JAZZ.!!.Banjo...!!!- The Sydney Banjo band played at the recent week long 66th Australian Jazz Convention in Bundaberg, mid-north Queensland between Christmas and New Year.......and the next rehearsal is at Club Ashfield in Sydney on Wed. 18th January.....

Well the 66th Australian Jazz Convention held in the mid north Queensland city of Bundaberg, 26th -31st December 2011 is now over and the sets we played went over well.
Regrettably neither Ted Gerome who was over from Pittsburgh, USA nor Lance Macguire from Brisbane who were to come and play lead could make it.
But John Wilson, myself on banjo and Hugo Pfandler on harmonica and banjo took up the challenge and the sets went smoothly.
We were aided by Reg Packer from Swan Hill in Victoria and Peter Ransome from Brisbane who sang and played for us and Australian Jazz icon, Kate Dunbar also sang "Rose of Washington Square" for us....
Judy took some photos for us, I've cleaned them up a bit and stitched three together to get a panorama of the SBB for several sets and there are photos of the usual street parade through Bundaberg.....
Those with access to get to Sydney, remember the next rehearsal is at Club Ashfield, Wed. 18th January, 6pm for a meal, 6.45pm start playing in the upstairs bistro/function area in Club Ashfield, 5 Charlotte Street, Ashfield, beside Ashfield Railway station.....
The following rehearsal is Wed. 22nd February.
Left click on the images to enlarge them....

The street parade assembles.....

We march off...

Reg Packer sings "When you're Smiling".....

DQ speaks to the audience as Hugo readies to bring in a song, perhaps "Honeysuckle Rose" on harmonica and then banjo.....

Another set and Kate Dunbar sings "Rose of Washington Square".... what a voice...trained at the Sydney. Con during WW2, now 88 years old and still the best blues singer in Australia...

John Wilson, Ray Towers and Lasz Mahrer.....
We were helped by Nev Ollis on sousaphone and drummers Ian Hill and Mike Williams......

Nev Ollis, sousaphone; Hugo Pfandler on Harmonica/banjo, Peter Ransome and DQ.....