> Jan Preston
>The Mike Stewart Big Band featuring Luke Thompson
>Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble
>Dixie Street Jazz Band
>Jazzoholics
>SHIRAZZ
>Barry Messner Trio
>The Sam Leske Trio
>Don Mayne Trio
>Mildura Stage Band
>DJ Alicat

Jan Preston - Queen of the Boogie Woogie Piano

Jan Preston is Australia’s most popular boogie woogie/blues piano performer.
Funny, charming, skillful and unique, Jan is an extraordinary talent. Called “The
Queen of the Boogie Woogie Piano”, Jan’s rolling left-hand piano boogie gets
audiences moving, from Europe to NZ to Australia, she leaves them wanting more. A great singer and songwriter as well, she has won 4 Best Australian Female Blues Artist Awards. Jan is a regular ABC and RNZ radio performer, and has sold out concerts from the tip of Australia to the very South of New Zealand in
main centres and tiny regional towns. www.janpreston.com

Mike Stewart Big Band featuring Luke Thompson

The Mike Stewart Big Band has established itself at the forefront of big band music in Australia. Formed in 2005 the band is comprised of the best jazz musicians in SA, studded with great soloists and a powerful horn section. The MSBB has performed with some of the worlds’ best jazz musicians including Bob Mintzer, George Garzone, Jon Gordon, Ray Vega (USA) as well as Australian legends such as Joe Chindamo, John Harkins and many, many more. This year the band has dedicated itself to performing the music of the great collaboration of Count Basie and Frank Sinatra, having sold out all performances in the Adelaide Fringe this show swings from start to finish with a blistering horns,
swinging rhythm section and the smooth vocals of the acclaimed Luke Thompson.

Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble

The Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble has been a regular at the Festival since 1989. In that time they have evolved into a polished and popular outfit with an extensive following throughout the state. The Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble is known for its happy foot tapping music, playing typical traditional jazz and also lots of standard tunes with a trad jazz flavour. Dancers in particular find their beat irresistible. Once Maryborough take the stage you will be drawn to the dance floor. We take great pleasure in welcoming this popular ensemble to our Festival once again.

Dixie Street Jazz  Band

This seven-piece ensemble features some of the very best Traditional Jazz
Musicians in Australia. When the Piano, Sousaphone, Banjo, Drums, Trombone,
Trumpet and Clarinet get together, the result will titillate the nerves in your feet
whilst some rare gems from around 1900 simply grab your whole body and shake it. This Jazz is gloriously inclusive, absolutely fun to perform and will fill the Halls with colourful sounds of the past. Each year the Band performs for many
Jazz Clubs and at major Festivals in Australia’s Eastern States. In August
this year, they completed a successful tour of the North Island of New Zealand
conducting 18 concerts and as an invited Jazz Ensemble at two Jazz Festivals.

Jazzaholics

The Jazzaholics play a range of Dixieland styles - from Jabbo Smith, Bix
Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong tunes of the 1920s to Eddie Condon, Kenny
Ball and the Dutch Swing College Band material from the 60s. Band members play a second (or third!) instrument, which allows a group of only five musicians to present distinctive jazz sounds to suit each particular tune they play. Many tunes were popular “Hit” songs of their day, and so vocals feature strongly
in the band’s repertoire.

Shirazz

Shirazz plays classic trad jazz as it was meant to be played. With hot solos, driving rhythms and tight arrangements, a set from Shirazz is a step back in time to a jumping New Orleans dance hall where fast, hot tunes intersect with swinging standards and laid-back Louisiana street beats. Shirazz was formed in 2009 although it took about a year for the band to find its feet on the Victorian festival circuit. It wasn’t until early 2010 that the current line up was created. Since exploding onto the scene with roof-raising performances at the Echuca and Moe Jazz festivals in early 2010, Shirazz has been steadily gaining a reputation as one of Melbourne and Victoria’s must-have festival bands.

Barry Messner Trio

The three musicians have an enviable rapport and although working with a variety of Adelaide musicians and bands, always seize the chance reunite the trio whenever the opportunity arises. The trio’s repertoire is based mainly on
standards from the American song book with a jazz twist.

Sam Leske Trio

Formed by guitarist Sam Leske (Debra Byrne, Jayne-Anne Power, The Belle-
Phonics) in 2007, the Sam Leske Trio has been performing around Adelaide
for the past few years at wineries, hotels and weddings. The current line-up features bassist Brett Williams and drummer Holly Thomas, all who met whilst studying Jazz at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. The trio plays emotive ballads, classy swing standards and sensual bossa novas, as well as original compositions by members of the trio. This is all performed in a Modern Jazz setting, where strong interaction between all members occurs, and no instrument is confined to its traditional role. Avid lovers of artists such as Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter and Brad Mehldau, the Sam Leske Trio will leave you with an appreciation for the development of jazz in the last 50 years.

Mildura Stage Band

Consisting of students from Mildura Senior College and Red Cliffs Secondary
College, the Mildura Stage Band was formed in 2010. The band combines the
sounds of the most talented students, chosen from the district’s highly
reputable Instrumental Music Program. Led by a team of committed and
experienced teachers, the band produces a sound reminiscent of the Motown era as well as other hits from the contemporary style. Its brass and woodwind section is a feature of this unique ensemble, producing a full and powerful backing to the smooth tones of featured vocalists with a sound beyond their years. The ensemble has fast gained popularity for its dynamic performances and onstage sound. This reputation lead to the ensemble being chosen as the
feature act at the 2010 and 2011 State Principal’s Conference in Melbourne. As
well as performing at other community events, the Mildura Stage Band continues
to pursue an excellence in performance taking every opportunity to bring their
sound to the ears of music lovers.

Don Mayne Trio

The Don Mayne Trio first met each other whilst studying Jazz studies at
Adelaide University. Their repertoire consists of the classic and mainstream
tunes of the 30’s and 40’s right up to modern tunes and original compositions.
All three members are educators in local schools and are passionate about
bringing the next generation of jazz musicians from the classroom out onto
the stage.

> The Mike Stewart Big Band featuring Luke Thompson
> Pugsley Buzzard
> Pippa Wilson Swingtet
> Gail Kingston and Hot Foot Jazz
> Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble
> Mr Jazz
> Hot Licks Trio

>The Sam Leske Trio