The people of Bowral are today talking about the Jones boy - Ben Jones.
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Not because of any sporting triumphs. No blue ribbons for cricket, football, swimming, tennis or gold. The biggest blue ribbon you can find is for his musical talents.
Ben Jones, 44, is a musician who plays and lives for jazz. He is a maestro of his trade. A world-class performer with both saxophone and clarinet and a teacher very much in demand. He teaches at Frensham and Oxley College and calls the shorts the Mittagong Public School concert band.
Whatever he plays you are listening to a musical maestro and you get the chance to experience his talents this Sunday at Bowral Golf Club between 2pm and 5pm when he welcomes Helen Fenton to the stage. There is no sweeter swinger in Australian jazz that Helen Fenton.
When he isn't blowing on a sax or licorice stick, Ben Jones has a voice that would melt snow off a snow-caked mountain. Of slender build, in keeping with the dimensions of the clarinet he perfects, his range is vast, his lyrics crystal clear.
Ben's dad, Bo was no slouch as a musician, but Ben acknowledges the late Tom Baker as his musical mentor. Baker was a multi-musical world-class performer as was another inspirational mentor in the late Kiwi, Chuck Morgan.
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Married for 14 years to Angelina, Ben is never without a song in his mind.
He has played with true greats of Australian jazz. Try James and John Morrison on for size and throw in Australia's first lady of jazz Janet Seidel.
One of the most memorable moments was the day he played before a crowd of 90,000 at the Domain Jazz Festival.
He is also a regular at the annual Manly Jazz Festival.
But probably his greatest achievement only occurred this week.
On Tuesday, October 22 the movie Championship Girls was launched.
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Ben Jones composed the entire musical score, and it's anticipated to be a blockbuster.
That trumped the time he was chosen alongside "Kitchen Kings" Tony Bilson and Neil Perry on a tour of India as a member of the Australian creative arts team.
On that note we can look forward to a foot-tapping marathon on Sunday, October 27 at the Bowral Golf Club.
Bookings for the Sunday Sessions Jazz at the Bowral Golf Club can be made by calling 4861 1042 and choose option 2.
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