Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter from Southern Highlands Jazz!
Tulip Time
Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto sang the Academy Award-winning song, ‘It Might as Well be Spring’, in the 1945 movie, ‘State Fair’, and here in the Highlands we’re fast approaching Spring and Tulip Time at Corbett Gardens in Bowral.
A special feature of Tulip Time is what is now known as “Tulips After Dark”. It has become very popular with both locals and visitors alike, featuring wonderful lighting in the garden at night with a great range of live music performances.
We invite you to join us at Corbett Gardens on Saturday 28 September from 6.00pm for a night of unforgettable jazz euphoria. Southern Highlands Jazz will present a fabulous gig as a part of Tulips After Dark, with sensational jazz quartet known as The Bootsie Booth Four Piece Trio, comprising Adam Barnard, Tony Barnard, David Seidel and the charismatic Richelle Bootsie Booth.
With a repertoire rooted in jazz, their electrifying performances are infused with high energy and virtuosic flair, cultivated through years of global touring alongside renowned artists and honed in the lively venues across Australia.
Each band member boasts extensive experience in the music industry, and their brand of jazz is not only entertaining but also brims with humour and infectious energy, ensuring an unforgettable encounter for the audience.
Jazz in the Villages
In the pattern of audience diversity, Southern Highlands Jazz is expanding its offerings to present live jazz in several of our Highlands' towns. We’re calling this plan, ‘Jazz in the Villages’, and our first event will be in Penrose on the afternoon of 10 November.
Ben Shellshear
At our most recent gig Bowral Bowling Club on the 11 August featuring the fantastic Unity Jazz Band, our audience was delighted with an unexpected addition to the stage – local 13-year-old drummer, Ben Shellshear (the publication of his name and photo approved by his father). Ben played the drums with passion, igniting wonderful possibilities both for himself and various age groups of future jazz artists, and was given a “big thumbs up” by the Unity musicians... Go beat the beat, Ben!
Our September Gigs
We look forward to seeing our strong core of regular jazz lovers for our September jazz events, with Sunday Sessions Jazz at the Bowlo on 8 September - our Quartet featuring special guests Clare O'Meara and Eric Dunan) and in Corbett Gardens (28 September). Online bookings for Sunday the 8th are available now at https://www.trybooking.com/
Coming Soon!
Looking ahead, we will have our regular Sunday Sessions Jazz afternoon on 13 October at the Bowlo, and in November we are presenting our second annual “Jazz Spectacular” weekend at the Bowral Memorial Hall. On Saturday evening (23 November) we will have Simon Tedeschi, George Washingmachine and six of Australia's best jazz musicians entertaining us; then on Sunday afternoon (24 November) the Dan Barnett Big Band with special guest Monica Trapaga will have us all clapping and tapping our feet. Tickets for the Jazz Spectacular events will be available shortly, so look out for an email from us soon!
So, ‘Cheers in Jazz’ to all Southern Highlands Jazz members and friends! Just remember we may currently have a gig economy, but nothing beats a good jazz gig!