A renowned international jazz trumpeter with a bright and lively style is set to return to Ballarat for the third time this weekend.
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Born and raised in Canada, musician and composer Mike Field is returning to the Ballarat Golf Club on April 8 to share his emphatic and entertaining brand of classic and contemporary jazz.
Beginning to play the trumpet at the age of 10, Mr Field said he’d “never imagined” he’d end up playing jazz professionally.
“Whenever I stopped after finishing high school, I’d miss it,” he said. “For a few years, I’d stop playing, miss it, then start playing again, then stop, and then miss it and just keep repeating the cycle.”
His professional career started under devastating circumstances. Mr Field moved to New York City on September 11, 2001. Realising the city was in stasis, he finally followed his jazz passion into a Masters of Jazz Performance at New York University.
“I had my trumpet with me, and there was no work to be found because the city was paralysed,” he said.
I’d always wanted to study jazz, and I was interested because I loved the music, so I practised my butt off until I got into school.
- Mike Field
Starting to write and record in 2007, he’s since released three albums, with a fourth on the way, to be released in September 2018.
His recent EP Ghost And The Paperboy won the 2018 Independent Music Award for best jazz music producer, at the annual ceremony held at the iconic Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts in New York City.
“I’m always just focusing on the music I hear inside my head,” he said. “It’s amazing that people can hear music and play music, so when I hear melodies in my head, I feel a responsibility to get them out into the world.”
Mr Field will take the stage with some of Melbourne’s best young performers out of the Victorian College of the Arts, Richard Butler (saxophone), Liam Butler Webb (piano), Toshi Clinch (bass) and Josh Koop (drums).
Having played across the world including Antarctica, and now based in Toronto, Mr Field said the vibe of Ballarat was distinctly different.
“Every single city that I travel to is different in terms of jazz,” he said. “But coming here as a musician and playing with locals, I find it very easy because Melbourne has some phenomenal players.”
“As jazz music we’ve had similar experiences, and we all have the same mindset because we’re all into jazz.
“Playing in Ballarat always stands out, because of the crowd, the audience is wonderful and so welcoming.”
The Mike Field Quintet will play the Ballarat Golf Club at 1pm on April 8. Tickets $10 for jazz club members, $20 non-members.
