The Jazz Jammers Newsletter 10th June 2026
The 7th June Jam
There will be no jam next Sunday 14th of June. Apparently, there will be a pub full of people to watch the opening matches of the Soccer World Cup. (We are badly outnumbered when it's jazz versus the round ball)
β
Due to regulars attending either the Castlemaine or Merimbula festivals on the long weekend a smaller number of players turned up to last Sunday’s jam. They were:
Keys Tony Phil Jon
Guitar Neville
Saxophones Jeff Colin
Trumpet David
Bass Ivan Anton
Drums Prosper Michael
Percussion Mike
Vocals Jane Annie
Tony doubled up on bass and Phil vocalised. Overall, the standard of music was at a good level and audiences continue to grow at the Palace. Don’t forget not to come this Sunday. See you all on the 21st.ββ
β
Thanks to The Good Captain for this report.
Vale Greg Appleton
Greg Appleton passed away Saturday evening ...
He was a great smooth jazz drummer , spent some time as a working muso in England in his early age and returned here and did the jazz circuit a lot: Jazz festival Inverloch , Merimbula etc He also worked a lot with Roger Clark quartet , John Cameron blues Xpress band and Gil Askey , Neville Turner and many more.
Lately he did some gigs and studio recordings with Suzanne Petersen She is about to release her latest album soon dedicating to Greg ..I also filled in on bass a gig with Greg and suzanne Petersen's trio at the Lomond hotel early Jan 2025
He was a good mate ,a great uncle according to his nephew Scott and a good brother from the family side, fellow jazz musician loved max Roach , Elvin Jones Philly Joe Jones amongst other greats
RIP Gregory...πΆπΊππ΅
β
(obit from Nelson Vingta)
More Gigs and stuff....
βJazz at the Boatshed Cafe
β
The next Boatshed Cafe session will be onβββββββ
Sunday 14th June,
10.30am - 1.30pm.
β
Featuring Megan Slattery back for more on vocals. With Dave Taylor on bass, Mike Holt on Saxes, Ted on keys.
ββββ
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...
β
The Duchess
The Captain Chaos Quartet will be back on Saturday morning, with Buddy on vocals this week.
β
Pop in for a coffee and/or some hot brekkie!
β
The Duchess of Spotswood Cafe, 87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood
Next session: Saturday 6th June 10.30 - 12.30βββββ
Mr Boogie Man Bar
β
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...β
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
β
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.β
β
ββThe 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 )...
ββ
βPhotos of the last jam:
https://www.facebook.com/gwynn.james.7/
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Other festivals news
The 80th Australian Jazz Convention will be celebrated this December in Dubbo NSW.
ββ
This letter from the Jazz Convention Executive is seeking donations to keep the event going.
Castlemaine Jazz Festival is done for 2026.
Merimbula Jazz Festival is done for 2026.
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 recently celebrated its sixth sucessful year.
ββ
The Jammers are loosely run by an organising Committee of volunteers.
β
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...β
β
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.