Generations In Jazz (often abbreviated to GIJ) is an annual weekend

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

festival held in

Mount Gambier Mount Gambier is the second most populated city in South Australia, with an estimated urban population of 33,233 . The city is located on the slopes of Mount Gambier, a volcano in the south east of the state, about south-east of the capital Ad ...

, South Australia. It is held in May and brings together many young jazz musicians from all over Australia and New Zealand.

History

The Generations in Jazz Festival was first held in 1987. The festival's genesis dates from 1982 when three young musicians performed a tribute for their fathers and grandfathers. Nowadays, an estimated 5,200 young people in bands from all around Australia and New Zealand make their way to Mount Gambier. Professional musicians who have taught, performed or judged at the festival include James Morrison,

Daryl Somers Daryl Paul Somers (né Schulz; 6 August 1951) is an Australian television personality and musician, and a triple Gold Logie award-winner. He rose to national fame as the host and executive producer of the long-running comedy-variety program '' ...

, Ross Irwin, James Muller, Wycliffe Gordon,

Graeme Lyall Graeme William Lyall ( AM), is an Australian saxophonist, composer and arranger. He became a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2003: "''For service to music as Artistic Director of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, and ...

Gordon Goodwin Gordon L. Goodwin (born 1954) is an American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is the leader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He has won four Grammy Awards and three Daytime Emmy Awards, and has received over twenty ...

and his Big Phat Band,

Take 6 Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music, gospel sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood University, Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group integrates jazz with spiritual and inspirational lyrics. Take 6 has received seve ...

, and Jeff Clayton.

The World's Largest Modular Tent

The World's Largest Modular Tent is the home of an annual event held in Mount Gambier, South Australia, from May 1 to May 3, 2020. The tent is approximately 64 metres wide and 84 metres long, reaching heights of up to 25 metres; it requires a crew of up to 18 people to assemble it and can hold up to 11,000 people. Generations in Jazz is hosted by James Morrison. Each year, James invites guest artists to perform in a variety of concerts held in the tent. The event sees about 5200 students performing each year and 200 buses transport them to and from the venue. While the World's Largest Modular Tent supplies seating for the concerts and division 1 performances, there are a variety of other, smaller tents that hold performances and cater for food. Adjudicators are often on stage during one or more of the concerts held in the World's Largest Modular Tent and they compose the set piece for each division to play.

Awards and scholarships

James Morrison Jazz Scholarship

The 'James Morrison Jazz Scholarship' is open to solo instrumentalists. Six finalists are judged during the Generations In Jazz weekend. The winner receives $10,000 to assist in the development of their career.

Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship

The winner will receive $5,000 to assist in the development of their career.

City of Mt. Gambier National Big Bands

The

Big Band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

part of the festival invites secondary school big bands from around Australia and New Zealand to compete for prize money of up to $7000 (Division 1). Bands compete for prize money in one of four divisions and stand-out musicians can be rewarded with a place in their division's "Superband". Several improvising musicians in Division 1 are nominated as potential "Future Finalists" of the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship, and one is selected to win $3,500 to assist their musical education. Divisions 1 and 2 superbands and future finalists all play at the Festival Finale. Division 5 (first introduced in 2013) bands are adjudicated only, though one band is selected to win an encouragement award.

James Morrison Academy of Music

The James Morrison Academy of Music (previously known as the Generations In Jazz Academy) was a Jazz Performance course run by

catering to young musicians. It was run in Mount Gambier, South Australia, and offered a one-year Diploma of Music through its affiliation with the

University of South Australia The University of South Australia (UniSA) is a public research university in the Australian state of South Australia. It is a founding member of the Australian Technology Network of universities, and is the largest university in South Australi ...

. The course covered aural, theory, arranging and improvisation. All students rehearsed together as a large ensemble for 90 minutes, Monday to Friday. The ensemble had the opportunity to play with James Morrison at the Generations in Jazz Festival. In 2015 the academy moved into the Old Town Hall in Mt. Gambier. The Academy had its final teaching year in 2021, since opting to operate as a 'pop-up' academy. The closure is speculated to be due to a lack of funding and public displeasure over James Morrison's support of a sexual assault perpetrator.

2020 Cancellation

The 2020 Generations in Jazz competition was cancelled due to the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

global pandemic. In a statement released on the 13th of March, the board outlined their reasoning and their disappointment at having to cancel the event. "Of paramount importance to the Board is the safety and welfare of both the participants and the local community. The Board cannot offer any certainty to deliver the level of Risk management actions required to protect all involved under these current circumstances. It is a very disappointing time for all and we acknowledge the work and dedication of the students, Music Directors and auxilliary icsupport." The competition was also cancelled in 2021.

Results and history

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

List of set pieces

2018 2017 2015 2014

References

External links

Official site

James Morrison Academy
{{Jazz festival Jazz festivals in Australia Music festivals established in 1987