AUTUMN NEWSLETTER - 2023

STEVENSON’S ROCKETS - on Sunday April 23rd - Jazz
Luncheon at the Vue Grand Queenscliff - featuring Jo
Stevenson, reeds; Steve Grant, piano; Chris Ludowyk, bass
and Ian Smith, drums, occasional cornet, vocals and special
effects!
Considering that we only have four Jazz Australia events per year i.e. one a season, it is hard to believe that the second one has come around so quickly, and which will feature what has now become an annual visit from the very popular Stevenson’s Rockets from Melbourne.   This Quartet consists of the superb Melbourne reed player Jo Stevenson, and one of Australia’s most outstanding jazz pianists Steve Grant, with Chris Ludowyk on bass, and the multi-talented Ian Smith on drums, vocals, occasional cornet and special effects! 

This will be a pizza luncheon for a change, followed by fruit platters. A real plus re the Vue Grand of course is that they have an excellent grand piano in their dining room, a real asset when you have a world class pianist performing, as we will have on April 23rd.  Steve Grant is almost as much in demand overseas as he is in Australia these days. 

The dining room at the Vue Grand will only seat 100 comfortably for a concert/luncheon in order that everyone is able to see the band, and so I am expecting that this event will book out quickly, particularly as there is at least one Probus Club attending this time.

Cost  $78 per person is inclusive of everything except drinks at bar prices. Payment can be made by bank transfer online to Jazz Australia, CBA Hawthorn   BSB 063 138  Account No. 1001 3193  or cheque/ cash to 25 Peterho Boulevard, Point Lonsdale.

Has everyone had a peep at the Jazz Australia website recently….. or ever? 
This is at  www.jazzaustralia-vic.com.  Amongst other things it mentions my publication The History of Jazz Australia which tells many interesting and colourful stories that have occurred during almost 50 years of presenting classic jazz concerts in Australia, plus Jazz tours to the USA and Jazz Cruises up the Mississippi, to the Pacific Islands, to the Whitsunday Islands and also the Murray and Yarra Rivers, plus Jazz Festivals in WA and Vic, and my 25 years as Graeme Bell’s Melbourne rep and the dozens of great concerts that he and I organized during that time. It has been an unusual and interesting almost 50 year vocation and every event has featured leading jazz musicians both from Australia and abroad.  I’ve been told it’s a good read!

I would be very happy to post you a copy of this memoir, the second part which I enjoyed writing during the Covid pandemic, so it’s up to date.  It is $25 which includes postage or $25 at a jazz event, or if you wish to collect one in person at 25 Peterho Boulevard, Point Lonsdale.

Till soon,

Diana Allen
Stevenson’s Rockets