Vocalist Lucy Iffla and guitarist Matthew Gudgeon.
Lucy Iffla
For as long as she can remember, Lucy Iffla has been drawn to culturally diverse and heart-warming music. This led her to complete a Bachelor of Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating with the award for Best Bachelor Recitalist. Through her degree Lucy was privileged to work alongside esteemed international and national artists in Paris, New York and Japan, most notably Tom Scott, Katie Noonan, Dave Pietro, Megan Washington, Jamie Oehlers, Linda May Han Oh, Ben Vanderwal and The Rodriguez Bros.
Lucy’s debut album, You Are Home, will be launched at the 2023 Perth International Jazz Festival, and was made possible after receiving the 2023 Perth Jazz Society Recording Opportunity. It features some of her hometown’s best players in Matthew Gudgeon (guitar and vocals), Alistair Peel (bass), Harry Mitchell (piano), Ricki Malet (trumpet), and Ben Vanderwal (drums).
Lucy has previously recorded in New York and Paris at the New York University, and more locally with the Mace Francis 11-tet Orchestra, the SHOWAYJO project collaborating with SHOWA Music University in Japan and the Artemis Orchestra. Lucy’s talent has wowed the York Festival crowds, opened the Perth International Jazz Festival, captivated the Perth Festival at Government House Gardens and charmed local festivals such as the Lyric Lane Jazz Festival and Joondalup Festival.
Most recently Lucy received a nomination for Best Vocalist in the WA Music Awards, and a Top 10 nomination in the National Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Awards. Thanks to her live performances in Perth, Melbourne and beyond, Lucy has developed an elegant and timeless voice beyond her years.
Matt Gudgeon
Matthew Gudgeon is a renowned Perth-based guitarist hailing from the remote town of Tom Price in northern WA. Gudgeon released his first jazz album Beginnings, in 2021, featuring Ben Vanderwal on drums and Alistair Peel on bass. He is expecting to release another in late 2023. Gudgeon has shared the stage with a plethora of well-known musicians from several genres, including Kizz Daniel, Guy Sebastian, Mano, Damini Bhatla, Tim Godfrey, The Rodriguez Brothers, Jamie Oehlers and Katie Noonan as well as recording sessions for Mychelle and Jewel Owusu. Gudgeon is able to draw from these experiences to produce guitar playing that resembles traditional jazz and folk melodies, whilst also incorporating R’n’B and Afro-beat colloquialisms.