35th National Jazz Award - Brass

Lachlan McKenzie is a musician who has gained recognition both nationally and internationally for his formidable abilities as a jazz trumpeter and composer. Born and bred in Brisbane but Sydney-based since 2021, Lachlan has had the opportunity to perform & record with various well-known artists over the years. In 2023, Lachlan toured his quartet to Osaka, Japan to perform at the 25th annual Takatsuki Jazz Street Festival, and over the last two years Lachlan has also performed at leading jazz clubs in Seoul, South Korea and Bangkok, Thailand.

Lachlan’s recent album “Departures” was released on the ABC Jazz label earlier this year and has garnered critical acclaim and a 4-star review from Eric Myers who wrote: “The written heads are exceedingly hip, and their chord structures enable all improvisers to project strong individual personalities”.

Tom Avgenicos is a trumpeter and composer living and working between Muloobinba (Newcastle) and Gadigal (Sydney).

Avgenicos has emerged as a force in Australia’s creative music scene, described as “a bold new chapter in Australian jazz” (Sydney Morning Herald) and “the type of trumpeter who comes along once in a generation” (Limelight Magazine). He has performed with jazz elders including Mike Nock, Paul Grabowsky, Ten Part Invention and Barney McAll. Avgenicos has released six critically-acclaimed albums with his own led or co-led projects including Delay 45, Lauren Tsamouras & Tom Avgenicos, Avgenicos Brothers and Tuckerbox.

His work has been performed at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre and MONA. His recent awards and recognitions include the Freedman Jazz Fellowship, Best in Music and Best in Dance at the 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival, APRA AMCOS PDA Finalist (2024 & 2025), Create NSW ‘Creative Steps’ (2025) and the 2025 ‘Made New’ Commission. Avgenicos’ latest release Ghosts Between Streams (Earshift Music, 2025) has been shortlisted ‘album of the year’ on bestofjazz.org and was selected as finalist at the APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards ‘Performance of the Year (Jazz)’. He received 3rd place at the 2017 National Jazz Awards.

Rhys Moore has rapidly established himself as one of the most exciting young trombonists on the contemporary jazz scene. Drawing inspiration from jazz luminaries such as J.J. Johnson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Trombone Shorty, his distinctive blend of jazz, funk, and New Orleans styles has captivated audiences across Australia.

A testament to his artistry, Rhys is the recipient of the prestigious Generations in Jazz James Morrison Scholarship (2025) and winner of the University of North Texas International Jazz Trombone Competition (2022).

This year, he has had the honor of performing alongside jazz greats Gordon Goodwin and Wayne Bergeron with the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He co-leads the Carger-Moore Big Band, which made waves on the main stage of the Manly Jazz Festival, and performs regularly with his funk band The Newts.

Beyond these projects, Rhys is an active performer nationwide, appearing both as a soloist and with established ensembles such as the Dan Barnett Big Band, George Washingmachine’s Little Band, The Crawfish Po’Boys, and the Birth of the Cool Orchestra. His infectious energy and innovative sound continue to bring jazz to life for audiences everywhere.

Currently in his first year of the Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Rhys is honing his craft and expanding his creative horizons. With his impressive achievements and dedication to pushing the boundaries of jazz, he is undoubtedly a name to watch in the years ahead.

Chris Vizard is a Melbourne based trombonist.

Born into a family of avid jazz listeners, Chris was lucky enough to grow up listening to the records of iconic Australian jazz luminaries such as Graeme Bell, The Red Onions, Bob Barnard and Vince Jones. This passion for jazz music inspired Chris to follow his dreams and move to the U.S.A in 2011 to major in Jazz Studies under the tutelage of renowned jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig.

Since returning to Melbourne, Chris has had the fortune to perform and record with the likes of The Cat Empire, Jet, Dean Lewis, Angus Stone, Baker Boy, Maceo Parker, Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows, Ed Kuepper and the Aints!, Wycliffe Gordon, Kenny Werner, George Garzone, Django Bates and Barney McAll.

Chris is also a member of the Horns of Leroy Brass Band and can be seen performing with them regularly at venues across the country.

Alexander Grace is a young musician who is gaining recognition as one of the emerging voices in jazz, trombone and composition in Australia. A recent graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Alex was named on the Dean’s List of Excellence and was awarded the Patricia Long Scholarship. In 2024, he was one of four students selected to represent the Conservatorium in a performance tour of Vietnam.

Originally, from regional New South Wales and based in Sydney since 2021, Alex’s music is deeply influenced by the landscapes of his upbringing. His compositions focus on lyricism, melody, timbre, and groove, and reflect a broad listening practice that draws on a wide spectrum of genres including contemporary jazz, classical, avant-garde, and hip-hop.

Alex has performed and collaborated with respected jazz artists such as Jeremy Rose, Geoff Bull, Andrew Robertson and Paul Furniss. He performs frequently as a freelance musician across Sydney, contributing his musicianship to a diverse range of projects. He also leads two original ensembles, Neko 4tet & New Sun, with which he performs his original compositions. Alex has performed at the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival and Kiama Jazz Festival.

Alex is honoured and excited to be selected as a finalist for the National Jazz Awards.