Let’s be real here, Chatswood and its north Sydney surrounds have never really been associated with cool. Corporate HQs and HSC cramming colleges yes; chilled out jazz lounges for the night cats  … not so much.

But that’s been changing of late, thanks to the intimate cabaret-seated space of The Lounge at The Concourse, which has just launched a new program for 2026 – 10 concerts featuring established stars of Australian jazz, its rising ensembles and some big-band favourites.

Presented by Willoughby City Council as part of its Culture Bites program, the series has become a regular fixture on Sydney’s jazz calendar, offering audiences the chance to hear leading performers up close in a relaxed club setting.

Zela Margossian. Portrait supplied

The season opens on 26 March with the Zela Margossian Quintet, led by the Armenian-Australian pianist and composer whose music draws on Armenian folk traditions as well as jazz and classical influences – a distinctive cross-cultural sound world heard on her acclaimed album The Road. Margossian’s quintet features a stellar lineup including saxophonist Stuart Vandegraaff and  bassist Jacques Emery.

One of Australia’s most celebrated jazz instrumentalists takes the stage on 16 April when the James Morrison Quartet appears with vocalist Darren Percival. A multi-instrumentalist and one of the most visible faces in the jazz scene, Morrison has built an international reputation for his virtuosity on trumpets, trombone and piano. Over a career spanning more than four decades he has performed with artists ranging from Ray Charles to B.B. King, while also mentoring younger players through the academy that bears his name.

On 21 May, pianist and bandleader Peter Locke delivers a set of cool, elegant arrangements of American Songbook classics with Phil Stack on bass, Andrew Dickeson on drums and Sydney jazz vocalist Kate Wadey, whose warmly expressive voice adds a fresh dimension to Locke’s selection of jazz favourites.

Two of Australia’s most distinguished jazz artists feature on (18 June): vocalist Michelle Nicolle and pianist-composer Paul Grabowsky. 

Grabowsky – a former artistic director of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival – has long been one of the country’s most influential jazz figures; Nicolle is widely admired for her subtle phrasing and emotionally direct interpretations.

Paul Grabowsky. Photo © David Kelly

Their program, titled Noir, revisits classic ballads associated with the great torch singers of the 20th century, presenting them in pared-back arrangements highlighting the expressive depth of the repertoire.

On 16 July, the spotlight shifts to emerging talent with a double bill featuring the Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra Big Band and the Spectra Jazz Orchestra. The program showcases new Australian repertoire alongside classics from the big-band tradition, including works by pioneering composer and pianist Judy Bailey who died earlier last year. Spectra, a 17-piece ensemble of young women and gender-diverse musicians, has attracted attention for its bold programming and commitment to expanding opportunities in large-ensemble jazz.

August 27 brings a salute to the swing era with Blue Rhythm Band presenting The Duke Ellington Legacy. Led by drummer and bandleader Andrew Dickeson, the ensemble explores the enduring influence of the Duke through classic repertoire and historically informed arrangements.

Emma Pask. Portrait supplied

One of Australia’s most beloved jazz vocalists appears on 17 September when Emma Pask performs High Standards. Pask first came to national attention as the teenage singer in Morrison’s band and spent two decades touring internationally with the trumpeter. Her warm stage presence and effortless swing have since made her a favourite interpreter of the Great American Songbook.

The Lounge’s 15 October concert revisits the music of one of modern jazz’s most innovative composers with A Take on Dave Brubeck, performed by pianist Simon Tedeschi and a top-shelf band, the set explores the adventurous rhythms and harmonies of Dave Brubeck, whose experiments with unusual time signatures helped redefine modern jazz.

On 19 November, singer and entertainer Monica Trapaga brings her charismatic cabaret style to The Lounge with the Pocket Trio. The series concludes on 17 December with a festive Latin-jazz finale from the Dan Barnett Big Band. Trombonist and vocalist Barnett leads the 14-piece ensemble with bassist and singer Nicki Parrott guesting. Expect classics by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Dizzy Gillespie.

For more information on The Lounge at The Concourse and bookings, visit this link.