Workshops
Workshop Information
Location: Brisbane Jazz Club, 1 Annie St., Kangaroo Point.
Fee: $60 per person. Pay via cash or credit card on the day. Note that there will be a surcharge on all credit card transactions. Don’t forget your instrument!
Payments are made to the OzManouche Festival team and not the Brisbane Jazz Club Box Office.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of the workshop.
Don’t forget your instrument!
2025 Workshop Artists
Charlie
Mc Carthy
Friday 26th September
12 pm to 1.30 pm
Doors 11.45 am
The Art of Spontaneity — Improvisation for Every Player
Open To All Instruments
The Art of Spontaneity — Improvisation for Every Player With Charlie McCarthy (Author of the Postclassical Violin Method Book Series)
Whether you’re a curious beginner or an advanced improviser, this inclusive workshop offers a playful and practical approach to improvisation. Led by Hobart violinist and educator Charlie McCarthy, participants will explore rhythmic phrasing, musical dialogue, and harmonic tools like dyads and modal shapes. No matter your instrument or experience, you’ll come away with real strategies for unlocking spontaneous creativity, staying in the form, and saying something personal with your playing. Bring your instrument, your ears, and a sense of adventure!
Some concepts which will be explored:
Improvisation is about play, shape, and listening — not complexity
Start with one note and expand from there
Dyads and phrase shapes unlock harmony simply
Mistakes are moments, not failures
More about Charlie on his Website
Date: 26th Sept
Time: 12 - 1.30 pm (Doors open 11.45 am)
Location: Brisbane Jazz Club, Google Maps
Duration: 90 mins
Price: $60 pay on the day. Cash and card payments are accepted.
*Note: fees apply to credit card payments.
Adam Russo & Tom Flenady
Saturday 27th Sept
11 am to 12.30 pm
Doors 10.45 am
The Art Of The Gypsy Jazz Rhythm Section
Open To All Instruments
"One of the best swing rhythm sections in Australia"
– Cameron Jones (Creative Director, OzManouche)
Adam Russo and Tom Flenady have been mainstays of the Melbourne jazz manouche and swing communities since meeting on the bandstand, filling in with "The Furbelows" in 2014. If you've been to Ozmanouche before, you might recognise Tom from backing up "Noria and the Parisians" in 2023, or you might remember Adam's performances with "Catfish" in 2014 and 2019 or "La Mauvaise Reputation" in 2022. Together, they held down the rhythm behind fiery instrumentalists like Ben Holder, Caley Groves, and Daniel John Martin in 2023 and 2024. Over many, many gigs, they've played Italian jazz ("Dai, Ciccio!"), Skiffle and music hall ("Skiffle Party"), supported swing dances ("The Cat's Pyjamas"), and even trad jazz Australiana ("The Half-Sucked Mangoes").
Over the years, Tom and Adam have formed an indelible musical bond, infusing their music with a strong sense of swing and spontaneity. They've learned a lot about what makes a good swing rhythm section and will share their practical tips for any level of musician, from beginner to advanced. Guitarists, bassists, pianists, drummers, and, god forbid, violinists are all encouraged to attend!
More about
Adam Russo on Facebook
Tom Flenady on Facebook
Date: Saturday 27th Nov
Time: Saturday 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Doors open 10:45 am)
Location: Brisbane Jazz Club, Google Maps
Duration: 90 mins
Price: $ 60 pay on the day. Cash and card payments are accepted.
*Note: fees apply to credit card payments.
Charlie
Mc Carthy
Saturday 27th Sept
1 pm to 2.30 pm
Doors 12.45 PM
Rhythm Workshop for Bowed String Players
Double Stops, Double Impact: Join Hobart violinist and Postclassical Violin author Charlie McCarthy for a high-energy deep dive into rhythmic dyads and chordal accompaniment for bowed string players. This workshop unpacks how to form juicy double-stops, tritone shapes, and stacked intervals to comp like a guitarist—all with the bow. Learn how "the chord is the arpeggio," how to groove with confidence, and how to turn simple dyads into bold rhythmic support in any improvised setting. Perfect for classical players curious about creative accompaniment in swing, jazz, and beyond.
Some Benefits for Participants
1 . More confident in jam sessions or informal gigs
2 . Greater harmonic fluency without needing a full jazz theory background
3. New creative tools for both accompaniment and improvisation
4. Freedom from the melody-only mindset, improved rhythmic timing and feel
5. A sense of empowerment—being able to "fill out" the sound and drive the music forward
More about Charlie on his Website
Date: Saturday 27th Nov
Time: Saturday 1.00 pm to 2:30 pm (Doors open 12.45 pm)
Location: Brisbane Jazz Club, Google Maps
Duration: 90 mins
Price: $ 60. Pay on the day. Cash and card payments are accepted.
*Note: fees apply to credit card payments.
Ian Date
Sunday 28th Sept
11 am to 12.30 pm
Doors 10.45 am
Guitar
Oftentimes in a workshop, there is one idea that stays with you and keeps you inspired for weeks.
Chord formation, timing, rhythm and voicings, alternative choices and variations.
Soloing: arpeggios, technique, phrasing, note choice, decoration, expression, simplicity, groove, timing and problem solving.
We will be going through various gypsy jazz concepts and techniques.
Have a look at these two tunes:
Joseph Joseph
Swing Guitars
There is flexibility built into the workshop to cover questions and concepts that may arise.
Ask me anything!
If you haven't attended before, please come along and get involved. The workshop will also benefit other instrumentalists and guitar players.
I look forward to seeing you and making music.
More about Ian on his Website
Date: Sunday 28th Sept
Time: 11 am to 12:30 pm (Doors open 11:45 am)
Location: Brisbane Jazz Club, Google Maps
Duration: 90 mins
Price: $60. Pay on the day. Cash and card payments are accepted.
*Note: fees apply to credit card payments.