Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History

The State Library of Western Australia is excited to announce Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History, a one-off live music and heritage event set to take place at the State Library on December 9, 2023. This event is a partnership project between the State Library, Perth Jazz Society (PJS) and the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO).

Homecoming signals important anniversary years for the PJS, which celebrates its 50th anniversary and WAYJO, which celebrates 40 years of operation. To commemorate these significant milestones, Homecoming will honour the rich legacy of jazz in Western Australia with a showcase of live music, the launch and screening of newly recorded oral histories with key WA jazz figures and a showcase of State Library materials relating to both organisations.

The setlist for this concert, featuring significant West Australian jazz compositions from the lifetimes of PJS and WAYJO, has been thoughtfully curated by WAYJO Artistic Director Mace Francis and outgoing PJS president Kate Pass.

Several notable guest musicians will perform, including renowned vocalist Libby Hammer, esteemed guitarist and WAAPA educator Ray Walker and contemporary composer and saxophonist Gemma Farrell.

This intimate concert will be interspersed with the debut of six oral history recordings from key figures of the local jazz scene. These recordings, which have been acquired as part of the State Library’s collection, will then live on forever within the State Library’s archives and provide invaluable insights into the evolution of jazz in Western Australia.

Homecoming will be held within the towering, brutalist atrium of the State Library building against the backdrop of its impressive collections. This is a rare opportunity to experience one of the State’s most iconic buildings after dark, with the music resonating throughout this impressive space. Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to enjoy the concert while surrounded by ephemera and photography capturing moments in the history of WAYJO and PJS.

Homecoming: A Celebration of WA Jazz History will be an unforgettable evening of music, history, and culture. The State Library of Western Australia invites the public to join in this exceptional celebration of West Australian jazz and the remarkable journey of the Perth Jazz Society and WA Youth Jazz Orchestra.