Market Lane Bar at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is set to become a beacon of live jazz with the announcement of an exclusive partnership with Australia’s most acclaimed jazz musician, James Morrison.
The in-house residency will see the internationally renowned jazz trumpet virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist playing in the hotel’s stylish Market Lane bar for three intimate shows during 2012.
The jazz series celebrates the best jazz cities in the world, with New York, London and Paris inspiring a selection of accompanying signature cocktails and tasting plates.
James’ kick-off gig will take place on Friday March 16 to coincide with the Australian Grand Prix, while the second show will be held on Friday June 8 during the Melbourne Jazz Festival, which runs from June 1-10 in 2012.
The final show on Friday November 9, will coincide with Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival.
Performances run from 7pm and will be open to the public. Only a small cover charge of $20 applies and bookings are made directly through the hotel. Entry is free for hotel guests after 9pm.
“The opportunity to join with a high quality venue and restore live jazz to where it should be in such a cosmopolitan city as Melbourne was just too good to pass up,” Morrison said.
“Market Lane Bar at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is precisely the sort of intimate and stylish environment that recalls the great jazz club venues of legend.
“I can’t wait to get underway and enjoy the enthusiasm of sophisticated Melbourne audiences in such a venue.
“The hotel is also to be congratulated for its vision in supporting our efforts to expose some brilliant new Melbourne jazz talent. All in all it is a great win for lovers of jazz and high style,” he said.
As part of the residency, Morrison will mentor and support emerging jazz talent through an accompanying series of Market Lane Bar performances.
InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto General Manager, Joerg Boeckeler, said the residency was an exciting partnership between the hotel and James.
“Just as we are focused on delivering a truly five-star guest experience we are very keen to collaborations that bring the best possible experiences to our hotel. To have a jazz virtuoso of James Morrison’s calibre partnering with us is certainly aligned with that aim,” Boeckeler said.
“The jazz series provides a major addition to the up-market live music scene of Melbourne and will provide a brilliant showcase for the InterContinental Melbourne at Rialto’s stunning mix of heritage and modernity – elements which make our hotel so quintessentially Melbourne.”