Australia’s premier jazz event, the TAC Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz, which was staged over the pre-Melbourne Cup Day weekend of Friday 28 – Monday 31 October, was a resounding success, Festival organisers announced today.
The Festival Chairman, Mrs Patti Bulluss, said, “In our 16th year, we enjoyed strong attendances, with crowds estimated at 33,000 over the four days. Unfortunately, we copped some rain on the weekend, which is unusual, but it didn’t seem to deter the patrons or to dampen anyone’s spirits. The introduction of a reserved-seating option for concerts in the Town Hall was well accepted, and box-office receipts were about 3% up on last year.”
Mrs Bulluss added, “In fact, the rain demonstrated the wonderful community spirit that makes the Festival happen. When we got to the Blues Marquee on the Sunday morning, it was ankle-deep in water. We put out a call for volunteers on the local radio station, 3NE, and people came from everywhere to dig trenches, pump the water out, and make the venue usable, all before the gates were scheduled to open.”
Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson, said, “The program was extremely well received. A lot of interest focussed on international guests like Oliver Lake, Tomasz Stanko and Alvin ‘Youngblood’ Hart, but many Australian artists — like Barney McAll, Bernie McGann, Pateras-Baxter-Brown, Allan Browne and the Continental Blues Party, to name a few — put in exceptional performances too.”
The National Jazz Awards, which featured vocalists this year, saw first place awarded to Sydney singer Elana Stone. The runner-up was Jo Lawry, while Kristin Berardi received third prize. Along with a cheque for $6000, Stone will receive a studio recording for ‘Mal Stanley’s Jazztrack’ on ABC Classic FM, and an invitation to perform in the Stonnington Jazz concert series in Melbourne, in May 2006.
Adelaide’s John McBeath was announced as winner of the inaugural National Jazz Writing Competition ; his review of a cd by Brisbane trio Misinterprotato (who played at Wangaratta) was published in ‘The Bulletin’ on November 9.
Several concerts were recorded, and will be broadcast in coming months on ‘Mal Stanley’s Jazztrack’ on ABC Classic FM, or ‘Live On Stage’ on Radio National. Elana Stone’s performance in the final round of the National Jazz Awards will be broadcast on ‘Jazztrack’ between 5.00-7.00pm on Saturday 19 November.
Review quotes from the Festival :
“The Wangaratta Jazz Festival turned 16 this year, and it has stood for quality, integrity, and creative liberalism?..Artists always seem to ‘step up’ when they perform here.” – Jessica Nicholas, ‘The Age’
“It was a long weekend of immensely satisfying music.” – John McBeath, ‘The Australian’
For more information, check the Festival’s web site; www.wangaratta– jazz.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
14 November 2005
Michelle Buxton – Buxton Walker Publicity
