FESTIVAL VENUE HIGHLIGHTS - DOWNLOADABLE FILE

The Thredbo Jazz Festival performances are spread around 15 separate mountain venues all within walking distance. Each venue is diverse in nature and includes a selection of bars, restaurants, nightclub, function room and the great outdoors. What’s unique about the festival is that each venue is a special event of its own. Take a peak at the highlights of each venue below!

KOSCIUSZKO ROOM - THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL
Fri : Start with the hard bop sounds of the Australian Army jazz combo VB Six Pack before catching the classy piano trio and vocals of John Harkins. Then from 10.30pm dance to the award-winning big band from Kirrawee High

Sat : VB Six Pack starts the program from 2 pm with the second performance by our star artist Michelle Nicolle following at 4pm. GWM Trio plus Marty Mooney will warm the audience up for the New Orleans Cajun sounds of Psycho Zydeco and the first of two appearances b thew top notch RAAF Air Command Big Band.

Sun : Two entertaining sets here. First a 90 minute concert presented by George Washingmachine with some of the best in this year’s program and a ’one off’ performance by one of the ANU School of Music first class large groups the twelve piece Commercial Ensemble - try not to miss this group.

LOUNGE BAR - THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL
Fri: The Lounge Bar program commences at 7.00pm with one of the Nation’s finest traditional-mainstream septets the classy Society Syncopators from Victoria. The Syncopators are followed by the first of the festivals late night jam session directed by drummer John Pochee with is trio where a number of our leading players get to strut their stuff musically.

Sat: Singer Carol Ralph kicks the afternoon program off with her lightly swinging Blue Flames which includes the likes of sax men Paul Furniss, and Marty Mooney and Caroline ‘Pinecone’ Packer. Then follows the dynamic and star-studded Daryl Aberhart Octet before another swinging session by the Society Syncopators and the second of our John Pochee jam sessions.

Sun: The opener for Sunday at1.30pm is Californian bassist Eric Ajaye presenting his Straight Up Trio with a mix of originals and jazz standards using both electronic and acoustic instruments. At 4.00pm is your last chance to hear Australia’s premier female jazz singer Michelle Nicolle and her wonderful trio. Following is The John Harkins Trio with a Nat Cole tribute and songs from his new CD before the final jam session which is always a highlight of the three nights.

SCHUSS BAR - THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL
Fri: With something for a wide range of tastes The Schuss Bar starts the line-up at 7.00pm with the very earthy and funky jazz of Exposed Bone with the dynamic star studded Daryl Aberhart Octet following hot on their heels and the punchy swinging blues of Shirley Smith’s Soul Explosion rounding the first night into the small hours.

Sat: Viva the Band with its continental touch gets the Schuss cooking from 5.00pm before another serving of Shirley Smith’s Soul Explosion and then a rip-roaring Saturday finale by the steaming Cajun sounds of Psycho Zydeco.

Sun: Two gigs here to wind up the Schuss program. First some high class traditional jazz from the Society Syncopators and a great finale with the Daryl Aberhart Octet.

The Keller Bar - THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL
Fri: Popular Sydney based quintet The Moods with a variety of styles are first up from 9.00pm with the funky soulful outfit The Funk-O-Matics from 11.30pm fronted by their charismatic leader Armondo Hurley – back again this year by public demand.

Sat: From 5.00pm the driving hard bop material of the excellent VBSixPack will set a high standard for the acoustic groove rhythms of Exposed Bone at 8.30pm and Armondo Hurley takes us into the early hours from 11.30pm.

Sun: The final two Keller Bar performances are from our block busters Shirley Smith’s Soul Explosion from 8.00pm and the dynamic Armondo Hurley and the Funk-O –Matics take the program out from 11.00pm.

CASCADES RESTAURANT - THREDBO ALPINE HOTEL
Fri: At 9.30pm our main star Michelle Nicolle and her great trio make their first appearance in our 2006 festival. Be early for this one.

Sat: Jazz for Lunch starts at 12.30pm with Canberra’s guitar guru Mike Price, bassist Brendan Clarke with Adrian Cunningham on multiple reeds. In the evening from 9.30pm Carol Ralph and her Blue Flames will be just the thing after dinner fun.

