In September, Noosa will once again come alive to the sound of jazz.

Recognised as one of Noosa's premiere cultural events and one of Australia's most popular Jazz industry gatherings, the Noosa Jazz Festival will bring more than 150 Australian and International artists to Noosa, producing an impressive four-day jazz celebration.

In 2010 the Noosa Jazz Festival will offer a stellar line up of National and International musicians that will cover all genre of jazz music from traditional to the more modern funk and blues.

Visitors are invited to attend any of the numerous open-air concerts, exclusive performances, jazz feature-shows and daily free gigs to experience the huge variety of jazz our musicians have to offer. Returning for its second year, 'Tastings on Hastings offers a unique opportunity to wine and dine literally on Hastings Street whilst being entertained by the Festival's top performers on a roaming stage.   

 Noosa jazz ranges from traditional, Dixie, modern, swing, funk, R&B, and everything in between. The Festival attracts Jazz greats like Bob Barnard, Paul Grabowsky, Graeme Bell, Monica Trapaga and Andrew Swann. Some will play solo and some play in combinations never before heard. There are International bands and trios -- all with one thing in common -- they play the best jazz on the planet.

The international line-up includes US sensation, Warren Vach, a supremely accomplished, versatile and rare performer who has been astounding audiences worldwide for decades with his superb cornet, trumpet and flugelhorn styling's. He will also be the guest at this years' Legends Lunch.

The brilliant New York Trio 'The Bad Plus' will enthrall jazz buffs with their energetic and powerful performance. The trio's music combines elements of modern Avant-garde jazz with rock and pop influences. The band have recorded versions of songs by Nirvana, Aphex Twin, Blondie, Ornette Coleman, Pixies, Rush, Tears for Fears, Neil Young, David Bowie, Yes, Interpol, and Black Sabbath.

Internationally acclaimed Barbara Jungr (UK) is renowned for her unique vocal style, approach to arrangements and interpretation of song. Her acclaimed releases and performances have brought her to the world stage and revealed her to be one of Europe's most exciting voices.

The Twilight Jazz Sessions on Friday 3rd September and Saturday 4th September are a feature of this years' festival held on the main stage set in the beautiful Noosa Woods, undoubtedly one of the best jazz backdrops in Australia.

Friday night is Big Band night featuring the Ralph Pyl Big Band from Sydney which includes the great vocal sounds of Doug Parkinson, Monica Trapaga and Frank Bennett. Warren Vach will also appear on the main stage on this night as well.

Saturday is the Noosa Jazz Festival Feature night. And what a line up it will be. Brazilian Jazz with Doug De Vries the master guitarist who never fails to astonish. Capella quartet 'Idea of North', and the brilliant New York Trio 'The Bad Plus' will enthral jazz buffs with their energetic and powerful performance.

Industry greats like The Phil Slater Quartet and Paul Grabowsky Trio featuring Scott Tinkler will also feature on the program along with many more great acts and free gigs to attend.

For more information, visit: www.usmevents.com.au/noosajazz or phone 1300 797 723 for ticket bookings.

Noosa Jazz Festival
02/09/2010 - 05/09/2010
Annual Festival
Free and ticketed performances

2010 Noosa Jazz Festival Artists:
Warren Vach (USA), The Bad Plus (USA), Paul Grabowsky Trio (AUS), Idea of North (AUS), Barb Jungr (UK), Diana Clark Trio (AUS), MAG trio features three highly regarded Australian improvising musicians (Stephen Magnusson -- Guitar, Frank DiSario -- Bass, Dave Beck -- Drums ), Doug Parkinson, Monica Trapaga, rank Bennett, Ralph Pyl...

Noosa Jazz Festival News:

13 Jul 2010 - A Sensory Delight
15 Jul 2010 - Celebrating 20 Years of Noosa Jazz
27 Jul 2010 - Bicentennial Hall - Home of Trad Jazz
17 Aug 2010 - Twilight Jazz In The Woods - Nights To Remember
18 Aug 2010 - Noosa's Longest Lunch Dining A La Jazz
27 Aug 2010 - Free Top Line Jazz In The Woods

2010 - CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF NOOSA JAZZ

2010 marks the 20th celebration of the Noosa Jazz Festival. After 20 years of bringing the cream of Australian Jazz talent to the beautiful resort town of Noosa Heads Queensland, the festival can now hold its head high as one of Australia's longest running jazz festivals.

The list of performers who have electrified the venues of Noosa over the years is impressive. Greats like Bob Barnard, James Morrison, George Golla and Vince Jones are just a few of the big names who have wowed audiences in one of Australia's most desirable beach resorts.

Noosa is blessed with pristine beaches, beautiful national parkland and a magnificent river, but when the jazz festival comes to town, jazz lovers can enjoy one of the most unique holidays imaginable. Because Noosa offers Jazz lovers a magical environment complimented by cool music played overlooking the river and beach all day long.

The festival was started by Melbourne jazz icon Frank Johnson, together with Richard Stevens, who understood that in the competitive Tourism world, the hotels and restaurants would benefit from a multiple day celebration of Jazz. Created to celebrate the start of Spring, the Noosa Jazz Festival plays an important role in attracting tourists to the region who are looking for an escape from the winter climate.

From humble beginnings of one restaurant, the festival today boasts over 90 performances in multiple venues on the infamous Hastings Street strip, a large purpose built jazz stage in Noosa Woods overlooking the beautiful Noosa River, Bicentennial Hall, which is the home of the Noosa Jazz Club and venues all the way to Noosaville come alive to the great sound of jazz music every year.

Today, the festival has grown from a community event to a sophisticated celebration of jazz which is a respected festival attracting thousand's of jazz lovers to South East Queensland.

In recent years, performances from Cat Empire, Paul Grabowsky, Katie Noonan and the kings and queens of traditional jazz like The Syncopators, Peter Gaudion and George Washingmachine amongst many great performers, have given the Noosa Jazz Festival a new lease of life. The organisers have big plans for the future and are now investing in attracting international performers to the festival.

To celebrate 20 years of Noosa Jazz we are bringing contemporary trio The Bad Plus to the festival. They will be joined by the legendary Warren Vache who has also agreed to join jazz fans at a legends luncheon where they can hear stories from the life and times of Warren and his amazing stellar career in jazz.

By the time acts like the Paul Grabowsky trio who have invited Scott Tinkler to perform with them, the Phil Slater Quartet and the Idea of North take the stage, the audience who flock to Noosa will know that the Noosa Jazz Festival is alive and well with a big future ahead of it.

Join Jazz lovers from all over Australia at the Noosa Jazz Festival from the 2nd to the 5th September for outdoor lunches on Hastings Street to the magnificent river side stage in Noosa Woods and you'll be rewarded with some of the best jazz on the planet.

See you in Noosa in Spring!