DESCRIPTION:
James Sandon with Kristin Berardi and Nathaniel Andrew
THURSDAY August 11th - 8pm - $10

James Sandon was born into a family of professional musicians in Perth, Western Australia 1976. He started playing the drums and the alto saxophone at the age of six, switched to the tenor saxophone at thirteen, and since then has been playing saxophone, drums, congas, guitar and bass professionally in a variety of genres, that include cabaret, rock, pop, blues, soul, R&B, latin, and jazz.

James attended the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, at Edith Cowan University, and received an Associate Diploma of Performing Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music (1995), and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (1998). While attending the academy, James was a member of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) from 1992 – 1998, and in 1995, received the WAYJO scholarship which took him to the USA to attend and participate in the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. James received the Bob Wylie Jazz scholarship for Graduating students in 1995.

Now based in Brisbane, James is a sought after session musician and performs regularly as a saxophonist and percussionist in a variety of bands locally and nationally.

Kristin Berardi, originally from the country town of Koumala in North Queensland, is a one of Australia's first calls when it comes to Jazz Singing. Her accolades include winning the Montreux Jazz Festival's International Vocal Competition in 2006, supporting Al Jarreau and George Benson at Montreux Jazz Festival 2007, winning the National Freedman Fellowship 2007, receiving two National Australian Bell Awards for the Best Jazz Vocal Album for 2010& 2012, and most recently winnning the the National Jazz Award for Voice at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival (2012), and being one of five finalists in this year's APRA Professional Development Awards for Jazz (2013).

Nathaniel Andrew has had the opportunity to perform and open for may big name acts including Jasmine Sullivan, The O'Jays, Joe, Robin Thicke, Mel Carter, Anita Baker, the Deal and Frankie Beverly and Maze, Jeff Coffin, Gary Winters, Sarah Morrow, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Dennis Chambers, Bootsy Collins, Steve Jordan, Freekbass, Tjuperru as well as many more.