It was presented by American promoter Lee Gordon as one of his Big Show tours,[1] and featured international artists including Sarah Vaughan, Jonah Jones Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Hibbler, Dakota Staton, Gene Mcdaniels, Coleman Hawkins, and Teddy Wilson Trio, with Australian's Three Out Trio, and The Port Jackson Jazz Band.
Ahead of the festival, American music magazine Billboard wrote about Australian newspapers being filled with stories about the announced jazz artist's upcoming appearances.
[2] Dates for the Melbourne shows were announced in The Age on September 8, with the international artists also said to be planning TV appearances during their short stay.
[5][6] Australia's The Three Out Trio, made up of pianist Mike Nock, bassist Freddy Logan, and percussionist Chris Karan, had been playing at Lee Gordon's strip club Primitive when they were asked to join the festival.
In their review they also highlighted The Bryce Rohde Quartet (made up of The Australian Jazz Quintet) who they said almost stole the show with their swinging improvisations.