The Jazz Jammers Newsletter 24th April 2025
coming soon !
Small is good, apparently
Review of the Jam Session, 20th April
We are indebted to Mr Bruce Maddigan, who observed that this was a jam session with absolutely no train wrecks - so we played Moon River in 4/4 time, whilst some were playing it in 6/8, and others in 3/4 time, and all the others were confused. Gawd it sounded delicious!
The Misses Graham turned up, and Aneta sang a bright early set, probably the highlight of the arvo, but really, everything sounded good, Rose the most improved pick of the day, until we quit at 6.10 with a bright set from Christine Manetta, then Annie, and an early exit from the Good Captain - so Jack the Lone Barman could go home and study psychology or something.
15 musos stumbled out into the evening , older but hopefully no wiser. Not a big session, but a bit classy.
The Next Jam Session Sunday 27th April
Next session will be 3.30pm at the Cornerstone on Sunday 27th April - don't turn up, we need to lower the standard, and chances are, you won't be helping. Or turn up anyway, blow the tits off yer fave tune or three, gossip maliciously but in a good way, and enjoy the last jam session before the Newport Jazz Festival.
Catch ya later...at:
The Cornerstone Hotel, 3.30pm - 7.00pm, Sunday 27th April
It is on the corner of Raglan Street and Bay Street, Port Melbourne
The Newport Jazz Festival - A brief update....
Special Offer for regular voters: turns out that is almost all of us. According to the AEC brochure thrust into my letterbox, (and fer Gawdsake don't take my word for it) you can vote at any polling place in Victoria (it gets a bit tricky if you are interstate), and there is still time to get a postal vote.
When you get to the Jazz Festival: you can purchase your ticket at the Bowls Club box office. Cash or Eftpos.
Special offer for regular jammers: 50% off what you would normally pay for the jam session.
Special Offer for regular drinkers: free beer at bar prices.
Special offer for musos: all bands are to receive preferential treatment.
The Jazz Festival:
Time for musos to get involved. Promote your Festival on your band's Facebook page, pester your mates into coming, or letterbox your suburb with flyers or cards (actually we are nearly out of these already)
Venues: We have lost the Scout Hall as a venue for the Festival - it is being used as a Polling place for the Federal Election. After a fair bit of scrambling around, we have added in the Baptist Chapel, The Mechanics Hall and the Junction Hotel to maintain the size and scope of the Festival.
The playing schedule has now been published,
https://www.melbournejazzjammers.com.au/schedule-2025
Ticket Sales: these are still ahead of last year's sales at the same time, and somewhat behind what we would like. The Festival costs around 40% less than the Country festivals - mainly because of the backing we get from Hobsons Bay City Council, and the support we get from the Newport locals. Kids get in for free.
Volunteers : Full Mike now has enough volunteers, so if you were holding back, now is the time to buy a ticket instead. If you have volunteered, thank you - the volunteers are an essential part of the smooth running of the Festival - so thank you for doing your bit to promote live music.
More Gigs and Jams....
The Challis Street Imbroglio
26th April 2025
Not sure who will be there this week - the Captain Chaos Quartet of course, but a Singer?
You will have to turn up to find out. This is a freebie that is a lot of fun, and continues to be supported by startled locals and passers by...
Jazz at the Boatshed Cafe
Next session will be Sunday 27th April at 10.30am with upstart singer Chess.
Singer Chess is back to preview her Festival set, with Andy Moon (double bass) Lee Jones (guitar) and the usual rubbish on keys.
Miss Debbie and the Hank Hornbender Band
Miss Debbie, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Deborah Salkov, sings every Sunday, with the eponymous HHB. The band features, from time to time, Ken Cowan, Mike Zutenis, sometimes Hermann Schweiger, Dave Hardy, and Ken White.
Different, surprise lineup this Easter Sunday only !!
The Umbrella Bar, 338-340 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185
Every Sunday, 1.00pm - 3.00pm, free entry
Castlemaine Jazz Jam
Take the easy drive up the M79 to play with the best in central Victoria. The next jam clashes with the Newport Jazz Festival so if you didn't get a spot in the NJF, this one is for you.
The Maurocco Bar, Midland Hotel, Castlemaine, opposite the railway station.
First Sunday of every month, 2 - 5pm...Sunday 4th May is the next session .
Other Festival News - and news of other Festivals
Newport Jazz Festival
2nd - 4th May 2025
Newport Jazz Festival is the newest, smallest, most accessible, and most affordable of all the Festivals, entirely run by volunteers from Melbourne Jazz Jammers. For our 5th year, 44 bands will be playing in the Newport Bowls Club, The Back Room, The Community Hub, the Mechanics Hall, the Baptist Church (Friday, on Mason Street) and The Junction Hotel (Sunday, across the railway line), but not the Scout Hall, which has been taken over by the Electoral Commission - something about a General Election). All around Paine's Reserve, Newport - 200 yards from the train station, 6 km from the Melbourne CBD, and a million miles from your nearest worry.
The festival has grown every year, with the enthusiastic support of Hobsons Bay City Council, and now gets many more applications than we can accommodate from both local and interstate bands. Trad, Swing, Standards, Be-Bop, Blues, Bossa and beyond.
Join us at the Newport Jazz Festival. Tickets available (and our sales are ahead of last year's) at the Newport Bowls Club, or online.
Castlemaine Jazz Festival
June 5th - 8th June 2025
"A celebration of jazz music held annually in the vibrant town of Castlemaine, located in the heart of Central Victoria. Taking place over the King’s Birthday long weekend in June, the festival brings together a diverse array of musicians and bands, offering an unforgettable experience for jazz lovers of all kinds.
Tickets are on sale now:-
Merimbula Jazz Festival
June 6th - 9th 2025
"More than a music event, the Merimbula Jazz Festival brings musicians together on the beautiful far south coast to play jazz, connect long-term friends, with the opportunity to make new ones through a shared love of jazz.
...
We value all our musicians and jazz lovers who come to enjoy Merimbula and hear a wide variety of jazz played over the June long-weekend.
We look forward to seeing you all return 6-9 June 2025!"
About Melbourne Jazz Jammers
The jam sessions started in 2002, making this the longest running jam session possibly in the planetary system. They are a side gig run by the Melbourne Jazz Jammers Inc., whose main focus at present is on the 2025 Newport Jazz Festival... featuring a whole bunch of bands now in six venues.
Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, if you would like to help pack up after the Jam each week, you are unlikely to meet much resistance. Really...
If you would like to throw your hat in the ring for a spot at one of the gigs, or promote your gig through the Newsletter, contact Col (he needs a new hat), or Ted at the jam sessions.