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The Jazz Jammers Newsletter 9th December 2025

Getting There?

Well, that was a smooth one...mostly.

Twenty musos got up and variously warbled, rattled, tweaked, tugged and tickled their way through a bright but tastefully restrained cacophony all arvo - the sun shone, the glass doors were open, the sound was exceptionally better, the stage had magically shrunk, and on the big screen, the poms took forever to get out. They probably need a rain-stopped-play every 20 minutes or so to remember where the dressing room is..

But of the jazz...At last, we managed to get the guitars working through the mixer (props to Mike Powell on this one); and the vocals (Jane, Debbie, Buddy, Rose and, of course, Annabelle Crutchely Smythe's antipodean cousin) all sounded good.

Of the prescription: the changes that worked were, the smaller stage, the focus on quicker turn-arounds, a more acceptably restrained volume, and, generally, keeping solos to one chorus.

Of the individual contributions - Andre's long stint on drums was all class, Martin Case and Peter Kartu both snuck in  multiple roles, Rose gets more relaxed with every performance, 

Pick of the day was Andy, somewhat nervous, first time try out on sax, aced it. More to come?

 

A good day all round - which is just as well as there is no Jam on Sunday 14th December - but we will be back for one last tilt at the windmills of mediocrity on Sunday 21st December.

See ya then?

Jam Session at The Governors Hall

27 Hall St, Hawthorn East VIC 3123

Next session: Sunday 21st  December , 2.30pm to 6.00pm...

 

Bring your own charts, or use ours. Enthusiasm essential, Performance Anxiety optional, Charts a bonus, Competence to be well concealed as a kindness to others.

More Gigs and stuff....

Jazz at the Boatshed  Cafe

​​This Sunday, Aneta will be singing, with Lee Jones on guitar, Kip Dale on bass, the usual rubbish on keys, and guest soloist ...and a bunch of lake lappers joining the regulars for a coffee and a listen. 

Sunday 14th  December,  10.30am - 1.30pm.  

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... 

Live 'n Local in Spotswood

The first Live N Local was a hoot - a lot of fun, and a fair bit of rain, with plenty of the Spotswood glitterati passing by with  compliments all round.

 

Can we do it again? Megan Slattery sings this week, a mix of jazz and Christmas songs - all going on opposite 83 Espresso and the Duchess.

Saturday 13th December, 10.30 - 12.30, Hudsons Road, Spotswood.

This  week!

Castlemaine Jazz Jam

At The Maurocco Bar, Midland Hotel, Castlemaine, opposite the railway station. Get your band in early as this is a popular event with the locals.

First Sunday of every month, 2 - 5pm...  The next jam will be on a Sunday in 2026 (date TBC). 

Photos of the last jam: 

https://www.facebook.com/gwynn.james.7/

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Festival News - and news of other Festivals

Newport Jazz Festival Australia​​​​

2nd, 3rd May 2026

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Band Registrations now open*

* no password required!

The sixth annual triumph of optimism and amnesia over experience and enthusiasm...

The friendly Festival is back - we have been planning this for a while now, and confirm that Festival favourites Bob Sedergreen and band,  and the delightful Sarah Maclaine with her quartet,  will be back - along with around 40 other bands  - some crowd favourites returning, some new faces to add spice to the mix, and a coupla big bands to add some oomph to the ooh...

This year, we are using the two Bowls Club stages, the Scout Hall and the Library, and squeezing the programme into two packed days. If you or your band would like to apply, hats may be thrown into the ring  - Band registration is now open! 

Save the date!  

https://www.melbournejazzjammers.com.au/

Inverloch Jazz Festival

31 July - 2nd August 2026

The Inverloch lads are just getting under way on the 2026 Festival - we don't have the details yet, but this Festival has always been a favourite, and we will post  info as it comes to hand...

https://www.inverlochjazzfestival.com/

Australian Jazz Convention

26 - 31 December 2025

The 79th AJC - the Daddy of them all.  Their first Newsletter for the Mildura based Convention is out, and well worth a read - pretty much all the information you need.

"The Australian Jazz Convention is the longest-running annual jazz event in the world, tracing its roots back to a 1944 idea by Ade Monsbourgh to host a jazz gathering after World War II. The first convention was held in Melbourne in 1946, and it has continued annually since then, moving between different cities and states across Australia. The convention is a volunteer-run, non-profit event where musicians, both amateur and professional, gather to perform and celebrate jazz music. "

source Wikipedia

Click on the link for their latest newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/d19397053295/australian-jazz-convention-newsletter-6748806?e=517da88c1d

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Coming Soon!

Port Fairy Jazz Festival

 

February 13th - 15th 2026

The biggest Festival in Victoria. The schedule has been release - 127 bands - phew! Quite a few Jammers have this on their to-do list. Lots of info on the website - band registrations are closed, tickets are on sale .

https://www.portfairyjazz.com.au/

 

https://www.melbournejazzjammers.com.au/post/port-fairy-jazz-festival-2026

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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.

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