Vince Jones is bringing his cool jazz to Canberra. Photo: Steve Ford Photography.
“The rarest of all things is a male jazz singer,” Vince Jones casually remarks while answering questions about his success on the world stage.
“I’m a singer that plays the trumpet.
“The trumpet was never going to be my feature, even though I always practised a couple of hours every day and still do.
“There’s one in 50 trumpet players who are something special, but you don’t find good male jazz singers everywhere.
“I enjoy playing the trumpet, but I love singing and expressing songs in words.
“Lyrics paint pictures on people’s psyches.”
Vince Jones has been doing his own take on jazz music for half a century, here in Australia and across the globe.
He is celebrating those 50 years with a special anniversary performance in Canberra’s Street Theatre on Sunday, 28 September.
The multi Aria award-winner brings his smooth voice and just as smooth playing – and his quintet – to an intimate setting where audiences immerse themselves in the music.
The Vince Jones Quintet features long-time pianist and musical director Matt McMahon; John Mackey on tenor sax; double bassist Karl Dunnicliff; and Canberra-born drummer James Hauptmann.
Australians love Vince Jones, but so too do music and jazz aficionados internationally, and he reminisces with fondness (when prompted) about his days of European and US tours.
“Scandinavians really got us, and I loved playing to them. They really embraced the music,” he says.
“So did the Germans. The French did, just slowly, and the Italians too, where I’ve had some FM hits.
“Britain loved us because it was like I was the new kid on the block there.
“But you know, the problem was that I lived in Australia and it was such a drama getting to all those places.
“I didn’t start touring internationally until I was 40, and at that age, you’re not as prepared to stay up drinking all night on tours and all that kind of stuff. The travel takes it out of you a bit.
“But they were great times and it was wonderful to have my music enjoyed by lots of different audiences.
“We still tour a lot today, maybe 20 or 30 shows a year, but we’re mostly focused on Australian audiences these days, who get us more than anyone else in the world.
“There’s a big back catalogue and there is new material. I like to present a mix of the old stuff and originals people know, as well as some daring new material.
“The beauty of it all is that it really is a matter of whatever stands out the most; that’s what we’ll play.”
The Vince Jones Quintet is coming to The Street in Canberra. Photo: Lovegreen Photography
Beyond his childhood influences from a musical home and upbringing, Jones says jazz great Miles Davis had a big impact on him.
The legendary jazz trumpeter, known for his mastery of wild avant-garde improvisations as much as his more classic musical interpretations, was an eye-opener for the young Vince Jones.
But was it the smooth Sketches of Spain album or the crazy, seductive Bitches Brew that drew him in the most?
“Ha, funny you should ask that,” he says.
“I took Bitches Brew to art class when I was 17 or 18, because the teacher asked us to bring in records to play and maybe play along with.
“The teacher was Canadian and pretty hip, but said ‘what are we going to do with this?’ when I put it on.
“But we all started playing and really got into it. So Bitches Brew was my first experience with a Miles album, and Sketches of Spain was the second one for me.
“Very different albums and I really enjoy them both.
“Miles was confronted with extraordinary technology, and he wanted to experiment with sound, and he kept reinventing himself. I just love that.
“You know I play along with YouTube every night for a couple of hours and listen to all kinds of music.
“I really like finding really obscure jazz. But I also enjoy playing along to Steely Dan.”
What Jones says he enjoys the most, however, is composing his own music.
He calls it “giving birth” to a song.
“More often than not, I’ll write three songs before one will get through,” he says.
“Once it’s written and taken to the band, the song evolves further and it’s great to be part of this creation.
“I’ve found I have got more to say as I’ve gotten older.
“Having said that, though, I do also really dig playing some of those wonderful old songs from everywhere else.
“Some of those old numbers are so great.”
Vince Jones Celebrates 50 Years is at The Street Theatre on Sunday, 28 September, at 4 pm. Visit The Street Theatre for tickets.
