2 July 2008 - York Jazz Festival web site launched!

ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

The transformation is complete! York Jazz & Soul Festival announces the best line-up of jazz talent ever assembled in Western Australia. The artist lineup offers international, national and local legends, masters, maestros and the best emerging jazz talent in Australia.

It happens in the middle of Spring (October 18 th and 19 th) across 7 wonderful stages which are all complemented by the authentic vintage backdrop offered by the historic town of YORK in wildflower season, gourmet food and beverages, poker, markets and more.

Here are the artists making a hottest weekend of the coolest jazz and soul!

JOHN SCOFIELD (USA)
One of the ‘big three’ jazz guitarists of all time, John Scofield spent a three-and-a-half-year stint in the 80’s touring with the great Miles Davis. His recordings - many already classic - include collaborations with contemporary favourites like Pat Metheny, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Government Mule and Joe Lovano.

JOE LOVANO (USA)
Joe is an incredible saxophonist and is hailed by the New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history”. Joe also leads the Grammy Award Winning Joe Lovano Nonet.

ROY AYERS (USA)
Vibraphonist/vocalist Roy Ayers is among the best-known, most-loved and respected jazz/R&B artists on the music-scene today. Roy Ayers' reputation is now that of one of the prophets of acid jazz, a man decades ahead of his time. Famous for monster hits like “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” he has been sampled by music industry heavyweights, including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, and Ice Cube.

ERNIEST RANGLIN (JAMAICA)
Direct from Jamaica. He’s the legendary master guitarist of Studio 1. He’s the founder of the ska and reggae sound! He was the first artist to record and release on island Records He’s played with artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, The Wailers, The Skatalites and more and was the first artist to perfectly marry jazz and reggae with his incredible album BELOW THE BASSLINE.

JAMES MORRISON
He needs little introduction to Australian audiences. James is an Australian jazz icon; Virtuoso jazz musician; a multi-instrumentalist who is highly regarded in the international music world. Mostly known as a trumpet player, he is also a brilliant technician on trombone, euphonium, flugelhorn, tuba, saxophones and piano.

In 1990 James Morrison was awarded the MO Award for the Australian Performer of the Year. In 1997, he was awarded an Order of Australia. In 2000, he appeared at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He has appeared internationally with his own group and as soloist alongside Wynton Marsalis, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Woody Shaw, Whitney Houston, Dizzy Gillespie and the Philip Morris Superband.

VINCE JONES
Australia's leading jazz vocalist, Vince Jones, is also a remarkable interpreter and composer of songs in a contemporary jazz style.

LIOR
With strings attached Lior has earnt himself a reputation as one of Australia's finest and most soulful live artists for his pure vocal style and diverse musical arrangements. He toured with the WOMAD festival in 2005 to the UK, Singaporeand Korea. Lior also performed at the Spiegeltent in Melbourne in 2006, as well as the Make Poverty History concert in November.Lior has won 5 ARIA Awards including best Independent Release in 2005 and 2006, plus Best Blues and Roots Album in 2006. In February 2008 Lior’s second album ‘Corner of an Endless Road’ debuted at #2 on the ARIA Album chart. He makes a special appearance at this festival with a string quartet.

ELANA STONE BAND
A group of friends whose collective talents draw on the rich traditions of soul, jazz and the blues. Winner of the Best Jazz Artist at the 2004 The Music Oz Awards and a winner at the National Jazz Awards Wangaratta Jazz Festival in 2005.

JULIEN WILSON TRIO
The Julien Wilson Trio were finalists for the 2004 Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Ensemble and are featured on Wilson's recent CD/DVD release, while you were sleeping, which was a finalist for a 2006 ARIA Award and the 2007 Bell Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album.

KONRAD PASZKUDZKI
At the age of 14 Konrad was awarded the “Young West Australian Instrumentalist of the Year” and at 15 was accepted into the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) on jazz piano. He graduated from WAAPA at the age of 19 with a Bachelor of Music in 2007 and was awarded the Melville Toyota Scholarship for most outstanding graduating jazz student. In 2008, he was the winner of the Generations in Jazz James Morrison Scholarship, making him the first pianist in the history of the competition to win the prestigious award. 

