1st Annual Australian International Jazz Festival

Australian jazz festival held in 1960 Australian International Jazz Festival Jazz Australia Lee Gordon 1 26-29 October 1960 The 1st Annual Australian International Jazz Festival was a national jazz festival held in Australia during October 1960. It was presented by American promoter Lee Gordon as one of his Big Show tours, and featured international artists including Sarah Vaughan, Jonah Jones Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Hibbler, Dakota Staton, Gene Mcdaniels, Coleman Hawkins, and Teddy Wilson Trio, with Australian's Three Out Trio, and The Port Jackson Jazz Band. History Ahead of the festival, American music magazine Billboard wrote about Australian newspapers being filled with stories about the announced jazz artist's upcoming appearances.Collins John 26 Sep 1960 AUSSIE Newsnotes https://books.google.com/books?id=oR0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Lee%20Gordon%22%C2%A0australia&pg=PA4 Billboard 4 Google Books Dates for the Melbourne shows were announced in The Age on September 8, with the international artists also said to be planning TV appearances during their short stay.8 September 1960 TV Introduction for Jazz Festival Stars 1 The Age - Radio & Television Supplement https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97985616/international-australian-jazz-festival/ They began to arrive in the last week of October, with ticket sales reported at the time to be "the heaviest ever".Collins John 31 Oct 1960 AUSSIE Newsnotes https://books.google.com/books?id=PSAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Lee%20Gordon%22%C2%A0australia&pg=PA9 Billboard 9 Google Books Each show also had local bands, with Ray Price & The Port Jackson Jazz Band playing Sydney, The Swinging Graduates in Adelaide, and The Varsity Five for Brisbane.Gaunt James August 2022 The 1st Annual Australian International Jazz Festival https://www.ajm.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AJAZZ-94-Aug-2022.pdf AJazz Australian Jazz Museum 94 16-17 Dave Brubeck and Jimmy Rushing were both announced as playing Melbourne on October 27, but aren't mentioned in any reviews. Buddy Greco and The Dave Brubeck Trio were announced, but don't appear on the final lineup.8 October 1960 Australia https://archive.org/details/cashbox22unse_2/page/46/mode/2up?q=%22lee+gordon%22+%22jazz+festival%22 Cash Box 4729 October 1960 Australia https://archive.org/details/cashbox22unse_5/page/46/mode/2up?q=%22Australian+jazz+festival%22 Cash Box 47 Australia's The Three Out Trio, made up of pianist Mike Nock, bassist Freddy Logan, and percussionist Chris Karan, had been playing at Lee Gordon's strip club Primitive when they were asked to join the festival. Nock later recalled the shows at Sydney Stadium had a revolving stage, and Coleman Hawkins needing to be helped off after becoming disoriented.Kee Joanne 2016-02-07 THREE OUT REDUX Australian jazz history reprised http://jazz.org.au/three-out-redux-australian-jazz-history-reprised/ 2022-03-19 Jazz Australia en-AU When Sarah Vaughan arrived in Sydney ahead of the festival, The Age reported she had come with a wardrobe worth £7500.26 October 1960 Jazz Singer In Sydney 7 The Age https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97983617/australian-international-jazz-festival/ After arriving, she rehearsed with pianist Roland Hannah at Sydney Stadium on Tuesday 25th, ahead of their first show the following night.At Grips With Jazz 1 The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97983699/sarah-vaughan-and-roland-hannah/ ABC radio broadcaster Eric Child hosted talks on the history of jazz before each set, and a scholarship was to be awarded to an Australian jazz musician to go overseas and gain experience.1960-11-02 International JAZZ Festival Australian Women's Weekly http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51193387 2022-03-19 Sir Kenneth Street was a patron of the festival, though he told reporters he didn't really understand jazz, but was happy Gordon was attempting to bring real jazz artists to Australia.21 October 1960 Jazz Intrigues Former Judge 19 The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97984651/australian-international-jazz-festival/ The Sydney Morning Herald praised Ferguson's performance in Sydney. In their review they also highlighted The Bryce Rohde Quartet (made up of The Australian Jazz Quintet) who they said almost stole the show with their swinging improvisations. Following their own performance The Quartet joined Dizzy Gillespie, and were followed by Al Hibbler, Jonah Jones Quartet, and The Port Jackson Jazz Band.29 October 1960 Jazz Festival At Sydney Stadium 9 The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97985220/australian-international-jazz-festival/ In their review of the second Sydney performance they highlighted Coleman Hawkins as the shows best.31 October 1960 Jazz Festival At Sydney Stadium 6 The Sydney Morning Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97985317/australian-international-jazz-festival/ The festival was recorded by ABC producer Joe Cramey, and were broadcast on the radio in 1961 as twelve 30 minute programs.1961-02-15 LISTEN HERE Australian Women's Weekly http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46469773 2022-03-19 Lee Gordon lost heavily on the festival,Van Straten Frank 2007 28 Feb 2017 - Lee Gordon 4 - Archived Website http://liveperformance.com.au/halloffame/leegordon4.html dead https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170227182148/http://liveperformance.com.au/halloffame/leegordon4.html 2017-02-27 2022-03-19 Live Performance Australia en and it was later revealed advance sales and door sales were both low, with the festival leaving Gordon £200,000 in debt.Heffernan Alan A. Big shows : :the Lee Gordon years 2003 A. Heffernan 0-646-42457-2 Clear Island Waters, Qld. 223766363 Although the festival was intended as an annual event,1960-10-28 Jazz Opportunity Australian Jewish Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263140112 2022-03-19 it didn't return. Lineup Two lineups played alternate shows across Australia between Wednesday 26 October and Saturday 29.De Looper Michael May 2021 AUSTRALIAN CONCERT TOURS 1950–1979 https://australianrecordlabels.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Australian-tours-1950-1979.pdf Australian Record Labels A Company: Sarah Vaughan, Jonah Jones Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Hibbler, and The Bryce Rohde Quartet 26 Oct 1960 – Brisbane, Festival Hall 27 Oct 1960 – Adelaide, Memorial Drive 28 Oct 1960 – Sydney Stadium 29 Oct 1960 – Melbourne, Festival Hall B Company: Dakota Staton, Gene Mcdaniels, Coleman Hawkins, Teddy Wilson Trio, and The Three-out Trio 26 Oct 1960 – Adelaide, Memorial Drive 27 Oct 1960 – Melbourne, Festival Hall 28 Oct 1960 – Brisbane, Festival Hall 29 Oct 1960 – Sydney Stadium References External links Dakota Staton at the Festival on Flickr Jonah Jones at the Festival on Flickr Jonah Jones at the Festival 2 on Flickr Sarah Vaughan at the Festival on Flickr Cover of Program (Archived) Concert program details at Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences Concert program and poster at State Library of NSW Category:Jazz festivals in Australia Category:Music festivals established in 1960 Category:Concert tours Category:1960 establishments in Australia Category:1960 disestablishments in Australia