Jazz show revives old tunes

AFTER a year off live shows, the Ballarat Jazz Club is set to host its first gig for the year at the Ballarat Golf Club with the much-loved Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble.

To take place Sunday, 21 February from 1p to 4pm, the jazz group are set to play a range of 1920s and 1930s music, Australian composed songs, as well as Latin American, and Glenn Miller tunes.

Ballarat musician, reed player and vocalist for the band Barry Currie said after a lean year for musicians, it’s great to be booking and playing shows again.

“This is one of the first gigs, we’re looking forward to the event run by the Ballarat Jazz club which I’m also a member of,” he said.

“The band has been going for around 34 years, we play around all of the other clubs around Victoria and I’ve been in it for around 10, I play in other bands too but this one is a really happy band.

“We have fun on stage, we play swing music, jazz, Latin and jazz classics, it’s going to be a great day especially because we haven’t been able to go out and listen to music in a long time.”

As the organiser of the event, president of Ballarat Jazz Club Gerard Ballinger said it was disappointing to not be able to book any of the bands over the last 12 months.

“Music is a very powerful therapeutic way of making you feel good,” he said.

“It’s a great thing, it gives people the opportunity to socialise and it’s good for your mental health, so it’s going to be a great day.

“In addition to this first gig, we’ve got quite a few bands booked for the year so people can look forward to that.”

Tickets $20 for non-members and $10 for members. To book call 0456 689 123.