Jazz On A Saturday, 50th Anniversary edition, Saturday 3 October, 4pm-6pm

On Saturday 3 October, a familiar theme will introduce our 50th Birthday edition, celebrating today’s longest continuously-running jazz program on Australian radio, with excerpts of past programs, special guests, and a special tribute to founding presenter Roger Beilby who has recently died 3 months before reaching that 50-year landmark.

Composed by Melbourne-born “Lazy Ade” Monsbourgh and performed by the pioneering Pearce-Pickering Barrelhouse Jazz band from Hobart “The Jazz Parade” has been heard since 1976 on 3CR each Saturday at 4pm, introducing each edition of the Victorian Jazz Club’s Jazz On A Saturday.

Roger chose the theme from his long-held objective (along with 3CR) of supporting Australian music, and the majority of the programming would comprise performances by Australian artists. Music ranged from the earliest days of Australian jazz to the vibrance of choice of established and emerging local bands, highlighting the status of Melbourne as Australia’s jazz capital.

When it began in 1976, restrictions on transmitter power meant it could only be heard reliably within a 15km radius of the transmitter. Moving from Armadale to Collingwood (and eventually Hoppers Crossing) greatly increased the audience it could reach. 3CR’s 21st Century technology now means it has a worldwide audience.

Roger’s profound knowledge of Australian jazz, as also a collector and archivist, soon gathered a wide audience in the early days. It also offered an alternative to what was on offer at that timeslot – six stations with football, one station with classical music, and one with Top 40. (One listener mistakenly phoned the ABC with congratulations on “their” excellent jazz program!)

After the first 25 years, the team was expanded to include John Trudinger and Geoff Tobin who have added their expertise and enthusiasm for jazz, presenting a broader choice of music styles and interests.

Over the years the program has not been confined to the studio, but has featured live outside broadcasts and recordings of concerts, festivals and other special events. The 3CR studios have hosted many important names from local and overseas jazz as special guests. The special program will include a small sample of these, along with a small selection from the estimated 50,000 tracks that have played over the life of the program.

The Victorian Jazz Club and the team are grateful for the wisdom and support of the 3CR Management Team that has enabled it and the Victorian Jazz Club’s program to endure over the past half century.