Pianist James O’Brien & vocalist Ava McDermott are regarded as two of Australia's rising jazz talents – join them for an evening of classic standards & heartwarming ballads.

James O'Brien’s distinctive sound is creative and forward-thinking, yet firmly grounded in the rich tradition of jazz. A graduate from the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), James has since shared the stage with a range of notable artists including Kate Ceberano, Dick Oatts, Remy Le Boeuf, Jamie Oehlers, Mat Jodrell, Sam Anning, and Gian Slater. 

During his career, James has performed with award-winning groups such as the Australian National Jazz Orchestra Youth Big Band, the Horizon Art Orchestra, Perth Cabaret Collective, and the WA Jazz Project – among others. He is a regular in lineups at events and festivals across Australia, including the Perth International Jazz Festival and the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival.

Ava McDermott is an award-winning vocalist and composer from Naarm (Melbourne). Proficient in both classical and jazz styles, Ava is a versatile musician, drawing from a range of musical traditions and techniques with a significant focus on improvisation.

In 2022, Ava was awarded the Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship and in 2024, Ava was awarded the prestigious Generations In Jazz Vocal Scholarship - a testament to her dedication to a career in performance. Ava has a wide scope of performance experience - from the singing at the Melbourne Recital Centre and on 3MBS Live, to integral Melbourne jazz venues including at Jazzlab for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in 2023, the Brunswick Green and the Paris Cat.

Photography by Gregory Lorenzutti & Cass Evans-Ocharern