A popular and busy member of the Brisbane jazz and funk scenes in the 1990’s, dynamic and unique pianist/keyboardist, vocalist, composer/arranger, Kyle Watson returns for his first performance in Brisbane in 3 decades, bringing a power quintet of excellent jazz musicians to JMI’s intimate performance space to celebrate the occasion.

A last minute addition to this year’s JMI Live program, Kyle and his Jazz Warriors will be offering an opportunity for acquaintance or reacquaintance (as the case may be) with Kyle’s dynamic and adventurous piano playing, explorative and expressive vocals, and innovative arranging and composing, as well as the expressive, energetic, and creative interaction Kyle typically draws out of his musical companions - with this ensemble being keenly willing and thoroughly able to heed the call from the seasoned bandleader, and ready to add their own insights to his vision.

The Jazz Warriors will be delivering a spectrum of Kyle’s vocal and instrumental arrangements and ‘rearrangements’, including hip vocal interpretations of songbook standards and lyricised hard bop instrumentals, chordalised Ornette Coleman material, quintessential 60’s jazz instrumentals, and original material, with some unique flavours and stimulating surprises to be expected.

Hailing from Toowoomba, Kyle began pursuing jazz in earnest when he was selected as a finalist in James Morrison’s Generations In Jazz scholarship competition in 1991, while completing a Bachelor of Creative Arts (majoring in classical composition) at the University of Southern Queensland. Since then, he has established a reputation as a dependable multi-instrumental freelance musician, an excellent music teacher, and an innovative and dynamic creative artist in the local music scenes of Toowoomba (Take Five, Melodious Thunk Theory, Midnight Camels), Brisbane (Chicken Sandwich, Afro Dizzi Act, Catman), Sydney (Lizard, Caning Sessions), Cairns (Sound Sculptors, Step Ahead), and, particularly, the Northern Rivers, where he has lived for 25 years, playing professionally as a freelance musician and band leader (Selim Sivad, Beat Collective, Kyle Watson Trio / Quartet, Jazz Warriors), and also teaching music - including working at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre as a lecturer, tutor, and curriculum developer on their past Advanced Diploma in Jazz and Improvisation courses, and Certificate IV and Diploma of contemporary music courses. Kyle has also mentored several students studying the Bachelor of Contemporary Music at Southern Cross University, both, privately, and as a specialist tutor hired by SCU’s indigenous Gnibi College.

Having recently returned to his home town of Toowoomba, Kyle may again become a familiar face in the South East Queensland music scene, where he is regarded with esteem and affection among musicians who have known and worked with him in the past.

Joining Kyle, will be fellow Jazz Warriors, Northern Rivers jazz stalwart, professional trumpet teacher, and past Sydney Conservatorium graduate, Govinda Abbott, versatile and hardworking Lockyer Valley Guitarist and past JMI graduate, Jesse Kupper, respected new-generation Brisbane drummer, music tutor, and graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Jazz program, Josh Batka, and JMI’s own CEO and hardworking and seasoned double-bassist and teacher, Nick Quigley. This group of formally and experientially qualified, and overtly talented players stand to bring a high level of music-making to the stage for this one-off (for now) event.

GIG DETAILS:

Friday 7th November 2025

$20 Entry (+GST & BF)

Doors open from 7:30pm

Music starts at 8pm

ALL AGES (people under 18 need to be accompanied by a guardian)

LICENSED BAR