+ NOSTALGIA 77 (UK) + LOST AND FOUND with GRABOWSKY/OEHLERS/BECK + VOID + HIP MO TOAST + CARL MACKEY QUARTET + SAM ANNING QUINTET + TIM JAGO QUARTET + TROY ROBERTS TRIO + JAMES SANDON QUARTET + JOHANNES LUEBBERS + RETROSONICS + G5G + SCOPE + JOHANNES LUEBBERS DECTET + THE HOUNDS + RUSSEL HOLMES TRIO + GRAHAM WOOD TRIO + GLYN MCDONALD + SARAH MCKENZIE TRIO + TOM O’HALLORAN TRIO + OFFBEAT PT 1 + BEBOP SPOKEN HERE + THE STEVEDORES + THE MAGIC OF COLE PORTER + PADDY FITZALLEN QUINTET + POWERHOUSE JAZZ BAND + CORNERHOUSE JAZZ BAND + DANGEROUS CURVES PT 1 + THE FIX

And believe it or not…more to be announced!YOU CAN FIND FULL DETAILS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL INCLUDING ALL ARTIST BIOS & MUSIC, TICKETS, TRANSPORT ON OUR WEBSITE

Tickets on sale Friday 18 July from www.yorkjazz.com.au ; 78 Records Perth & York Visitors Centre, York

FESTIVAL BACKGROUND
In October 2008, one of Western Australia's most recognized and established festivals the YORK JAZZ FESTIVAL is undergoing a complete revitalization to reclaim it's rightful place as one of Australia's greatest street festival experiences.

Those who've felt the buzz of York on a busy jazz festival weekend will know exactly what we are talking about; a gorgeous and 'just-right' 75 minute drive in the sunshine through a countryside bursting with spring wildflowers lands you in the proud historic town of York and you are immediately immersed in an authentic and delightful experience.

The unmistakable vintage atmosphere and pioneer spirit in the buildings and the streets of York is completely energized with all things jazz and the air is a delightful jumble of incredible music, the smell of gourmet food and the hum of people having a brilliant and/or excellent time. This is what York Jazz Festival was always about and from October 2008 this is the least you can expect as we proudly present a completely revitalized 21st Annual YORK JAZZ & SOUL FESTIVAL.

An agreement with the Shire of York sees control of the event being handed to Western Australian based festival and event maestros Supersonic Enterprises from 2008 (see footer). This gives the festival the injection of creative direction, experience, resources and new investment of $500,000 from Supersonic which will enable the delivery of a premium WA experience for world class artists and jazz fans alike.

The event is also picking the brains of WA's potent jazz and music community through organizations such as JazzWA, Perth Jazz Society, Jazz Club of WA, WAAPA and Funk Club to ensure we identify and secure the best possible combination of local, national and international jazz and soul artists for the event.

The YORK JAZZ & SOUL FESTIVAL 2008 line up is absolutely it's best ever and includes a blend of established and emerging Australian and International jazz & soul artists across five stages covering traditional jazz, be-bop, improvisational jazz, modern jazz, dixieland, soul, youth jazz, swing, gospel, funk, nu-jazz and everything in between.

Of course, there'll also be everything else you need to have the perfect weekend; Premium food and beverages; a poker den; special areas to park and display rare/vintage motor vehicles; ergonomic site design for your comfort; coach options, day passes and weekend passes for convenience; dancing demos and much, much more.

TICKETS ON SALE JULY 18 2008

COMMUNITY & VOLUNTEER ENQUIRIES to community@yorkjazz.com.au  
STALL AND VENDOR ENQUIRIES to stalls@yorkjazz.com.au
SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES to sponsors@yorkjazz.com.au
PUBLICITY & MEDIA ENQUIRIES to sarah@supersonicevents.com.au

For general enquiries phone (08) 6210 2800.

THE PERFECT WEEKEND FOR DRIVE!  THE PERFECT WEEKEND FOR A JIVE!