Saturday 4 - 5.30 pm

In English.

Great traditional and classic jazz, news and interviews brought to you by the Victorian Jazz Club.

Presented by Roger Beilby, John Smyth and John Trudinger.

32 Years of Jazz On A Saturday

Jazz On A Saturday is Australian radio’s longest continuously running jazz program currently on air. The program, presented by the Victorian Jazz Club Inc., was first broadcast on October 2nd, 1976 on Australia’s first licensed public broadcaster 3CR, when the VJC became a member of the Community Radio Federation that operates the station. The ninety-minute program has been on air continuously at the same time, Saturdays 4 – 5.30pm, and with the same presenters, since that date, a record that not even the ABC’s JazzTrack can match.

The first Jazz On A Saturday program came from the station’s original premises in Armadale (1976), then opened the new studios in Cromwell Street Collingwood (January 1977), and moved with the station to its current premises in Fitzroy in 1984.

Roger Beilby and John Smyth, the show’s original presenters, are still in charge of Jazz On A Saturday. Roger is a jazz collector, archivist, proprietor of “Mainly Jazz” and a Life Member and former President of the Victorian Jazz Club; John Smyth is a (now retired) professional engineer and former jazz musician with lengthy experience in broadcast production. In 2002, John was awarded Life Membership of the Victorian Jazz Club in recognition of his contribution to the program. John Trudinger joined the team in 2001 during John Smyth’s extended absence in New York.

While essentially music-based, the program also sees itself as a program of record, interviewing local and visiting musicians and arranging on-location broadcasts from special events such as Jazz Conventions and festivals such as Wangaratta. Historical occasions are recognised in the regular “Jazz Almanac” segment. In line with 3CR’s music policy of favouring and promoting performances by Australian artists, the program includes a very high level of local performances.

While official survey figures are not available, estimates indicate an audience in the Melbourne area varying in the range of 15,000 to 30,000 depending on season. The program also reaches a significant audience in towns within a 100 km radius.

The Victorian Jazz Club was formed in 1968 (it recently celebrated its 40^th birthday) to promote awareness of jazz music, particularly in the traditional and mainstream vein, and to provide regular opportunities for public performances by Melbourne bands. It does this through weekly Club nights, and through its radio program. 

The Club, and the Jazz On A Saturday’s presenters, are firmly of the view that Melbourne is the jazz capital of Australia, and both the availability and quality of jazz in Melbourne is at least the equal of many other cities around the world. It encourages any opportunity to raise the profile of jazz (particularly traditional and mainstream), both for the enjoyment of the people of Melbourne, and its recognition as a potential attraction for visitors from overseas.

By John Smyth
Jazz On A Saturday Presenter

Live to Air From Wangaratta Jazz Festival

Jazz On  A Saturday was in a prime spot for our broadcast from the 2009 Festival of Jazz - right outside the new Performing Arts Centre, the crowds queuing right past the broadcast point.  The program the whole JOAS crew with John Smyth and Roger Beilby in Wangaratta, John Trudinger in the 3CR studio to keep us up to date with Melbourne ews.  Greg Segal also provided technical support as he has done for JOAS events over the past 30 years!

Guests included the British team of stride pianist Martin Litton, banjo and wizard Tom 'Spats' Langham and tuba player Malcolm Sked.  Local Jo Stephenson, Ashley Keating and Glenn Jacobi also took part. Tobin also provided a rundown of festival events.

The only worrying aspect was the weather forecast, with showers and a late thunderstorm forecast.   However almost clear skies that morning brilliant sunshine (so bright it was hard to see the display in the CD convinced us to stay outside rather than use the indoor contingency the Media Centre (more comfortable but not so close to the action).   It was quite hot and humid (which also caused some discomfort in the crowd) but the time of the broadcast, the Performing Arts Centre provided some shade it was quite comfortable.

Because of playing commitments,  a lot of the interviews with musicians had be pre-recorded, and post production and editing tooking place right up 15 minutes before going to air.  But otherwise, the weather held, and all well.   And the same spot has been booked for next year (and they have us a marquee to protect us from either sun or rain ....) 
Another successful event for Australian radio's longest continuously running jazz program.

(Footnote:  The weather forecast was out by 24 hours - the following day a downpour took place at quarter past four, which would have caused disruption to the broadcast.)

Photo:  John Smyth and Roger Beilby on the ground in Wangaratta and on the with guest commentator Geoff Tobin.