THE FOURTH ANNUAL JAZZGROOVE SUMMER FESTIVAL JANUARY 2013
Over half a century ago the Australian Jazz Convention celebrated the boom in traditional jazz with a classic New Orleans style parade through Surry Hills. Streets were closed off and hundreds of musicians and fans created a cacophony of sound as they descended on the old Railway Institute building at Central.
Now in 2013, Surry Hills is once again the geographic hub for a jazz festival, albeit of a more contemporary nature, as the 2013 Jazzgroove Summer Festival takes over the clubs, pubs, parks and concert venues of Surry Hills and Redfern from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 January. Since its inception in 2010 the Festival has grown from relatively humble beginnings and this year features an opening night concert at the Tom Mann Theatre, club shows with artists drawn from all over Australia and New Zealand, workshops, children’s shows and even a free solar powered jazz picnic in Prince Alfred Park.
As Jazzgroove president John Hibbard points out “the Festival is very much a team effort – we have a few paid staff but rely mainly on volunteers. We believe it speaks to the special place our association retains in the hearts of the musicians of Sydney and their fans. We’re proud to have been able to mount three festivals in a row, entirely under our own steam, and with minuscule budgets.”
This year the Festival opens with a talent packed concert at the Tom Mann Theatre featuring the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, Roger Manins, the Jonathan Zwartz Band and a solo performance from Perth based pianist Tom O’Halloran. Celebrating the start of its 10th anniversary the Mothership Orchestra will present a special special collaboration with NZ’s finest tenor player, Roger Manins featuring the superb writing of Bob Brookmeyer.
Just five minutes from the Tom Mann the funky upstairs bar of the Gaelic Club will present not only a great selection of bands but will become the late night Festival club with jam sessions from midnight onwards. Venue 505 will again be the focus of much of the action with numerous concerts on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the Dove & Olive Hotel in Devonshire Street will host two late afternoon sessions.
Hibbard is keen to stress that the festival is very affordable with just $60 for a weekend pass and $25 for an evening pass. He also notes that there are some great free events targeted to involve the community at large:
“There's our picnic in Prince Alfred Park which was a great success in 2012. Once again it will be solar powered and set under some magnificent shady trees, with sets from the Cooking Club, the Fantastic Terrific Munkle and Salvation Street Shout. We also have some wonderful concerts for families in association with Musica Viva in Schools at Redfern Town Hall – an opportunity to dance, sing and even jam with the Jazzgroove All-star ensemble playing the music of Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman and Harry Belafonte.”
The 2013 lineup features the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, Roger Manin’s Hip Flask (NZ), the Jonathan Zwartz Band, Julien Wilson (VIC), Andy Gander, Elana Stone, Tom O’Halloran (WA), The Alcohotlicks, Steve Barry Trio, Modern Mould, Ken Allars Trio, Brad Child, The Prophets (NSW/VIC), Salvation Street Shout, Midnight Teaparty, The Cooking Club, The Translators, Zoe & The Buttercups, The Fantastic Terrific Munkle, Harry Sutherland and many more! Check out all the details and book for all shows at www.jazzgroove.com
