisticated palate embracing a spectacular breadth of range.

Hailing from musical dynasty, she has performed with many jazz greats, locally and internationally. Solo projects & collaborations: Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express, Soho Jazz Fest, Bennetts Lane, JazzLab, Paris Cat, The Royal Variety Show, North Sea Jazz Fest, Hong Kong Jazz Fest, Melbourne Int Jazz Fest , WOMAD, Stonnington Jazz Fest, White Night, Port Fairy Fest, Wangaratta Jazz, Joy of Jazz (SA), Madajazzcar,.

She has performed alongside Gregory Porter, Emanuel Harrold, Reggie Watts, Femi Kuti, Chet Faker, Darius Brubeck, Franck Amsallem, Shalosh Trio, Joe Chindamo, John Foreman, Allan Zavod, Hugh Masekela, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (ARIA nomination)

A West End leading lady with a fierce CV of Musicals to her name: Liza Minelli in The Boy From Oz, Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Fame, Cats, JC Superstar.
Fem has performed at the Royal Variety Show, The Dame Edna Show, The Australian Men’s Tennis Final. Fem shot to international attention turning all 4 chairs on The Voice with Ricky Martin, Jessie J & Delta Goodrem fighting for the chance to mentor her. Jessie J won out, saying she has been “waiting for someone like this”.


Awards: AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN MUSIC AWARDS nomination. NOW THEN - Best Jazz Album Nominee The Age Music Awards. Recipient of 5 VITA AWARDS. Green Room Award nom: Best Leading Actress. Fem is a YAMAHA AUSTRALIA ARTIST playing their 5 string Electric Silent violin & YEV.
“Bloody Brilliant – @#*% incredible” – Robbie Williams

It’s impossible to ignore Fem Belling. Once you listen to her voice, see her perform, you know you have to pay attention, take in all that she passionately has to communicate, to narrate, to share. – australianjazz.net