Jazz at the Multicultural Fair

David Reaston, Jason Smyth-Tomkins and Don Rader at the fair

Day three of the Con Jazz tour featured two performances at the Rockhampton Multicultural Fair, held in the main campus of CQU.

Thousands attended the Multicultural Fair and a large crowd enjoyed the morning performance of Don Rader and a Con Jazz combo.

Don led the band on a musical journey with virtuoso performances all round, much to the audience's delight.

He introduced 'Days of Wine and Roses' as being written by his friend, Henry Mancini, and the band gave a moving interpretation of the classic tune.

The crowd swelled as the mood of the music built to a crescendo and the set climaxed with a stunning version of 'Rambling' by Ornette Coleman which featured dual trumpet lines by Don Rader and CQCM lecturer Derrin Kerr, and rhythm changes into swing solos by all members of the band.

Duelling trumpets, Don Rader and Derrin Kerr

People were asking for more and those that stayed until the afternoon got another dose of jazz from several of the student combos.

This performance was on a smaller stage in front of the education faculty building.

The two student singers on the tour, Benjamin Worthington and Monique O'Neill, gave strong performances in the intimate atmosphere.

Monique gave a powerful rendition of 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' with most of the students joining in and finally Benjamin was arrested by mock security officers for supposedly inciting a riot.

There were no riots, but Con Jazz certainly got the crowd at the Multicultural Fair fired up and left some lasting impressions.

Bundaberg Concert, Gladstone Concert, Rockhampton Concert, Mackay Concert.

Story and photos by Ross Green