- Written by Kerry White
Noosa 5 May 2015. Australia’s universally-travelled jazz troubadour Bob Barnard is in no doubt about his favourite jazz event – Noosa Jazz Party.
He is preparing to attend the event for the umpteenth time (he cannot recall exactly how many) again this year from 3-6 September – though this year jazz fans are being offered more swing with a ‘prelude’ on the weekend before, 28-29 August.
“As a trumpeter I have been honoured to play at hundreds of jazz parties and festivals all over the world including Los Angeles, New York, St Louis, Denver, New Orleans and Detroit in the US as well as in England, Holland, Austria. Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland, France, Canada, Japan and, of course, all over Australia,” Mr Barnard said.
“There are probably more but I cannot remember. I’ve got to say I enjoy the Noosa Jazz Party – it’s my favourite.
“For some reason the atmosphere is different and the Noosa setting is wonderful, not to mention that it attracts Australia’s top jazz exponents.
“This is where musicians from far and wide gather to share their knowledge and expertise with a very appreciative audience. There is always plenty of fun and laughter. Long may it continue.”
The feature event of the Jazz Party is the four-night show at The J from 3-6 September, but the scope of the ‘Party’ in 2015 has been extended and really starts on 28 August with a joint concert with Noosa Chorale at The J. Jazz Party musicians will then be performing at at a number of venues from Sunday and through the week.
An annual trip to Noosa has become so important to Bob Barnard that he was happy to accept an invitation in 2002 to be patron of the Noosa Jazz Club, a not-for-profit group of jazz lovers who voluntarily organise and run the Noosa Jazz Party.
Bob Barnard was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1990 for his enormous contribution to Australian jazz and is a key figure in the history of Australian music generally.
The Noosa Jazz Heads Club has been making a significant contribution to the overall success and reputation of the Noosa Jazz Festival since 2011 by staging the annual Noosa Jazz Party as the ‘classic’ or ‘traditional’ component of the festival weekend. The party originated 23 years ago.
Noosa Jazz Party website at http://www.noosajazzclub.com Also on Facebook.
