All that jazz

FANS from around the country came to the 73rd Australian Jazz Convention held in Ballarat last week.

From Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve the city was alive with over 140 bands playing jazz.

The first day of the convention kicked off with a mass band march and set in the Bridge Street Mall.

Geelong resident Krys Cutler and Min Arnst, from Adelaide, both fans of traditional jazz – they love listening to New Orleans and main stream Glenn Miller – were at their fourth convention.

“The Convention is a chance for the musicians to get together, if there are musicians missing or spare, somebody will step up and play something brilliant improvising as they go,” said Ms Cutler.

Ms Arnst added, “The jazz tribe in Ballarat are friendly, accommodating and there is a very happy feeling here.”

The Convention, started in 1946, is the longest continually run event of its kind in the world with the musicians who attend playing essentially for their own benefit and enjoyment.

The informality of the performances, encouraging interaction and camaraderie between all generations of musicians and audience, is a bonus for all involved.

Ms Cutler said, “The young ones are coming up, the oldies are handing over to them, this is the new generation and its brilliant they are encouraging the new ones to join in.”

Antonio Walsh travelled down from Kempsey, NSW, spending Christmas with his family in Ballarat, before they all went to their first Convention.

Mr Walsh and family, watching the street parade said as “trad jazz fans” they were looking forward to hearing a great variety of music over the coming days.

Malcolm Starr and his wife Coral, from Grafton NSW, were at the Convention for their second time.

President of Grafton’s Big River Jazz Club Mr Starr – guitar and banjo player – said they come for the music and the comradeship.

“It’s what we have in common that gets us together, we are here to get as much jazz as we can.”