Jazz line-up announced for fest

It is the connections, old and new, that have Tourism and Events chief executive officer Tracy Vellacott excited about the jazz offering for the 2012 Jumpers and Jazz Festival.
Mrs Vellacott said that across the mix of more than 30 live jazz events, the connections are local, renewed and brand new.
“I’m loving that this year’s jazz program offers up local connections such as the hugely popular Aperitif Jazz Ensemble, the youthful and talented Warwick State High School Big Band and Stage Band, the Southern Downs Big Band, and not forgetting the unique sounds of Pangea Music,” she said.
“Then there are renewed connections with festival favourites, who ring me with such enthusiasm to perform again – artists like Caxton Street, Sarah Collyer and Elegance Jazz who will launch the festival, the Freud Squad, the clem four, Sunrise Road, Blue Poppy and the Blue Angels Jazz Band from the Gold Coast.”
But for Mrs Vellacott, who admits to being a jazz novice, the buzz can come from introducing festival audiences to new acts.
“It’s exciting to keep the festival fresh and we love making new jazz connections,” she said.
Headlining the festival in 2012 will be Brisbane-based jazz band Scat, who have toured nationally and internationally playing sold out shows in world class jazz venues and events such as Melbourne’s Paris Cat, the Brisbane Jazz Club and the Valley Jazz Festival.
Lead vocalist, Craig Burnett, was recently awarded the Valley Jazz Festival 2011 ‘Vocalist of the Year’ by Australian jazz legend, Vince Jones and ABC Radio, while instrumentalists Chris, Jeremy and Trent have performed individually and together throughout New Zealand, Europe, Nepal, and Broadway, New York.
“Scat’s unique blend of accessible sounds, instru-mental mastery, lyric riffing, crowd interaction and off-beat humour connects with audiences who may otherwise dismiss the musical complexity of such a performance,” Mrs Vellacott said.
Scat will perform at the Warwick Credit Union Street Party on Saturday, July 28, and Sunday’s Picnic in the Park on July 29.
Also fronting up for their first Jumpers and Jazz Festival is the James Whiting Trio. James has studied percussion since age 13, learning his craft from several highly acclaimed instrumentalists and has performed alongside musicians such as James Morrison (AUS), Jon Wikan (USA), Jim Pugh (USA) and James Muller (AUS).
After numerous trips to USA for study with tutors at institutions such as Manhattan School of Music, New School of New York, and Berklee College of Music, James recorded his debut jazz album, ‘Burbank’ in 2010.
The album marked an exciting leap in James’ career, receiving critical acclaim from professionals across Australia and the USA.
The James Whiting Trio will perform at the Warwick Credit Union Street Party on Saturday, July 28.
“I’m really hoping that our 2012 festival audience finds something that gives them a buzz and reaffirms that music and art are an essential part of life,” Mrs Vellacott said.
Also signed up for their first Jumpers and Jazz gig at Rupert’s Supper Club is Toowoomba’s ‘City Cats’.
According to band member Paul Donovan, who is resident soloist at Ruperts Bar every Saturday evening, “This is real, this is live and this is jazz!
“You can expect to hear everything from Dixieland to popular songs, with plenty of improvisation and a musical alchemy that is such a rare experience in these days of imitation.”
Contact Warwick Tourism and Events on (07) 4661 9073 for more information.