The Rookies – Play Jazz 3 Album Launch

The Rookies – Play Jazz 3 Album Launch

Support: Holly Moore Quartet

Naarm punk-jazz darlings The Rookies return with Play Jazz 3, the third instalment in their celebrated album series exploring the meaning, power, and purpose of jazz. In an age of social alienation and media cynicism—when nostalgia is too often commodified to distract from a difficult present—jazz calls us to reconnect with our roots and honour the wisdom of our creative forebears. It acts as a conduit between past and future, demanding that we listen, learn, and move forward together in communal, participatory consciousness. When big-tech broligarchs want us divided, jazz reminds us how to be human.

With their signature alchemy of firebrand improvisation and star-eyed whimsy, Fitzroy’s favourite quintet digs beneath the surface of jazz history to unearth and reimagine another batch of deep cuts. Play Jazz 3 features new versions of works by the often-overlooked mother of bebop Mary Lou Williams; 90s New York No Wave ensemble The Lounge Lizards; living legend Lonnie Liston Smith, whose Cosmic Echoes shaped the sound of 70s spirit-jazz; and The Awakening, one of jazz history’s most under-recognised creative conduits. Their 70s output on Black Jazz Records remains prized by crate diggers yet unknown to many contemporary listeners.

This new collection from the Fitzroyal ensemble also spotlights the rich history of jazz in so-called Australia with a tune by local guitarist John Scurry, drawing a line between St. Louis and St. Kilda. A hidden jewel of the record is a quiet, brooding take on the lesser-known John Coltrane piece “The Drum Thing.” Both earnest and irreverent, intimate and extroverted, Play Jazz 3 shines a light on the forgotten histories that shaped the modern era—an art form still transmitting an encoded message of humanity’s salvation. In an age of noise, The Rookies play jazz.

The Rookies

For over 11 years, The Rookies’ weekly front-bar residency in Fitzroy has become a touchstone for party-facing, life-affirming, socially conscious jazz in Naarm/Melbourne. Beginning as quiet background vibes, the night evolved into a raucous, rafter-swinging jazz hoedown, drawing international guests, tastemakers, and loyal locals. Wednesday night at The Rooks Return—known affectionately, simply, as “jazz”—is the city’s worst kept secret.

Since releasing their critically acclaimed debut LP The Rookies Play Jazz in 2018, the band has released four albums, performed at festivals around the country, and taken up the mantle of hosting the storied annual Melbourne International Jazz Festival jam session. In 2023 the band delivered a legendary 3am performance of St Germain’s acid-jazz classic Tourist at Strawberry Fields, sparking an electronic branch of the group’s musical explorations. In 2024 they sold out Fitzroy’s iconic Night Cat to launch Feed the Fire, a rallying cry for change in a turbulent age.

Increasingly conscious of the power of music to resist tyranny and uplift the human spirit, The Rookies champion authenticity, humility, and community above all.

Tom Sly – trumpet
Greg Sher – alto sax
Joel Trigg – piano
Anton Schulz – double bass
Chris Cameron – drums

Holly Moore Quartet

The Holly Moore Quartet brings together Holly Moore with renowned pianist Aaron Choulai (Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra), alongside Melbourne rhythm-section stalwarts Robbie Finch and Luke Andresen. Holly leads multiple projects and has performed with the Australian Art Orchestra since 2023. She released her album FLOOD on Japanese/Australian label Namboku Records in 2024.

After receiving an ABC Jazz Composition Commission, Holly released her debut recording Reunion in late 2023 to high acclaim. She is a distinctive voice in contemporary Australian improvised music, with compositions described as “majestic” (The Age).

Holly Moore – alto sax
Aaron Choulai – piano
Robbie Finch – double bass
Luke Andresen – drums