The lineup for Australia's premier jazz event, the Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz was announced this evening. The 2008 Festival will be staged over the pre-Melbourne Cup Day weekend of Friday 31 October – Monday 3 November.

Headlining the program for the Festival’s 19th year will be two major American bands: the John Scofield - Joe Lovano Quartet, and the David Murray Black Saint Quartet. They will be joined by artists from the USA, Finland and Spain, along with many of the leading names in Australian jazz.

John Scofield has been recognised as one of the leading guitarists in jazz ever since he worked with Miles Davis back in the 1980s; he is renowned for his distinctive style, which melds jazz with tones and techniques drawn from rock, blues and funk. Joe Lovano is one of the most respected saxophone masters in jazz today. He was part of John’s band in the early 1990s, so this tour represents a happy reunion for them. They will be joined by Matt penman (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums).

David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet) is one of the most exciting and prolific saxophone stylists of the last thirty years in jazz, his music encompassing everything from gospel and blues to free jazz and bebop. He last toured here with the World Saxophone Quartet in 1993. His Black Saint Quartet features the exciting young pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, along with bassist Jaribu Shahid and drummer Malik Washington.

The Festival’s artistic director, Adrian Jackson, said, “It is a real coup for us to be able to present such elite artists as John Scofield, Joe Lovano and David Murray. They would be high on the ‘must see’ list for any jazz fan.”

He added, “I am especially pleased that Joe will take the opportunity to renew his artistic relationship with Paul Grabowsky, and will play a set at Wangaratta with Paul’s Quintet. In addition, John Scofield has made the rare gesture of agreeing to sit in as a guest soloist in a concert by James Muller and his Trio. Those are the kind of one-off events that fans really love to see at a jazz festival.”

Also from the USA : pianist Jim McNeely, a highly respected composer and arranger for large ensembles, will perform two concerts with the Spare Parts Big Band, while vocalist Gretchen Parlato, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition in 2004, will perform one concert, accompanied by guitarist Mike Moreno.

Making their first visit to Australia will be the Ilmiliekki Quartet from Finland, featuring trumpeter Verneri Pohjola. Their names means ‘open fire’, and their repertoire includes original material, as well as striking arrangements of songs by Bjork, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Radiohead and Tom Waits.

Also touring here for the first time will be Los Krokodillos, a multinational band based in Barcelona, whose music is an irreverent, energetic update of the traditional jazz sound and repertoire.

Among the Australian performers, pianist Paul Grabowsky will be very busy. In addition to leading the Quintet with Joe Lovano (and Scott Tinkler, Philip Rex and Simon Barker), he will co-lead a 7-piece band with singer Megan Washington, and will perform with saxophonist Jamie Oehlers and drummer Dave Beck.

Pianist Joe Chindamo will perform arrangements from tango, tarantella and Italian opera with his Romantic Project. Mike Nock and Andrea Keller will play solo concerts. Alto saxophonist Bernie McGann will lead his Quartet. In addition, he will be featured in the quintet led by tenor saxophonist Dale Barlow, and the 9-piece band led by pianist Sam Keevers.

Veteran drummer Ted Vining will perform with the Impressions trio, and the sextet Blow. Other adventurous bands at the Festival will include the Marc Hannaford Quartet, Unity Sound, Trio Apoplectic from Sydney and the Zac Hurren Trio from Brisbane.

Vocalists at the festival will include Lisa Young, Michelle Nicolle and Julie O’Hara. Classic jazz artists will include Virus, Blue Drag, the Crescent City Serenaders and the Margie Lou Dyer-Allan Browne Allfrey Street Jazz Band, as well as guitarist Ian Date, who is now living in Ireland.

The blues program will feature exclusive appearances from two international artists : Duke Robillard and Robert Belfour. Originally from Rhode Island, Duke began playing\ with Roomful Of Blues in 1967, and has since worked with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bob Dylan and Dr John, as well as recording numerous albums as leader, and winning 4 WC Handy Awards for Blues Guitarist of the Year. He will lead a hot band, featuring Paul Williamson (saxophones), Tim Neal (keyboards) and Fiona Boyes (guitar).

Raised in the Mississippi hill country, guitarist-singer Robert Belfour plays an earthy, compelling style of country blues, as heard on his records for the Fat Possum label, What’s Wrong With You? and Pushin’ My Luck.

Other blues acts will include guitarist-singer Geoff Achison, on a welcome tour back home from his new base in the USA; Chris Wilson, the Dutch Tilders Band, Zydeco Jump, Collard Greens & Gravy, Jaimi Faulkner Band, Lloyd Spiegel and the MBAS Youth In Blues band. Music lovers who prefer blues will be well catered for, while those who enjoy jazz and blues will face some tough choices.

The festival's artistic director, Adrian Jackson, said, "From Friday night right through the weekend until the Cup Eve Concert, Wangaratta is going to be packed with people enjoying plenty of great music. The program will cover the whole spectrum of jazz and blues styles, from very traditional to very contemporary. Music will be played in pubs and concert halls, a cathedral, wineries, outdoor stages, all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that makes the Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz the highlight of the year for so many music lovers.”

An annual event since 1990, the Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz is one of Australia’s biggest regional events, and has been acclaimed by fans, musicians and critics as Australia’s premier jazz festival. It enjoys Tourism Victoria's Hallmark Event status, having won the Victorian Tourism Award for Regional events three times, and the Australian Tourism Award in 1999 for Regional Festivals & Events. In addition to a great lineup of jazz and blues performers, the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz offers visitors the chance to enjoy the quality wines and gourmet foods for which the surrounding region is renowned, whether at street stalls in town over the weekend, or meals at venues like Brown Brothers Epicurean Centre or the Wangaratta Gateway.

It all adds up to the 2008 Wangaratta Festival Of Jazz being an event that no music lover can afford to miss!