Endorsed by the biggest names in jazz and praised by his contemporaries and international press, Gregg Arthur follows in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Tony Bennett as Australia’s premier jazz vocalist. Known for his refined vocal style, lyrical phrasing and charismatic stage presence, Gregg brings timeless jazz standards to life alongside beautifully crafted original songs. His warm baritone and huge range allow him to embrace an audience with a tender ballad, and thrill with outstanding vocal acuity, but most of all it’s his emphasis on rhythm and phrasing that has brought him admiration from legends and critics everywhere.
Based in the US for several years, and touring regularly to Singapore, China and Japan, career highlights include Las Vegas residencies with Vincent Falcone, Frank Sinatra’s musical director, a long-term residency at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill in Bel Air, Los Angeles, performances at Singapore’s Victoria Theatre, at the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre and City Recital Hall Sydney, and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. In 2018, he opened the Melbourne International Jazz Festival for Branford Marsalis, and in 2023 -24 toured 22 concerts around Australia with James Morrison and John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band.
His recordings and live performances feature original compositions and fresh interpretations of popular standards written by legendary artists including Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Michel Legrand.
In this hotly anticipated return to The Lounge, Australian singer and songwriter Gregg Arthur performs his award-winning original compositions alongside his (and our) favourite standards, from the writers who have influenced his life in song. As Gregg explains, “Whenever I perform a brilliant standard like Hoagy Carmichael’s classic “The Nearness Of You”, or Cole Porter’s immortal “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, I feel inspired to create new songs that have that same effect on people, both in the melody and the lyrics. Up Close is my way of presenting the classics that really speak to me – to all of us, who love jazz – alongside the songs that were born out of that inspiration”.
For Up Close, Gregg is joined on stage by four of Sydney’s most respected jazz musicians: Charlie Meadows on guitar, Peter Locke on piano, Craig Scott on double bass and Andrew Dickeson on drums.
“I love the way you sing. Your phrasing is perfection” - Tony Bennett
“Most contemporary jazz singers would kill to pen songs of the quality Arthur’s originals”
- John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald
“His style is cool and unhurried, he’s blessed with a great voice,
and it can’t hurt that he’s tall, dark and very handsome”
– Eric Myers, The Weekend Australian
This event is part of Chatswood Culture Bites, Willoughby City Council’s innovative program of music, theatre, comedy and more in Chatswood CBD.