NIMA - Newcastle Improvised Music Association

01/09/2024

NIMA Jazz in September kicks off this Tuesday night with Adam Miller’s shifting Units.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Adam Miller had early beginnings as a solo guitar virtuoso, that led to session playing, producing, mix & master engineer, university educator and everything in between, but his vision of creating instrumental guitar music has never lost focus. With glowing coverage in guitar and music press across the world, Adam has toured the globe, performing in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Australia & even Afghanistan for the Australian and Allied Forces.
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Adam Miller released his 8th solo album, Beyond Reason, 28 April 2023 on esteemed guitarist Charlie Hunter’s label SideHustle Records. “Charlie has been such a huge influence on not just my playing, but also how to go about surviving, and evolving in the music industry. It’s an incredible honour that my first ever label release is on his SideHustle Records.”

Adam Miller – Guitar
Peter Gray – Bass
Evan Mannell – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/adam-millers-shifting-units

29/08/2024

Stuck for something to do tonight? Get down to the Thursday night Jazz Jam at !
Hosting tonight’s House Band will be Heather Price. Bring your horn/axe/voice/sticks or just come along and enjoy the show. Kick off is 8pm. Entry is $10 of FREE if you’re jamming!!

27/08/2024

Sonic Tapestry killin’ tonight at the Underground with Adrian Mears 🦴 Gavin Ahearn 🎹 and Evan Mannell 🥁

26/08/2024

This Tuesday night at NIMA: Trio Sonic Tapestry.
Adrian Mears – Trombone, loops & effects
Andrew Dickeson – Drums
Gavin Ahearn – Piano/Keys

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/trio-sonic-tapestry

Back from Europe on a brief visit to his hometown, NIMA and the Underground Jazz Club welcome the opportunity to host trombonist Adrian Mears and his exciting new trio. 35 years ago Adrian moved to Europe, quickly establishing himself as one of the strongest jazz trombonist on the European scene. His virtuosity and outstanding technical finesse on the trombone, combined with his ability to improvise effortlessly over complex polyrhythms is unique. His career has been distinguished by performance and recording credits alongside countless Jazz Legends. His international reputation also reflects his talent to compose & arrange in diverse styles of any instrumentation. With 500 original compositions, works for symphony orchestras, big bands, large choirs, and countless smaller ensembles.

“My first experiments with electronic concepts began 30 years ago, when a fortunate opportunity arose to perform a program of my choice at the Grand Hotel! There I integrated loops and effects on trombone for the first time but the quest for innovation and creativity actually started much earlier, when I joined my first teenage Novocastrian jazz band with Andrew Dickeson on drums. Fortunately, Andrew and the others also shared the same creative desire which has accompanied our musical friendship over the past 35-years.”

21/08/2024

This Thursday night’s Jazz Jam has at the wheel. Get down to the for an 8pm start. $10 entry or FREE FOR JAMMERS. It’s been packed so make sure you get in early for a great seat!

18/08/2024

Tuesday the 20th of August at NIMA: Clayton Doley and the Flashy Dash-Backs.

Jazz that makes you go WOW! The most unique and sophisticated voice in contemporary retro soul today.
“If you’re a fan of the Hammond Organ, then you need to become a fan of Clayton Doley. He’s totally mastered the instrument”

Organ Trio Album Launch
Clayton Doley – Organ
Tim Rollinson – Guitar
Evan Mannell – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/claytondoley

14/08/2024

It’s Jazz Jam Thursday with at the wheel. Come join Tom, Daryl, Mary Rapp and Toby Hall (that’s a great line up btw) on stage from 8pm. $10 entry or FREE if you’re joining the band onstage for a jam.

10/08/2024

Please join us at this special concert to raise funds for the 2025 launch of the Jacob Neale Memorial Jazz Competition.

09/08/2024

Tuesday 13th of August, NIMA presents Jiem.
Jiem are a Sydney based contemporary jazz quintet co-led by trumpeter Miles Rooney and saxophonist Tessie Overmyer, and featuring Mathew Harris (Piano), Harry Birch (Double Bass), and Ryu Kodama (Drums).
Jiem develops a sound throughout each performance that oscillates from restrained and delicate interplay—grounded in their close musical connection—to high energy and complex virtuosity.
The unique personalities and stylistic qualities of each member form a synergetic ensemble that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Their approach is varied and inventive, reminiscent of musical authorities such as Phil Slater, Andrea Keller, and Simon Barker.Jiem are marking their presence in an exciting new chapter of Australian Jazz.

Tessie Overmyer – Saxophone
Miles Rooney – Trumpet
Matt Harris – Piano
Harry Birch – Double Bass
Ryu Kodama – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/jiem

09/08/2024

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07/08/2024

This Thursday nights jazz jam will be hosted by Adam Miller. Get on down to The Grand Hotel for some good music and great fun! The show starts at 8pm. Entry is $10 or FREE FOR JAMMERS!

