Vanessa Perica Orchestra - The Eye Is the First Circle (2023)

Award-winning composer, arranger and conductor Vanessa Perica has quickly become one of the most exciting voices in Australian jazz.

Premiering her new album at MIJF 2023, Perica’s dynamic and exhilarating 18-piece ensemble features some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians – hailing from Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth – and including Jamie Oehlers, Julien Wilson, Ben Vanderwal, Mat Jodrell and Andrea Keller. Together, this formidable jazz orchestra unites to bring to life original compositions by one of the country’s most innovative jazz talents.

Perica’s debut album, Love is a Temporary Madness, was met with widespread acclaim – named one of the best Australian albums of 2020 by The Guardian, winner of the Best Jazz Album at the Music Victoria Awards, ‘Work of the Year’ at the APRA Art Music Awards and Australian Jazz Bell Awards, and nominated for the prestigious Australian Music Prize.

“Love is a Temporary Madness signals the arrival of a major new voice in the world of large ensemble jazz. Writing for her namesake orchestra—a big band stacked with some of Australia's top musicians—Vanessa Perica makes some serious waves. If jazz bias and press didn't so clearly favor North America, it's likely that this lauded debut would've drawn even more plaudits.” - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz.