THE QUEEN'S birthday will be celebrated with all forms of jazz music in Castlemaine this weekend.
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The annual Castlemaine Jazz Festival returns with more than 80 bands joining this year's lineup.
Castlemaine Jazz Festival volunteer Ken Turnball said jazz will be performed across nine venues including the steam train between Castlemaine and Maldon with the entire region encouraged to attend.
"Various playing and singing styles are represented including traditional New Orleans, 1920's orchestrations, swing, bebop, funk, blues, standard ballads, Latin and contemporary compositions," he said.
"There will be something for every taste, from duos to big bands. A jam session will be held at the end of each day's scheduled program at 10pm in the Cumberland Hotel, in the centre of Castlemaine. These free jam sessions were very popular last year."
Mr Turnball said the festival which was a result of realising there was a need for an event for jazz performers in central Victoria.
It was the right decision with last year's inaugural event proving to be a huge success.
"Performers enjoyed the inclusiveness, informal atmosphere and networking opportunities. About 670 tickets were sold, and accommodation was booked out in Castlemaine and nearby areas," he said.
"People love the exciting rhythms, rich harmonies and energy of jazz. The music is always fresh because it is largely improvised. No two bands play a number in the same way, and no band plays a tune the same way twice. "
Performing at this year's festival is swing trio Destination Moon who Mr Turnball said were one band not to be missed
"Vocalist Jennifer Salisbury, guitarist Adrian Whyte and double bassist Hiroki Hoshino aim to turn any venue into an atmospheric 1940's jazz club or a swinging 1950's bar - and they do it with talent and style," he said.
A series of masterclasses will also be held during the festival including Constructing a Jazz Solo which will be held at 12pm and 3pm in the Old Castlemaine Gaol.
To download the full program or for more information visit castlemainejazzfestival.com.au
THE INFO
WHAT: Castlemaine Jazz Festival
WHEN: June 5-7
WHERE: Various venues in Castlemaine
BOOKINGS: www.trybooking.com/127381