Sun: A favourite in Cascades is always Lionel Robinson and his In Crowd- last chance to enjoy Lino and the ambience of Cascades – starting at12.30pm

TERRACE RESTAURANT- THE DENMAN
Fri: Our newest and largest restaurant will play host to one of our stars George Washingmachine and his entertaining jazz fiddling, zany vocal style and first class trio from9.00pm. - visit www.thedenman.com.au

Sat: A classy room deserves a classy band so from 7.30pm John Harkins and his stellar trio, regulars in Sydney’s 5 star hotel lounges will swing and sing the great standards. Could be a guest or two here as well.
Apres Bar Fri: 7.00pm Popular duo The Wizard & Oz are sure to conjure up some musical magic over the next two hours.

Sat: 10.00pm More lively entertainment with a continental touch from Viva the Band. Poolside Sat : 10.30am The Wizard & Oz play and sing from the great American Songbook

Sun: 11.00 am The RAAF Air Command Big Band entertains with the very best of contemporary and classic big band music.

VILLAGE SQUARE
Sat at 10.30am Top Melbourne trad band Society Syncopators playing toe-tapping tunes from the 20s, 30s and more. 1.00pm. The polished Kirrawee High Big Band plays Latin and Swing for outdoor swingers.

Sun 10.30am Stompin’ Cajun rhythms and from the quintet Psycho Zydeco set the stage for a final two sets of Swing and Latin from Kirrawee High Big Band at 1.00pm.

CREDO RESTAURANT
Fri: 8.30pm Viva the Band’s cabaret continental style will be ideal for this warm little venue.

Sat: 12.30pm The Moods guarantee diners some happy lunchtime jazz, blues, South American and even some R&B. 8.30pm Dine in comfort with the master of lounge jazz and vocals Lionel Robinson with his In Crowd

Sun: 12.30pm A lively way to have a final lunch accompanied by Paul Furniss Trio with some toe-tapping classic jazz of the 20s & 30s.

EAGLES NEST
Sat: 12.30pm Exposed Bone were popular up here last year so we’ve slotted the funky young quartet in for the first mountain top lunch gig.

Sat: 7.30pm The Moods offer a lively mix of music styles- all under the umbrella of ‘jazz’ Sure to keep you warm up there.

Sun: 12.00am Viva the Band will add lots of melody and colour if it’s chilly – or even if it’s not.

HOUSE OF ULLR
Fri 7.00pm Mike Price Trio with ace trumpeter Mike Bukovsky will play and swing on some good evergreens and no doubt the Blues will figure in their playlist.

Sat 3.30pm Settle in for some laid-back smooth lounge jazz from Jindabyne’s Paul Dion and his Canberran side men.

SANTE RESTAURANT
Fri: 9.30pm What could be better that Lionel Robinson and his In Crowd with the tasty menu on offer at Sante? Good way to start the weekend!

Sat: 12 noon. A ‘first up’ performance for Straight Up, a stylish trio led by ACT jazz educator Eric Ajaye. playing jazz classics and the standard evergreen repertoire.

Sat: 9.00pm Singer/pianist Daryl Aberhart is heard here in the trio format with bass and drums - cool jazz and classic standard menu.

Sun: 8pm Final festival gig for Sante has the Paul Dion Quartet and its lounge jazz style.

T BAR RESTAURANT
Fri: 7.00pm The popular tenor sax man Marty Mooney teams with multi-reed player Paul Furniss and his trio for a lively opening gig and thefriendly T Bar..

Sat: 12 noon. This should be a great lunchtime spot with Paul Furniss Trio backing up for a second swinging gig.

COMMUNITY CENTRE
Sat: 2.00pm Our major sponsor Yalumba presents a Wine Tasting with some great musical accompaniment from singer Lily Dior and the Gary Daley combo

Sat: 5.00pm The first of two Gospel Concerts today and tomorrow. Hugely successful last year Armondo Hurley, singer Lisa Collingham and the Funk-O- Matics return. Come early , the room overflowed in 2005.

Sun: 11.00am Carol Ralph is a regular at festival gospel concerts across the nation. With the soprano sax of Paul Furniss and the Blue Flames plus Canberra acapella group Cloud 10 this hour long session shows great promise.