Pianist Wilbur Whitta and guitarist Peter Koopman are two mainstays of the Gadigal/Sydney jazz scene. Coming together to lead this performance, they’ll present a selection of originals and some of their favourite jazz repertoire, joined by two of Australia’s best – Cameron Undy (bass) and Andrew Gander (drums).
Originally from Canberra/Ngunnawal, Wilbur Whitta is an award-winning pianist and composer specializing in contemporary jazz and improvised music. He has performed extensively in Australia, the UK, Europe, and Japan, and has been a member of the legendary Australian jazz outfit “Ten Part Invention.” Whitta has collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists like Kit Downes and Will Vinson. A finalist in the 2021 National Jazz Awards, he also won the UK-based Dankworth Jazz Composition Award in 2019. Currently, he leads his band “Wildfire,” which recorded their debut album for ABC Jazz.
For the past decade, Peter Koopman, a New Zealand-born guitarist and composer, has called Sydney home. He draws inspiration from Australia’s rich and diverse music scene, developing a unique and versatile musical voice. In 2022, he won the National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. In 2023, Koopman released his debut album as a leader, Now Where?, featuring seven original tunes recorded live with Tim Firth on drums, Lachlan Hamilton on tenor sax, and Jacques Emery on double bass. A sought-after sideman, Koopman has performed in Australia and internationally with artists such as Will Vinson, Ben Vanderwal, Vince Jones, Aloe Blacc, Donny Benét, Andrew Gander, and more.