The 2013 line up for Australia’s much-loved Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival was launched in Wangaratta yesterday, Sunday August 11. The program features international jazz and blues artists from the USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Austria, plus of course a strong local contingent.
The 2013 Festival program featuring 200 musicians, over 80 concerts on the main program, over 20 bands on the free stage in the main street, plus workshops, masterclasses, music industry forums and other special events.
The Festival’s Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson, said, “The lineup of international artists includes bands touring here for the first time, and some making a welcome return, including a few Australians who have been based overseas for many years.
“I am especially pleased to present the first tour here by the Grammy nominated Gerald Clayton Trio. New York-based Gerald has a great jazz pedigree, his father is the bassist John Clayton, his uncle the saxophonist Jeff Clayton, and he is regarded as one of the fastest-rising stars on the US jazz scene.
Also coming from New York is the Magic Trio, a long-running collaboration between three highly-regarded musicians on the new York jazz scene – vocalist and recent Jazz Bell Award winner Chris McNulty, guitarist Paul Bolleback and bassist Ugonna Okegwo; and pianist Barney McAll who will perform in both solo and trio formats.
“From Europe, we have the first Australian tour of the outstanding trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, considered one of the leading Dutch jazz artists of his generation, and his electric jazz band Kytecrash. The brilliant Belgian pianist Jef Neve, one of the most in-demand pianists on the European circuit, returns for a solo concert, which will showcase his personal development of jazz and classical influences; one of Norway’s leading saxophonists Froy Aagre returns, this time with her Electric band, and Vienna-based guitarist Peter O’Mara, originally from Australia, will lead his Affiliation band, featuring American vibes player Tim Collins, with their exciting blend of jazz and fusion”, concluded Jackson.
Special collaborations at the festival include Chris McNulty’s reunion with Paul Grabowsky; The Finer Cuts features elder statesmen of Australian jazz, trumpeter and singer Geoff Bull and drummer Allan Browne, joining a crew of youngsters eager to master the classic jazz style; saxophonist Julien Wilson assembles the stellar band heard on his new album This Is Always – Barney McAll, Jonathan Zwartz and Allan Browne; Julien Wilson is also in concert with pianist Mike Nock and guitarist Stephen Magnusson
Wangaratta Jazz Patron Paul Grabowsky brings his sextet to the Festival to perform music from their upcoming album The Bitter Suite. Other highlights in the program include DRUMBLING, the new band co-led by Niko Schauble and Ronny Ferrella; vocalist Gian Slater performs with saxophonist Jamie Oehlers in The Differences and in new band U.NLOCK, featuring New York-based Australians – trombonist Shannon Barnett (2007’s Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year), bassist Sam Anning and drummer Raj Jayaweera; multicultural jazz ensemble Way Out West, featuring Peter Knight (trumpet) and Satsuki Odamura (koto); festival debuts for the Mace Francis Nonet and Callum G’Froerer Ensemble.
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