All the pieces are falling into place

Generations in Jazz set to return to its former glory in 2023

All the pieces are falling into place for the resurrection of Generations in Jazz in 2023 as organisers look to return the widely popular national school jazz festival to its former glory.

Scheduled for its traditional timeslot from May 5-7 next year, the Generations in Jazz board are excited about how the 2023 event is shaping up.

A number of key announcements, including the appointment of new musical director Dr. Jordan Murray (below left) and new event director Kate Rayner (below right), have well and truly signalled Generations is back with registrations opening in the past week and the call now out for the community to get involved in accommodation provision.

The event would not be viable with accommodation providers playing a significant role in the success and growth of the event and organisers are again looking for that support.

As the board looks to 2023, it wants to determine the interest of any accommodation provider in the Limestone Coast and Western Districts interested in being involved and supporting the weekend of Generations in Jazz.

Schools, bus drivers and families will all be on the lookout for accommodation so the board wants to hear from hotels, motels, BnBs, caravan parks, sporting clubs and private homes.

Generations in Jazz was a casualty of COVID in 2020 and ’21 and this year a reimagined event signalled the time honoured jazz festival was on its way back, incorporating live performance, virtual performance and making used of the online space to allow schools to still ply their trade proved a success.

Now the glory days are set to return, complete with the big top at The Barn, the raft of school and scholarship competitions and the world class guest performers, live on our doorstep.

Kate Rayner comes to the role of event director on the back of three decades of experience in business, tourism and events and she was the driving force behind the instigation and negotiation of bringing ABC’s Triple J One Night Stand Event to Lucindale in 2019

“It is a fantastic event and aligns with my values of bringing music and opportunities to young people so they can aspire to be their creative best, collaborate, and experience the joy that music can bring,” Ms Rayner said.

“I wish to bring value to the 2023 event so that the event is well organised, reactivated, energised and aligns with the event goals. It is important to send a clear message to the wider community and schools that Generations in Jazz is back, it’s here to stay, and it’s an event to put on the annual calendar.”

The other new face looking to shape the return of the jazz extravaganza is new music director Dr Jordan Murray, a trombonist who has performed throughout the world with international artists, including Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, The Temptations, Tony Bennett, Frankie Valley, Michael Bublé, Kylie Minogue, Hans Zimmer, and Joss Stone.

He also performed with Robbie Williams at this year’s AFL Grand Final.

It was an appointment welcomed by generations in Jazz board chair Tony Wright.

“Having someone with the skills and experience like Jordan as our Music Director, we know that GIJ will continue to be the fantastic event that we have all come to know and love,” Mr Wright said.

“We know our students are in for a huge event in May next year and we cannot wait to see and hear what Jordan has planned for us all.”

Dr Murray has more than 25 years teaching experience in tuition, classroom and ensemble instruction and as a professional musician.

As a full-time staff member at Monash University, he was instrumental in the delivery of programs of solo performance, composition, arranging, orchestration, music theory, jazz history, small and large ensemble performance and has played a key role in the development of the course structure as education coordinator.

He also performed with Robbie Williams at this year’s AFL Grand Final.

It was an appointment welcomed by generations in Jazz board chair Tony Wright.

“Having someone with the skills and experience like Jordan as our Music Director, we know that GIJ will continue to be the fantastic event that we have all come to know and love,” Mr Wright said.

“We know our students are in for a huge event in May next year and we cannot wait to see and hear what Jordan has planned for us all.”