This show is included in the Liberty-Pass, with individual tickets also available for purchase. Find out more about the Liberty Pass.

This show is eligible for a Jazz Membership discount. Find out more about PIJF Membership!

Perth International Jazz Festival is thrilled to welcome the dynamic and creative collaboration between vocalist and flautist Melanie Charles, Ignabu (drums) and Paul Wilson Bae (piano).

Brooklyn-born vocalist and flautist Melanie Charles has built her reputation as a fearless, genre-bending artist who seamlessly fuses jazz, soul, and R’n’B. Her collaborations span legends and innovators alike… from Wynton Marsalis and The Roots to Gorillaz and SZA.

Alongside New York contemporaries Ignabu (drums) and Paul Wilson Bae (piano), Charles brings a powerful project first conceived in 2019 for the renowned Wall to Wall: John Coltrane concert series in NYC.

Together, the trio weave a four-movement ceremony honouring Coltrane’s legacy, blending found footage, archival interviews, and contemporary expression into a deeply moving exploration of music, memory, and reverence. Born out of grief following the loss of drummer Lawrence Leathers, this work has become more than performance: it’s a living conversation with ancestors, art, and spirit.

Step inside the Liberty Theatre on Barrack Street and be transported into this intimate world of sound, story, and soul.

Line-up
Melanie Charles - vocals and flute
Ignabu - drums
Paul Wilson Bae - keyboards

Artist Biographies

Melanie Charles is a Brooklyn-born and -based singer and flautist who has made a name for herself as a genre-bending artist who artfully combines jazz, soul and R’n’B. She has been embraced by and collaborated with artists including Wynton Marsalis, SZA, Mach-Hommy, Gorillaz and The Roots. Her “Make Jazz Trill Again” project launched in 2016, demonstrating her allegiance to everyday people, especially youth, and is focused on taking jazz from the museum to the streets.

IGNABU is a New York–based multi-instrumentalist, producer and creative who as well as working on his own compositions and pursuits has worked with artists and projects including Macklemore, Pink Siifu, Arto Lindsay, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Soul Science Labs for Carnegie Hall.  

Paul Wilson Bae is an artist, music producer and audio engineer born and raised in Queens, New York. He has found silent success with the trust given to him by many artists, such as SZA, BIGYUKI, Kassa Overall, Morgan Guerin, Quantic, Lauryn Hill, and many more. 

Join the Club or become a Jazz Messenger!

Are you a lover of jazz? Have you come to our festivals before and want to experience more? By joining the Jazz Club, or becoming a Jazz Messenger, you reap the rewards AND get that fuzzy feeling of helping a worthy not-for-profit festival. Amongst many benefits, you also receive 15% off tickets to select jazz festival gigs plus other great benefits! Please visit this webpage to become a member!

Check out  the rest of our program!

Perth International Jazz Festival Program Page