Step into The Listening Room and hear the festival in its own words.
This collection of interviews, recorded by podcaster Rachel Edwards, brings together the voices of musicians, organisers and community members who have shaped the Clarence Jazz Festival over the past 30 years. Press play to explore the stories, memories and moments that live alongside the music.
Christine Bailey
“When you have good, solid, competent musicians you get so much vigour.”
Christine Bailey is a stalwart in the Tasmanian jazz scene, and a member of the Hobart Jazz Club for 33 years. Her first involvement with the festival was in the early 2000s.
Sasha Gavlek
“There is an essence of patience in the jazz community, and a care.”
Sasha Gavlek is a contemporary jazz musician, a double bassist, composer and more. This is their tenth year playing at the first festival and their first gig was when they were 17. They’ve been awarded the Most Prolific Player in the festival award twice.
Kelly Ottaway
“I’m trying to think of a different word than breeding ground. A lot of great musicians have appeared in their formative years at this festival.”
Kelly Ottaway is a local musician who plays piano, keyboard and is one of the few vibraphone players in the state. He composes, leads a big band and is all-round busy in the music scene in Lutruwita/Tasmania. He reflects on the scene, and the legend that is Ian Pearce.
Heather Chong
“The festival and the musicians bring a vibrancy, and a depth and fun.”
Heather Chong is a councillor on Clarence City Council and has celebrates the families who have come along to the Clarence Jazz Festival for the last thirty years. As a councillor she also celebrates the increased visitation, and revenue for local traders during the festival.
Kaye Payne
“I feel honoured and proud to be part of the festival.”
Kaye Payne has only missed three Clarence Jazz Festivals. She has watched some of the audiences grow up. She was president of the Hobart Jazz Club for years and her first priority as a musician is to make the audience feel good.
Matt Rushworth
Matt leads Southern Lights big band, which encourages all ages. He says the Clarence Jazz Festival is a beacon, and a point of inspiration. He deep dives into jazz chops, but what was it that got the eleven-year-olds up and dancing last year?
Nadira
“It’s freedom, it’s a festival to show who you are, and it’s a festival of enchantment.”
Nadira says her mission is to make jazz fun again. She is a bandleader, and a singer and she celebrates that the Clarence Jazz Festival has helped shaped her career. She was so nervous at her first festival ten years ago, and back for the 30th as a singer and an MC. She says she’s in her aunty era now, and loves imbuing her ‘jazz babies’ with the joy she finds onstage.
Spike Mason
“I think of jazz as dreams.”
Saxophonist Spike Mason left an international jazz career based in Sydney to move to Poatina in the Central Highlands. That was 12 years ago, and he believed his career was over. He was surprised that in Tasmania there were more opportunities and creativity
Marjorie Luck & Robin Pulford
“Those jazz people are very nice people.”
Marjorie Luck and Robin Pulford both worked for Clarence City Council thirty years ago, and it is largely thanks to them, and the inimitable jazz musician Ian Pearce, that the festival was forged so well. Their legacy is profound, but what was it like running a festival back then?
