Wangaratta Jazz and Blues festival: the tradition evolves

The Cope Street Parade plays 1930s classic swing jazz based on the sousaphone. Photograph: the Cope Street Parade

Jazz and blues luminaries will reprise, improvise and experiment over the next four days in a no-holds-barred musical exploration

It is often commented, not least by musicians themselves, that jazz is a niche art form. In truth, it is a number of niches. The genre is now more than a century old and has at once imaginatively evolved and aggressively retained its traditions. The result is a miscellany, ranging from traditional jazz based on New Orleans street music, renditions of 1940s and 1950s song standards, be-bop, post be-bop, rock and funk fusions, and free-form explorations. The only common elements are improvisation and the creation of rhythms that are more flexible than is typically the case in classical music.

The Wangaratta Jazz and Blues festival, arguably the biggest event of its type in Australia, takes advantage of this protean nature. Over the next four days, visitors are exposed to different styles of playing, many presented simultaneously; the same musicians appearing in different combinations playing different styles. It is a smorgasbord approach: if you don’t like this, then try this – all the music you can consume.

Who will be appearing? Pianist Barney McAll will be playing, both with his trio and solo, and is likely to be one of the standouts. Accompanied by bassist Jonathan Zwartz and drummer Hamish Stuart, McAll is likely to explore his compositional ideas, while his solo concert at the Holy Trinity cathedral will have more of a sacral element – McAll regularly performs in a church in Brooklyn.

Barney McAll is likely to be one of the standouts. Photograph: Supplied by Wangaratta Jazz and Blues festival

Many of Australia’s jazz luminaries will be on display: saxophonists Julien Wilson and Jamie Oehlers; pianists Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Sam Keevers, Bob Sedergreen and Jex Saarelaht; bassists Sam Anning andDavid Tolley; and vocalists Gian Slater and Michelle Nicolle. The gloriously solid tenor player Paul Williamson will lead his Hammond combo and gifted pianist Joe Chindamo will head up his trio.

On the blues side, it will be worth catching Russell Morris, whose vocal nuances are something of a revelation, singers Chris Wilson and Geoff Achison and the Backsliders. Catfish Voodoo are a rising group and the Minnesota-based guitarist Charlie Parr will bring some blues roots influences and authentic narratives.

There are some adventurous combinations of instrumentation and structure. Way Out West combines koto (the Japanese stringed instrument) with a conventional jazz line-up. Drummer Niko Schauble will team up with drummer Ronny Ferella, with Anthony Schulz on accordion and two vocalists. Trumpeter Peter Knight will explore sound architecture in a solo performance, accompanied by his computer laptop.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/01/wangaratta-jazz-and-blues-festivals