Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Volunteering is music to jazz fans' ears



ARE these colourful volunteers the coast's biggest jazz fans?

Bob and Helen Murfet have volunteered behind the scenes at Devonport Jazz each year since 2002. ''We have a great love for jazz and love to dress up, wear silly hats and have fun,'' Mrs Murfet said.

The Shearwater couple were in their element yesterday as Jacob Boote and Laura Mead performed in the Rooke St mall to celebrate 10 days until the festival. You will spot them throughout the festival wearing an assortment of jazz-themed vests and hats, tapping their toes or dancing to traditional jazz.

''We don't play music but you've got to have listeners too. I prefer the traditional artists from the 1920s and 1950s more than the funky modern jazz,'' Mr Murfet said. Mrs Murfet is thrilled to see youth becoming interested in jazz music and they agreed Devonport Jazz appealed to young people more than other festivals.

''There is more variety than any other jazz festival we've attended around the mainland and around the state,'' Mr Murfet said. ''Young people are really involved through swing-dancing lessons, workshops with the artists and artwork done in the schools.''

Their top picks from the Devonport Jazz line-up are the Australian Jazz and Poetry Project and Lounge Machine, fronted by Juliane Di Sisto, performing at Cafe Inn-dulgence.

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