Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta

Bush fire fund raiser JAZZ CONCERT

Wangaratta Cathedral

Thursday 16 April 2020

7 - 9.30 pm

Tickets: $15 - adults $10 - Students under 16 and pensioners.

Donations in addition to the tickets could be made at the door

FEATURING:

Carolyn Packer Jazz singer & pianist

Locally supported by:

• Sing Australia

• Jazzaratta

Carolyn Packer will put you on a high and have your foot tapping to her New Orleans Honky Tonk up beat music. She will be working with local singers and jazz musicians to bring a local as well as international flavour to the evening. • Carolyn is donating her time to this fund raiser • 100% of ticket sales and cash donations will go towards Bush Fire recovery

Tickets available from : Edgars Books and News & The Cathedral office and shop CAROLYN PACKER BIOGRAPHY

Growing up in Sydney, Carolyn started formal piano lessons as a child and played in all genres, from classical to folk to pop. She was es- pecially influenced, though; by Chicago blues and early boogie woogie, and by her early twenties she was playing around town in a va- riety of jazz and blues outfits. In the early 90s, she was one of the main drivers behind the band Lonesome Boogie, playing pubs and clubs and the festival circuit, including the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival in Byron Bay, Woodford Folk Festival, Lithgow Blues Festival, Thredbo Blues Festival, Southern Cross Festival in Narooma, Goulburn Blues Festival and the Manly Jazz Festival. Lonesome Boogie made two recordings – Grinnin’ and Pickin’ (1995) and Hey This is Our Town (1998), on which Carolyn’s famous pi- ano boogie The Pines Stomp was first recorded. Carolyn continues to wow audiences with The Pines Stomp and it remains one of her most requested tunes today.

Carolyn Packer was inspired to produce a traditional jazz album after travelling to New Orleans (2018) where she absorbed the music, culture, art and food during the French Quarter festival, The Crawfish Festival and the Jazz and Blues Heritage Festival in 2018. Carolyn wanted to take the listener on a journey, not only emulating the music of traditional Jazz, but adding her own distinctive blues flavour and feel. Every song on this album was recorded live – including the vocals. Phil Punch, the sound engineer, made sure the musicians were free to explore, intertwining with each other spontaneously. Thus this album is a true representation of the feel, energy and authenticity of the music produced by The Stompin’ Rhythm Aces.

THE STOMPIN’ RHYTHM ACES The Stompin’ Rhythm Aces were formed originally as Bill Dudley’s New Orlenians.but after trumpet player, Bill’s departure to Cairns in 2017, Carolyn decided to keep the band going, renaming it after her distinctive Boogie Woogie, The Pine’s Stomp. The band is made up of Jimmy Fletcher – drums, Ed Rapo –bass, David Ridyard –reeds, Greg Englert kindly stepping in on trumpet and Cameron Jones on guitar.

MAISON DU SOUL JAZZ BAND New Orleans meets Paris! When Carolyn asked Cameron to play on her latest album, she loved the gypsy swing guitar. Both players re- alized that Carolyn’s swingin’ boogie piano style really complimented Cameron’s hot club gypsy jazz. Maison Du Soul Jazz Band was formed together with Loretta Pameiro on clarinet, John Mackie on double bass and Jim Fletcher on drums. The band have had rave re- views up in the Central Coast and looking forward to building their fan base in Sydney and the Illawarah region over the next few months.

Testimonials “…there are very few pianists who are equally at home in the New Orleans Jazz and mainstream idioms as well as the funky stuff like Professor Longhair…” － Mike Tovey, musician

“…she looked sensational and played magnificently. So elegant… a very special event” － Michael Watson, WIN TV Melbourne.

“She makes Jazz rock! Here on the Central Coast we have been privileged to enjoy Carolyn ‘Pine Cone’ Packer featuring with a number of bands, including her own aptly named Stompin’ Rhythm Aces. You may start out tappin’ your toes, but her Honky-Tonk and Boogie- Woogie will soon have you stompin’ your feet. Her robust piano playing and vibrant vocals will get you bouncin’ along. Carolyn gives the keyboard a complete workout. Glad to see this long overdue CD…I’m sure Clarence [Pinetop Smith] would approve.” － Rod Gale, Secretary, CCLC Jazzleague Gosford

“Sitting here listening to Carolyn Packer’s Stompin’ Rhythm Aces album exceeds all my expectations. Not only has she got great musi- cians behind her, but also the recording is tops – very professional. I love hearing Carolyn play, but this CD is going where I put my mu- sic I can’t be without.” － Leonie Galton, Vice President, Sydney Jazz Club 2019

Recordings There’ll Be Some Changes Made– Carolyn Packer’s Stompin’ Rhythm Aces Herding Cats, Blues Reform School Live at the Basement– Foreday Riders Live it, Live at Patonga (DVD) – Hip Sister Jazz Portraits– Carol Ralph Freshly Squeezed– Lemon Sqeezin’ Daddies No Relation– Finn Hey This is Our Town, Pickin’ n Grinnin’ –Lonesome Boogie