| Location(s) | Wangaratta, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1990 – present |
| Date(s) | October/November |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Website | http://www.wangaratta-jazz.org.au/ |
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz is an annual festival of jazz and blues held in the town of Wangaratta, 2.5 hours from Melbourne in North East Victoria, Australia. It has become the premier jazz event in Australia and is renowned internationally.
Since inception in 1990, the festival has grown to include 90 events and over 350 national and international artists performing each year. The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz also hosts the National Jazz Awards, Youth Jazz Workshops, master classes and events throughout Wangaratta and surrounding wine regions.
In 1999 the festival won a National Tourism Award and was inducted into the Victorian Tourism Hall of Fame. In 2000 the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz was elevated to a Victorian Hallmark Event.
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The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz began in 1989 as the dream of local business people who wanted to establish a significant festival for their town and region - a festival that would be unique and that would attract many tourists to the area. A feasibility study was commissioned and the study concluded that, although there were numerous festivals in Australia, there was the opportunity to base one on modern and contemporary jazz. As no such event existed in Australia, it was recommended that such a festival be built around an internationally recognised competition.
Since its first year in 1990, the festival has demanded uncompromising excellence in performance and a balanced showcasing of all jazz styles. At the core are the National Jazz Awards for young musicians.
Today artists from around Australia are honoured to play at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. The festival boasts 100 performances by local, national and international acts and the largest blues festival in Victoria. The festival has won numerous tourism and sponsorship awards, and is recognised internationally as the best jazz event in Australia. In 2000 the festival was awarded the status of Victorian Hallmark Event recognising the significance of the festival to the Wangaratta region and Victoria.[1]
2009 Lineup will include International Guests: Charles Tolliver, Kendra Shank, Barney McAll, Ambrose Akinmusire, James Hunter (singer), Deborah Coleman, Ari Hoenig, Froy Aagre, Martin Litton (pianist), as well as an amazing array of Australian Jazz and Blues artists: John McAll,Tony Gould, Bob Sedergreen, Julien Wilson, Kristin Berardi, Stephen Magnusson, Allan Browne, Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson plus many more.[2]
2008's lineup featured international guests: John Scofield–Joe Lovano Quartet (USA), David Murray Black Saint Quartet (USA), Jim McNeely (USA), Gretchen Parlato (USA), Ilmiliekki Quartet (Finland), Los Krokodillos (Spain); and leading Australian jazz artists including: Paul Grabowsky, Joe Chindamo, Bernie McGann, Dale Barlow, James Muller, Allan Browne, Mike Nock, Andrea Keller, Michelle Nicole, Sam Keevers and Ian Date.
The National Jazz Awards, Australia's most prestigious jazz competition, has been a highlight of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz each year since the festival began in 1990. The awards are designed to provide encouragement and exposure to young musicians (up to 35 years of age). The ten finalists each year are given the chance to perform with high-level accompanists at Australia's most important jazz event.