Well, the festival was a great weekend!
Thank you to all the musicians, volunteers, festival supporters and audiences.
The Jazz Jammers Newsletter 11th May 2026
The 3rd May Jam
Belated newsletter 3/5/26, It was agreed that the Jammers have a responsibility to The Palace Hotel to provide music on Sunday afternoons as they advertise the jam, so festival band The Smooth Groove featuring Ebony Rose and Mike Holt played for the day, accommodating any jammers who may have dropped in.
When we arrived, there were more patrons than I have ever seen before due to a large christening plus a small contingent of music lovers, everyone had a good day especially for the best bit bumping in and out!
10/5/26, The triumphant jammers returned the Palace Hotel for a ripping shindig, entertaining all the mothers on their special day.
Bass: Ivan, Neville; Drums: Ashley, Mac, Paul
Guitar: Moi, Neville, Roger; Keyboard: Gordon, Philip Percussion: Mike
Saxophone: Colin, Jeff, Keith; Trumpet: Peter; Vocal: Annie, Ashley, Kevin
Thanks to Mike Powell for these reports.
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https://www.melbournejazzjammers.com.au/jammers-newsletter
More Gigs and stuff....
Jazz at the Boatshed Cafe
The next Boatshed Cafe session will be on
Sunday 17th May,
10.30am - 1.30pm.
...when Annie Smith will be on vocals with soloist and bassist TBC, and Ted W 'the usual' on keys.
Last weekend, Aneta Graham was joined by Mike Holt on sax, Steve Martin on bass, and Ted W 'the usual' on keys, playing to a big crowd at the cafe once they got past the runners and into the park!
The Boatshed Cafe, Albert Park: stop in the Aquatic Drive car park, and head for the water's edge. Munchies, toasties and a coffee served by Anna's hand-picked friendly staff...
The Duchess: next Saturday
The Captain Chaos Quartet will be back next Saturday morning with singer yet TBC.
Pop in for a coffee and/or some hot brekkie!
The Duchess of Spotswood Cafe, 87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood
Next session: Saturday 16th May 10.30 - 12.30
Mr Boogie Man Bar
Bop Till ya Drop with support band
7pm til late on the last Thursday of every month
166 Hoddle St Abbotsford
Castlemaine (Jazz Jam ) - new format...
The Castlemaine Jam Session is seeking to try new formats - maybe a house band to accompany soloists and singers, maybe continue the open mic approach, maybe rely on half a dozen or so established players, and encourage newcomers
Every good jam session should do this - constantly evolving and developing... exciting times ahead, so now would be a good time to to give it a whirl.
The next Jam session will be on 7th June at The Maurocco Bar, 4 Templeton St, Castlemaine VIC 3450. ( first Sunday of every month, 2 - 5pm )...
Photos of the last jam:
https://www.facebook.com/gwynn.james.7/
Other festivals news
The 80th Australian Jazz Convention will be celebrated this December in Dubbo NSW.
This letter from the Jazz Convention Executive is seeking donations to keep the event going.
Port Fairy will be back in February 2027 we received their 2027 flyer, no more details are available at the moment.
About Melbourne Jazz Jammers
The jam sessions are a side gig run by the Melbourne Jazz Jammers Inc., a Not For Profit Incorporated Association - the Jam Sessions started before 2002 at Dizzy's Jazz Club, and have run on a weekly basis ever since. We also promote The Newport Jazz Festival Australia, which is coming up for its sixth year.
The Jammers are loosely run by an organising Committee of volunteers.
If you would like volunteer for the Festival and/or 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, contact Col (he needs a new hat), or Ted at the jam sessions.