Jazz royalty returns

The 2025 Generations in Jazz event has secured a couple of blasts from the past as its headline acts, with two hugely popular guest artists returning.

Jazz icon Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band are headed to the May 2-4 event, while another former headline act Darren Percival is set to grace the stage on the Friday night, as well as helping adjudicate the scholarships.

It is a huge coup for organisers, who have been trying to secure Gordon Goodwin’s return since his triumphant involvement in 2014.

Gordon will also be up to his neck in adjudicating and is responsible for the 2025 set pieces.

Michelle Nicolle is also returning – the highly regarded jazz vocalist will not only be performing on Friday night but will be front and centre at the vocal competitions having provided the set pieces.

GIJ coordinator Fiona Unger was thrilled to be able to unveil such a star studded line-up that has already proved popular with visiting schools and locals alike.

“We’ve had music directors and teachers and people in general ask when were Gordon and the Big Phat Band coming back and it is fitting that as they celebrate their 25th year as a band, they are coming back,” Fiona said. “Gordon is also bringing his wife Vangie Gunn Goodwin – she is an amazing singer.

“We are also thrilled Michelle is coming back after last year. Her ninth album has just been awarded Best Jazz Work at the 2024 Victorian Music Awards and her 10th album is in the pipeline already. She is now off to Europe to tour so we are so lucky to have her as part of our team.”

At this stage, organisers are expecting more than 5000 students representing more than 100 schools across the band and vocal sections and there are already new schools, set to experience the magic of GIJ for the first time, that have registered for the 2025 event.

“The good thing about having Gordon and the band involved too, especially with the set pieces, is it is modern jazz – kids love playing it, teachers love teaching it,” Fiona said.

With the school registrations rolling in and the headline acts secured, attention now turns to the logistics with the call out for volunteers and accommodation.

One innovation from 2024 is staying for 2025 and that is the push for community groups to take up volunteer roles as a great opportunity to fundraise, as well as being involved in a fantastic, quality community event.

“It worked really well to target community groups and some of the groups have already said they want to be involved again this year,” Fiona said. “You just need to contact us and we can match you with a role – we can find something for small and large numbers of volunteers.

“Last year, 95 per cent of the community gorp volunteers hadn’t been to generations before and they loved being involved and were blown away by the event – they had no idea.”

Anyone interested in having their home as part of the accommodation offering should also contact the GIJ office.

New sheds will be up and operational by the 2025 event, as part of the precinct development with the Apple farm and the Unger home hosting the vocal ensembles.

“It really is a lovely atmosphere,” Fiona said.

Tickets will also be on sale soon so keep an eye on the GIJ socials for more information.