Garry Lee Quintet
50 years of Jazz Vibraphone

Doors 6pm
Show 7pm

In January Garry Lee was honoured by having an original composition on an ABC release: “50 Years Of JAZZTRACK – Studio Sessions”. His composition “Dunsborough Blues” was recorded at ABC Perth in the early 1990s with Ray Walker [gtr] and Murray Wilkins [dbl bs]. The album features compositions by many of Australia’s elite band leader/composers – Mike Nock, Judy Bailey, Paul Grabowsky, Jamie Oehlers, Michelle Nicol.

Garry has been leading jazz bands for over half a century both in Sydney and from 1983, in Perth. His current quintet of Mike Collinson [saxes/flute], Ookii Effendi [pno], Finn McKibbon [dbl bs] and Callum Thomson [drms] have been performing together since 2024. The group is a blend of experience and youthful energy – Callum’s degree recital at Ellington late last year was judged the best performance by WAAPA Jazz staff while Finn will graduate this year. Michael, now a WAAPA Jazz staff member, is a former student of the late Roger Garrood. Ookii played in Garry’s quartet for the 67th birthday of King Charles and his reverence for the great Monty Alexander is obvious in his playing.

As a jazz vibraphonist/leader Garry follows in the footsteps of legendary Australian vibes playing leaders John Sangster and Alan Lee [no relation]. The Ellington performance will include jazz compositions by Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and Garry’s favourite vibists, Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson. The repertoire will also include Lee compositions including tracks from his recent release “Waltz For Roger” [Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, CD]. The Quintet launched this recording at Ellington last year during Perth International Jazz Festival. The album, mastered by Lee Buddle, features the late Roger Garrood playing eight Lee compositions.

From ECM-inspired ballads to Blue Note hard bop and latin, the Garry Lee Quintet delivers with high energy and an instrumentation unique to jazz in Perth.