Join soul sensation Ngaiire and jazz piano luminary Paul Grabowsky for A Bird is Not a Bird That Cannot Sing—an intimate, one-night-only concert of sonic alchemy. Witness the powerful musical chemistry between two kindred spirits in the acoustically rich embrace of the Windsong Pavilion
Performance supported by Gang Gang Residencies
“In 2012 I met Ngaiire on an Australian Art Orchestra project celebrating the music of Louis Armstrong. I was immediately taken with the uniqueness of her voice, its expressive emotional range, confidence and depth, and her charismatic command as a performer. We discovered that we were both born in Lae, PNG, something which I still find quite extraordinary, considering where our musical journey has taken us.”
“It took quite a few years to pick up the musical thread, but once we did, we both felt as if we had been working together for years. Ngaiire is a great artistic collaborator and ours is a work-in-progress, in the best possible sense. We are steadily at work writing a collection of new songs, a very exciting process. Some of these will form part of the show, as well as covers of songs by Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave. An album is a definite prospect, so watch this space…”
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Meet the Artists
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Ngaiire
Papua New Guinean born Sydney based artist Ngaiire has performed at Glastonbury to Splendour In the Grass as well as opening and performing with Sampha, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Sufjan Stevens, Flume and Hiatus Kaiyote . Not always comfortable operating in just the contemporary scene Ngaiire has been exercising her creative muscles by spreading out into the art world with appearances with the Australian Art Orchestra as well as her first sound installation at the Art Gallery of NSW entitled ‘3’ that ran adjacent to the 2020 Archibald exhibition.
Ngaiire has also enjoyed collaborations with the Marrugeku Dance Theatre, African American contemporary artist and sculptor Nick Cave and Tasmanian sound design artist Chris Townend.
After completing a long term artist residency at the Peggy Glanville-Hicks Composer’s House in Paddington in 2019’ Ngaiire went on to release her long awaited third album ‘3’ written and produced with Paris based artist Jack Grace. ‘3’, an album that grew out of a pilgrimage back to PNG in 2017 earned Ngaiire a slew of features and best album nods including her first 4 ARIA nominations. Fast forward to 2024, Ngaiire has sold out the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra twice, performing material from her last 3 catologies as well as releasing her first Live Album from her debut with the SSO. After a brief tour to Europe to complete her 5th album, Ngaiire is gearing up to present her huge new show ‘PAIA’ at VIVID Sydney at Carriageworks this year.
PROFESSOR PAUL GRABOWSKY AO
Paul Grabowsky is a distinguished Australian pianist, composer, and festival director, renowned for his significant contributions to jazz and the broader music scene over nearly five decades. Born in Lae, Papua New Guinea, and raised in Melbourne, Australia, he began his journey in music with piano lessons in 1964. From 1966 to 1977, he studied classical repertoire under Mack Jost and attended the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music.
Grabowsky’s interest in jazz developed during his secondary school years, prompting him to focus exclusively on jazz and improvised music from 1978. His early career involved collaborations with various music-theatre, cabaret, and comedy performers, building lasting professional relationships with the likes of Steve Vizard and Robyn Archer.
Between 1980 and 1986, Grabowsky lived in Europe and the US, primarily based in Munich, Germany, with a significant stint in New York City. During this period, he gained recognition as a versatile jazz pianist, performing across Europe with esteemed artists including Art Farmer, Benny Bailey, Johnny Griffin, Sal Nistico, and Harry Sokal. He played in bands led by saxophonists Günther Klatt and Roman Schwaller, drummer Lala Kovacev, and trombonist Marty Cook, recorded multiple albums, and led his own trio, delivering his debut album as a band leader in 1985.
Upon returning to Australia in 1986, Grabowsky quickly became a cornerstone of the Australian jazz scene, collaborating with significant figures such as Vince Jones, Dale Barlow, Bernie McGann, Allan Browne, and James Morrison. Alongside performing, he ventured into film and television scoring, working internationally with directors like Fred Schepisi, Paul Cox, and Gillian Armstrong. From 1990 to 1992, he gained widespread fame as the musical director of the television talk show “Tonight Live With Steve Vizard.” He was a composer for the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.
In 1994, Grabowsky founded the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO), which he directed until 2012. Under his leadership, the AAO initiated groundbreaking cross-cultural projects with musicians from India, Indonesia, and Australia’s First Nations communities, collaborating with iconic figures like Uncle Archie Roach and Aunty Ruby Hunter.
In recent years, Grabowsky has focused on collaborative works with singers in duet formats, teaming up with artists such as Paul Kelly, Kate Ceberano, Lisa Gerrard and Emma Donovan. He has also engaged in projects blending song and poetry, including three operas, and other innovative forms.
Grabowsky was composer-in-residence for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 2020 to 2022 and has served as artist-in-residence at the Melbourne Recital Centre and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. He directed the Queensland Music Festival in 2007 and the Adelaide Festival of Arts in 2010 and 2012. Since 2012, he has been a Professor at Monash University and the Executive Director of the Monash University Performing Arts Centres. He is currently artist-in-residence at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Throughout his illustrious career, Grabowsky has received numerous awards, including eight ARIA awards, several APRA Art Music awards, Bell awards, an AFI award, a Helpmann award, and a Deadly award. He has been the recipient of the Melbourne Prize for Music and was the Sydney Myer Performing Artist of the Year. His contributions to music were recognized with the title of Officer of the Order of Australia in 2014.