A perennial favourite, Pippa Wilson returns for this year'sInverloch Jazz Festival
Now in its 26th year, change is a constant for the Inverloch Jazz Festival and yet some things stay the same, writes Carolyn Nield.
By Carolyn Nield
INVERLOCH today is a very different town from the one that hosted the first Inverloch Jazz Festival 26 years ago. Over the decade or so that I have been a festival volunteer, the growth of the town and the expansion of the festival have gone hand in hand. Presidents and committees have come and gone, with each new team adding something special to the next year’s event.
By Carolyn Nield
INVERLOCH today is a very different town from the one that hosted the first Inverloch Jazz Festival 26 years ago. Over the decade or so that I have been a festival volunteer, the growth of the town and the expansion of the festival have gone hand in hand. Presidents and committees have come and gone, with each new team adding something special to the next year’s event.
On the other hand, the basics haven’t changed at all. There are more bands and musicians but the vibrancy of the music is what it’s all about and that hasn’t altered. It is still top notch in quality and thoroughly enjoyed by jazz lovers year in and year out. Some new bands are introduced each year and the old favourites continue to entertain.
New bands this year include the David Galea Quintet. David hails from Queensland where he enjoyed a reputation as a great composer and musician. Now in South Gippsland, he has put together a band of wonderful musicians, playing special arrangements of well-known jazz standards plus some original tunes by David and Ade Ishs.
New bands this year include the David Galea Quintet. David hails from Queensland where he enjoyed a reputation as a great composer and musician. Now in South Gippsland, he has put together a band of wonderful musicians, playing special arrangements of well-known jazz standards plus some original tunes by David and Ade Ishs.
| Ade Ishs appears in person at the festival with eMOTION, a band that aims to speak directly to listeners wtih emotive music that takes them on a musical journey. Many old favourites return. The perennial “ladies of jazz” are all different and draw large audiences for each of their performances. Again this year I will in the front row for Pippa, Anita, Annie, Lynne and Sarah. They are such household names in the jazz scene that their surnames are superfluous to most of us there. If this is your first festival look out for Anita Harris and her “delightfully creamy sound”, the “vibrant, animated” Annie Smith, Lynne Gough, who is “smooth as, and cheeky”, Pippa Wilson “steamy and swinging into midnight” and Sarah Maclaine’s “rich velvety voice”. The army of volunteers is another thing that stays the same, year after year. This year some 40 locals will operate the ticket desk, monitor the band registration room and attend the music venues. Add to that the Inverloch Men’s Shed volunteers and you will appreciate how much this festival is a community event. There is no festival without the music, and no music without the work of the volunteers. |  Anita Harris  Annie Smith |
And no giant raffle in the park on Monday without the generosity of the local businesses.
Go for it Inverloch, have a great weekend!
Carolyn Nield is on the committee of the Inverloch Jazz Festival.
Go for it Inverloch, have a great weekend!
Carolyn Nield is on the committee of the Inverloch Jazz Festival.
Ade Ishs appears with eMOTION