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Vada

Vada’s first incarnation was formed in 2000, by four of the current members, as a means of maintaining their musical and social relationships, which began when they studied together at the Victorian College of The Arts Secondary School. Since then the personnel has expanded and now consists of tenor saxophone, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums and piano.

Their unique ‘…update of the Mingus approach…’ (Martin Jackson – Modern and Contemporary Jazz Musics – Melbourne 2001) has ensured they are a mainstay in the Melbourne jazz scene, performing their distinctive brand of klezmer/hip hop/waltz/Dixie/tango/New Orleans/odd time Balkan jazz at such renowned venues as Bennetts Lane, The Planet, Ninth Ward, Subterrain, Barbukka, Coburg Chess Club, Club Cartel, Bliss Lounge and a current residency at the Cape Lounge.

They opened both the 2002 Bennetts Lane International Jazz Festival and the Melbourne Creative Music Alliance Concert Series at the Ninth Ward, as well as the 2002 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues and the inaugural Half Bent Winter Jazz Festival earlier this year, which were both recorded for ABC Classic FM’s ‘Jazztrack’ program. Vada has done a live to air recording for PBS and receives regular airplay on Melbourne Radio ABC, PBS and RRR and Bay FM in Byron Bay.

Based in Melboune, all members of Vada are studying or have completed the Victorian College of the Arts Improvisation course. They have performed at the VCA Open Day as well as run workshops at other schools around Melbourne including Princes Hill, Mentone Girls and Preshill Secondary Colleges.

Vada will be embarking on several tours in the near future, including a whirlwind trip to Brisbane, Byron Bay and Sydney in December. For more more information about Vada tours, visit our gigs page.

	Put your mouse over a photo to see a bio! Aaron Choulai – Piano Recipient of John Hopkins Scholarship – 2000 Nominated for APRA Young Composers Award – 2001 Composer for various independent films Commissions include: Pacific Island Trade Commission, Barry Veith Big Band, Bennetts Lane Big Band. Performed at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Bruthen Blues Festival and Adelaide Festival. Tours to Noumea, Vietnam, U.S.A and nationally Shannon Barnett - Trombone Recipient of Frances Quinn Encouragement Award 2001 Performed at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Maldon Jazz Festival, Meredith Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Melbourne Women’s Jazz Festival Toured nationally with ‘Into Wishing’ primary school show Performed with Barry Veith Big Band, Victorian Youth Jazz Orchestra, United Voices, The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra, Combo La Revelacion, Captain Splash, Rumberos Excellent Adventure, Adrian Sherriff’s Trombone Octet, Tim Davies’ Big Band. Also worked with Bob Sedergreen, David Jones, Gil Askey and Rhonda Burchmore. Rory McDougall – Drums Received his Bachelor of Music Performance (Repertoire) from the Victorian College of the Arts Performs regularly with Vada, Speak Percussion, Burnout, The FS McCrackens and others. Performed at Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Bennetts Lane International Jazz Festival Won 2000 Athenaeum Awards with Speak Carlo Barbaro – Tenor Saxophone Recipient of the John Hopkins Scholarship – 1999 Currently studying 3^rd year of Bachelor of Music (Improvisation) at the VCA Recently recorded Australian composer Don Banks’ piece ‘Meeting Place’ Performs regularly with Vada, Burnout, Dizzy’s Big Band, Blowout and Session Six. Has also worked with Adam Simmons Toy Band, Victorian Youth Jazz Orchestra, Madahorn, Romeo’s Delight, Night Time and the Bennetts Lane Big Band as well as noted musicians Gary Costello, Tony Gould, David Jones and Rhonda Burchmore. Performed at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Bennetts Lane International Jazz Festival. Tom Lee – Bass Currently studying 3^rd year of the Bachelor of Music (Improvisation) at the VCA As a member of the Gian Slater Quartet he won the 2002 Athenaeum Awards Performed with Jamie Oehler’s Blowfish, Bob Sedergreen, Steve Sedergreen, Victorian Youth Jazz Orchestra and Tim Stevens Performed at Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Bennetts Lane International Jazz Festival Recently recorded Australian composer Don Banks’ piece ‘Meeting Place’ Eamon McNelis – Trumpet Was a participant in the 1999 Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composers Program Performed with Adam Simmons’ Toy Band, TISM, Will Guthrie’s Antboy, Captain Splash, Room 101 and The Full Foot Flat Flat Five Recorded an album with gospel/soul choir The Brilliant Captains Of Love Performed at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Bennetts Lane International Jazz Festival