“A common question about Gershwin’s music is: ‘Is it jazz?’ Many would say that jazz has to be improvised. But even then, jazz is often defined by its groove and a grounding in the blues, that uniquely American sound and form teetering between happiness and sadness. Based on this alone, it would seem that George Gershwin’s music is more jazzy than jazz, as his music is also the legacy of Russian classical music, Eastern European Klezmer, and French impressionism. However, his music has such a sense of harmonic inevitability and flow that jazz musicians—those inculcated in the tradition of the music of Black America, from the south in particular—use Gershwin’s songs (and his brother’s lyrics) to create jazz. George is a jazz musician, and I am a classical musician who loves jazz, and so our duo represents everything that Gershwin is and tries to be—a music for all people, in all our complexity.” – Simon Tedeschi

Extraordinary concert pianist Simon Tedeschi is one of Australia’s best-loved classical musicians, performing everything from Mozart and Chopin to Debussy and Prokofiev for orchestras, festivals, and venues around the world, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. Acclaimed by respected critics and peers as “true greatness” (SMH), Simon performed his first Mozart piano concerto in the Sydney Opera House at age nine, later studying and performing in the USA.

Performing alongside him is jazz entertainer George Washingmachine, a master of improvisation and interpretation within the jazz tradition. Known for his dynamic violin playing, captivating vocals, and diverse musical talents, George brings a uniquely fun energy to the stage.