Daryl Aberhart is a master of the musical re-frame. While he is widely recognised as the
only artist ever authorised to set lyrics to the compositions of jazz legend John Scofield
(The Cat Within – 2007), it is his ability to “mutate” the familiar that has earned him a cult
following across the Australian jazz and blues scene.
His 2011 release, Aussie Gold Vol. 1, became a benchmark for soulful re-imagination,
taking iconic radio hits and rebuilding them with deep grooves and sophisticated twists.
In 2026, Daryl is doubling down on this signature approach. Armed with a new batch of
unrecorded arrangements—ranging from the Australian popular songbook to international classics—he continues to deconstruct nostalgia and replace it with something entirely fresh.
A veteran of major festivals from Thredbo to Manly International, Daryl remains a restless creative. Whether leading his powerhouse band (featuring bassist/vocalist Grace Aberhart), along with Dave Longo (guitar) and Dave Sanders (drums), or exploring avant-garde frontiers, his mission remains the same: to intrigue, delight, and deliver the songs you know by heart with a sophisticated and soulful edge.
Another vocalist featured this evening will be Grace Aberhart, a Newcastle-based bassist and vocalist, has been performing regularly since 2014. She has recently performed on bass with Sean Wayland and Daryl Aberhart, and who works across a wide range of genres with local artists, including recording backing vocals for jazz projects. Performing across jazz, funk, rock and pop, she has also built an online following through bass and vocal covers of artists such as Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder. Alongside her work as a session musician, she writes and produces indie pop-rock as a solo artist, fronting her band as a singing bassist.
