Jazz In The Gardens
Sunday, December 11th from 11am-4pm
featuring The World According to James, The South Coast Big Band, The Eros Big Band, The Wollongong Conservatorium Jazz Combos, The Wollongong Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra.
The majestic views from Gleniffer Brae will provide the backdrop for
the upcoming Jazz in the Gardens festival taking place at the Wollongong
Conservatorium of Music from 11am on Sunday 11 December.
Renowned Sydney Jazz Trombonist James Greening and his band The World According to James headline this free jazz festival. The day-long event will also feature some of Wollongong’s leading jazz bands including the South Coast Big Band, EROS Big Band and the award winning Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Jazz Orchestra.
Since its inception in 1992 The World According to James has become one of Australia’s best loved ensembles, retaining the same members for nearly 20 years. Leader James Greening regularly plays with iconic jazz ensembles such as The Catholics, Ten Part Invention and the Australian Art Orchestra but has also played with the likes of Vince Jones, James Morrison and Jackie Orszaczky. Also joining the band for its performance at Gleniffer Brae is the Freedman Award winning saxophonist Matt Keegan.
The festival starts at 11am with a 50-piece jazz band made up of music students from all around the Illawarra brought together and lead by the Conservatorium’s Jazz Director, Eric Dunan. Dubbed the “superBIGband” they will play some classic big band swing music. The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Jazz Orchestra, host of this event, will play the closing set at 3pm.
Other local bands on the schedule include the Eros Big Band and the South Coast Big Band, two of Wollongong’s leading swing bands. The Eros Big Band was formed in 1977 by local trumpet player Maurie Easton, who sadly passed away in 2007, and is now run by trombonist and composer Wal Gregory from the Belmore Basin Band. The South Coast Big Band was formed in 2009 by two leading students from the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music’s Jazz Program, and has quickly become a favorite amongst big band enthusiasts, regularly playing gigs and parties around the Illlawarra.
There will be bacon and egg rolls, sausages, drinks and other snacks for sale, with all proceeds going towards the Jazz Orchestra’s 2012 American Tour. Everyone’s encouraged to bring a picnic rug, sun-shade and sunscreen and stay for the day. If it rains the festival will move inside.