Wang Update

[curious]

So come on, who is going to tell us all about the weekend. Who saw the vocal comp? Any thoughts? Standout gigs etc?

[hungover]

best gig I saw was the Pateras/Baxter/Brown band. Really fantastic group that played very well together, I thought that they were particularly good at maintaining the flow of ideas and generated a lot of momentum. Nothing else really grabbed me though it was great to hear Stanko's beautiful sound live, and Oliver Lake's playing was cool too. Apparently Lake's solo gig was fantastic but stupid me missed it.
It seemed that the turn out was pretty good, most the big gigs were full.
The beer was very nice, mostly Boags.

[another hungover punter]

yep pateras/baxter/brown my pick too...
the oliver lake trio were great as well
too many eurovision song contest moments in est
stanko was great but have reservations about that band
was a great vibe overall
not the 'best ever' as they say at the olympics but another bloody good one
thanks to aj and all the others who got it happening

[another hungover punter]

what vocal contest??

[Vicki H BBBBB]

Barney was great with Shannon and Jamie O. Great gigs and you can hear one of them online through ABC Radio National live onstage if you missed out.

Paul Williamson HC played a great gig, Geoff Hughes and Steve Mags playing some rockin' solos, really good fun.

Really enjoyed Andrew Robson and Stanko, I loved his pianist too. Caught a set of the catholics who were nearly rained out sound wise, but that was good regardless. Heard lots of the comps. One or two weren't very strong but the three in the finals - I thought that two if them were good but one made me think if Mattel made a jazz barbie that is what it would sound like.

Thought Anita Wardell was strong with Colin Hopkins, Floydy and Moody. All playing beautifully in the Pinsett (yukky venue a bit - too much yakking). Sorry to miss the Tenor battle there between Jamie and Jules that would have been a hoot.

Back on the comp: another vocalist who didn't make it to the final three sounded like Barbara Streisand does Kurt Elling - weird and I was suprised that on performance Alison Wedding didn't get in the final three, she gave a faultless performance. A lot of people were grumbling about that.

On the not so good side - I was frustrated that the first night I couldn't get into two of the gigs I wanted to hear.

Don't think the queueing in the rain went down well. I thought we would have seperate entrances with the reserved seat option. You still had to queue to get in which was not pleasant at all as quite a few of the gigs ran late.

But those things are a minor problem -I love Wangaratta JF I always have a great time rain or no rain - good to hear Adrian is AD for the Stonnington Festival, that will be great in May and something to look forward too.

Well done to AJ and all those volunteers. Another fine festival.

[blondey]

So which blonde finalist is "Jazz Barbie" Vicki?

[jmac]

magic moments -
The brief sunbake and lying around the pool Friday afternoon. Barney McAll & co, trombonist Shannon B was a surprise that night.
Mark Isaacs & Elana Stone, one of Mark's best trios, bassist Ben Waples and the drummer James Hauptman.
catholics on fire with the bonus of guitarist Carl Dewhurst making the trip down with them.
Drummer Evan Mannell with Bobby Gebert.
Way Out West - on many levels, particularly guitarist Dung Nguyen, the Ray Pereira/ Dave Beck drums/ percussion duels, Peter Knight's writing and poems.
Oliver Lake in the church, could listen to his poetry all day. Can't forget to mention drummer Pheeroan akLaff with the trio also.
Tomasz Stanko quartet's late night Sunday performance, the real deal. Love the trio.
Shi Go - Monday at Auldstone winery, Ronny Ferella's sublime writing for Steve Magnusson, Anita Hustas (also beautiful writing) and Ben Gillespie. Some of the most beautiful music I heard all weekend. The flys were great company as well.
The bus trip back to Wang, stopping and picking up Roger at John Gehrig's, the bus was totally full with people standing in the aisle. Roger was pissed as a fart and we were betting on who got his lunch. ( Maybe not so magical)
Eating, drinking and catching up with friends all go to making this year's festival well and truly up to par, IMHO. We usually dread the long drive back, but for some reason it flew by. Maybe it was the memories of the festival that helped.
Gunning pub at 3pm witnessed history with Makyve Divas win. Another memorable holiday.

[Vic Ki H B]

Barbie wasn't necessarily blonde! Lots of brunettes in that comp! It was the sound that was Mattel - that's all - a la production line if you get my drift.

[yeesh]

Wow, that's pretty harsh.

[Ken]

Elana won, she's not blonde, other two finalists were, only three in the finals, mmmm which one could it be.....

[confused]

"Back on the comp: another vocalist who didn't make it to the final three sounded like Barbara Streisand does Kurt Elling..." is this a good or bad thing?

wowzers....amazingly enough it's not the judges that are critiquing, its the punters.

[not confused]

and why shouldn't they, Confused? That is what comps are about. GOSSIP!

[Not Yeesh]

(To Yeesh) Harsh? HARSH? HARSH? Have you read what Tim did to poor Sam Keevers? Hey, what would you do to Tim then, hang him?

[dazed]

what tim wrote about sam keevers is entirely irrevelant....'jazz barbie' is a reductive moniker compared to a constructive, albeit harshly so, review written by tim stevens.

if you must critique directly, articulate yourself properly without needing to retreat to lame slogan names.

[Ken]

hey Dazed "Jazz Barbie" was appropriate!. I was there & that comment is totally suitable, and well it made me laugh out loud. Don't you have a sense of humour?