Jazz it up in Victoria

Jazz fans will want to be at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz from November 2 – 5, an event that will see leading Australian and international jazz performers take the stage.

Included in the international line-up at what is one of Australia's premier jazz festivals are the Dave Holland Quintet from the United States; American jazz guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel; Nils Wogram’s Root 70, one of Germany’s hottest young bands; Belgium’s Pascal Schumacher Quartet; and Danish jazz saxophonist, Jakob Dinesen.

Among the Australian line-up are the saxophone icon, Don Burrows; New Zealand-born and Sydney-based pianist Mike Nock; and jazz singer, Vince Jones.

The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz will also boast a blues programme, with performers from the United States and Australia.

The festival, which dates back to 1990 and has built a reputation for uncompromising artistic excellence, takes place among the fine wine and food districts of sunny Wangaratta, just two and a half hours from Melbourne,

The atmosphere is relaxed and casual and you can stroll from one venue to another. Typically, several venues are playing at any one time including a tented blues stage , hotels, the town hall and the cathedral. In between, you can wander through Reid Street and check out the local food and wine.