When you think of jazz, you think of the jazz scene in New York City or New Orleans. In Europe you think of London, Montreux or Umbria. But when you think of jazz in Australia, it’s not a city or a town that comes to mind, it’s a jazz club – the Bennetts Lane Jazz Club – described by the Lonely Planet travel guide to Australia as “the world’s best jazz club”.
Bennetts Lane was opened in 1992 by Michael Tortoni and it has been the most influential jazz music venue in Australia over the past two decades. To celebrate its coming of age, well-known jazz writer and jazz musician himself, David James, approached Michael to write the Club’s story.
Chapters cover the club’s history, the club’s founder, local musicians who have performed at the Club, the international performers (rock/pop legend Prince has given impromptu performances at Bennetts Lane – twice!) the club’s ties with the city, the media and Melbourne jazz educators. Packed with quotes and anecdotes from jazz greats – the established musicians and the next generation – and illustrated with scores of photos, jazz aficionados and those just discovering the fascinating world of jazz, will find this a compelling read.
