Let there be jazz and you could hear for miles. And soon it’ll be miles and miles and miles. (For those readers 40yrs and younger it’s 1.6 kilometres and 1.6 kilometres and 1.6 kilometres, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it does it? But that’s progress for you.)

I reckon a solid honk from a tenor sax, or should I be saying a beautiful sonorous tone firm in fundamentals and laced with a lavish portion of upper partials and powered by a set of non cigar smoking lungs, sounded from atop a Monaro hill and assisted by a substantial breeze from behind would be heard for maybe half a mile away on a good day. And yet when I was coaxed by jazz presenter Gary Hayes of Cooma Monaro FM community Radio to “go live” and gently puff a few licks into an enticing red microphone it was heard as far a field as Thredbo and that’s 62miles away! Oh the marvels of modern science. I’m told that the studio in Nimmitabel is to be upgraded and moved to a higher location at the Old Mill. That means you will be able to hear the jazz even further a field.

Speaking about jazz being heard in Thredbo, I’m very excited about the fact that I’ll be joining forces with four top jazz musicians from Canberra to present a programme of contemporary jazz at the Thredbo Jazz Festival this year. We’ll be focusing on hard bop and original compositions from each member of the group so if you’d like to hear some challenging music we’d love to have your company in this delightful setting. The 18 th Yalumba Thredbo Jazz Festival takes place from May 6 th through to May 8 th and features a wide variety of jazz styles. A visit to www.thredbo.com.au/jazz would be a good idea to check festival details and who’s on.

In the meantime I’m happy to report that the response to the call for “Talent Of The High Country” talent quest was strong and the top 15 entrants will be strutting their stuff on the Snowy Hydro Stage Easter Sunday at 2pm. The quest winds up Lake Jindabyne’s “Flowing” celebration of art, music and food to be held in Banjo Patterson Park March 26 th and 27 th. Come along enjoy the weekend and support the local talent.

PS. Ball Room Basics 3pm Sun 17thApril, May 1st and 8th. Jindabyne Memorial Hall. Cost: $5.00pp. The Jindabyne Lions Club “In The Mood” Charity Ball is booked out but there’s nothing to stop you from coming along to the ballroom dancing classes.

Paul Dion