ABC Classic FM’s flagship jazz program Jazztrack is celebrating 30 years of broadcasting.

To celebrate ABC Classic FM will present a festival of jazz and jazz inspired programs all next week, culminating with a live concert broadcast from Melbourne ‘s legendary Bennetts Lane on Sunday 25 February.

Jazztrack aims to cover the increasingly diverse styles of jazz from both international and Australian artists.

ABC Classic FM Station Manager, John Crawford says: “Jazztrack has been a vital part of the jazz landscape in Australia since it began in 1976 on ABC Classic FM.”

Its first and longest serving presenter was Jim McLeod, who retired in 2004.

Current presenter Mal Stanley has continued the tradition of showcasing the best Australian Jazz performances for ABC listeners, offering both emerging and established jazz musicians the opportunity to record both in the studio and live for the program.

Artists featured include Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Bob Burtles, Dale Barlow, Andrea Keller, Ten Part Invention, Jamie Olehlers and Michelle Nicole. Many of these recordings have since been released on CD by ABC JAZZ so they can be enjoyed in perpetuity.

In addition to the celebrations of one radio music program’s ability to survive for 30 years in a changing musical landscape, ABC JAZZ has released a CD, Jazztrack: Sessions homegrown and rare, featuring original compositions and performances by Australian musicians and as yet unreleased from the Jazztrack archives.