Jazz pianist and composer Wilbur Whitta has built a name as one of the Sydney’s most in-demand pianists. His quartet “Wildfire” (featuring some of Australia’s most exciting improvisers) are touring to launch their debut album, out on ABC Jazz.

Originally from Canberra, Wilbur has performed extensively around Australia, the UK, Europe and Japan. He has appeared as a member of legendary Australian jazz outfit “Ten Part Invention” and has performed alongside acclaimed international artists Kit Downes (ECM recording artist) and Will Vinson. He was selected as a finalist in the 2021 National Jazz Awards, and in 2019, while living in London, won the UK-based Dankworth Jazz Composition Award. 

The band perform Wilbur’s compositions, together with a selection of their favourite traditional jazz repertoire, and present their own unique distortion of the boundaries between the written and improvised.

Tom Avgenicos – Trumpet

Jack Stoneham – Alto Saxophone

Alex Inman-Hislop – Drums

Wilbur Whitta – Piano, keyboards

“He [Wilbur] is prodigiously talented … I believe he will go on to become an important voice in the genre, both through his piano playing and through his compositions” – Kit Downes

“Wilbur Whitta is an exceptionally talented young pianist/composer who I expect will make a substantial contribution to Australian music in the years to come” – Mike Nock