06/08/2024

William Kriss Quartet tonight The Underground. Starts at 8. Sound check sounded amazing. Get down if you can.

02/08/2024

Tuesday the 6th of August at NIMA:
The William Kiss Quartet presents a night of bluesy, soulful jazz, mixing original compositions with classics such as material from the ’60s Blue Note records catalogue.
Taking inspiration from artists such as Grant Green, Jimmy Smith, Wes Montgomery & the Larry Goldings Trio, the quartet will perform two sets of swinging music for you to kick back & enjoy!!

William Kiss – Guitar
Tim Kovacs – Tenor Saxophone
Harry Sutherland – Organ
Alex Young – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/william-kiss-quartet

31/07/2024

It’s Jazz Jam Thursday with Adam Ferrier once again at the wheel. Get in early, Thursday nights have been HUGE. 8pm kick off. $10 entry and FREE for Jammers!!

27/07/2024

Tuesday night at NIMA: Baltic.
Exploring sounds of nostalgia, from the Cafés of Paris, to the dance Halls of Latin America, and songs of celebration from Eastern Europe, Baltic presents music from Europe and the World.

Led by the familiar, yet unique sounds of the Clarinet and Accordion, stories from the cobblestone alleyways that weave their way throughout history come to life with a fresh energy ready to invigorate.

Adrian Quinn – Clarinet / Vocals
Neil Simpson – Accordion
John Wallace – Double Bass
Ben Barnes – Drums

Tickets:https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/baltic1

24/07/2024

It’s Thursday! JAZZ JAM AT THE GRAND! Tonight’s Host Band, fronted by Freddie Stafford, will have you sounding 🔥. Bring your horn/axe/voice and get in for free! 8pm start. $10 for the people still plucking up the courage to jam (maybe next week 😃).

23/07/2024

Only the 2nd song and Bleu Collective are dropping this kinda magic… still tons of time to get down and catch the magic, music goes until 10pm!

23/07/2024

Sound check confirms tonight’s show is gonna be 🔥🫠🔥! Get on down to see Bleu Collective, music starts at 8!

22/07/2024

This Tuesday night at NIMA.

The BLEU COLLECTIVE will step onto the NIMA stage this February.
Ready to dazzle for what will be an amazing night of vibey original jams performed by a group of truly solid young musicians.

Isaac Walker – Keys
Mat Woodcock – Trumpet
Andrew de Souza – Guitar
Brandon Yarnold – Bass
Tyson Hilder – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/bleucollective

22/07/2024

So sad to hear of the passing of Doug Saxon. Doug was a remarkable man who worked tirelessly to bring us the Newcastle Jazz Festival each year and gave so much to our local music community. Sending our heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends.

17/07/2024

Thursday night jazz jam!!! Come join our host for the NIMA/Newcastle Jazz Society Jazz Jam tomorrow night. 8pm start. $10 entry or FREE FOR JAMMERS!!

12/07/2024

Check out the latest episode of the Nightfly with Steve Gaul!

Join Steve Gaul this month for a chat with local Novocastrian royalty - Rod Barnes & Heather Price prior to their performance at The Underground with the Dungeon Small Band.

10/07/2024

This week’s NIMA / Newcastle Jazz Society Jam will be hosted by Adam Ferrier. The fun starts at 8pm. $10 entry or FREE for Jammers!!!

05/07/2024

Tuesday, 9th of July at NIMA: Spike Mason’s OXIMETRIC blend of beauty and tension”

Spike has been a PhD candidate at UTAS for the past four years researching his original Oximetric music. The oximetric concept involves the ex*****on of a largely unfamiliar performance practice within jazz ensemble music. Each musician within the ensemble plays melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic material, either composed or improvised, within their own unrelated pulse.

The musicians, although playing at the same time, do not adhere to a shared pulse, time signature, or groove. Each of the pulses are played with the goal to maintain a sense of the individual. There is no need for them to start or finish together. The pulses are not rhythmic subdivisions of each other or related mathematically. They are separate voices that create a synergy by being sounded together in the same sonic space, and sharing a common intent, or mood.

The oximetric concept incorporates archetypal rhythms that are expanded and compounded by each of the performers in the ensemble at their discretion. The rhythms are to be executed ‘phrasically’ – so that each melodic or rhythmic segment is not strict but flows and breathes as in our natural bodies.

“The object is not the random juxtaposition of hostile pieces of music, but the creation of something entirely natural, despite its divergent pulses and harmonies. The result is not a jumble of sounds but often a strange serenity, with points of convergence. Rather than being unrelentingly busy, the multiple layers tend towards discerning restraint, engendering a blend of beauty and tension.” John Shand – Sydney Morning Herald

Spike Mason – Saxophone
Barney Wakeford – Organ
Dave Goodman – Drums

Tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/event-details/spike-masons-oximetric