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Preliminary figures indicate a 30% increase in box office revenue and a commensurate increase in paid audience attendances, making the 2011 Melbourne International Jazz Festival the most successful to date and firmly strengthening its place as a new global leader in innovative jazz programming.

Yesterday evening the Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Premier with the Arts, Heidi Victoria MP, confirmed the Victorian Government’s funding of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival for the next two years.

The 2011 Festival enjoyed capacity houses, with many sold out events including Sonny Rollins, three Sun Ra Arkestra concerts, Ron Carter Trio, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Overground, Chiri/AlasNoAxis, Aaron Goldberg Trio/3Cohens, Faust and many more. The club sessions, late night jams and masterclasses at Bennetts Lane were at constant capacity and the Festival hub, The Cave, drew lines of many hundreds of registered punters eager to step into the unique party atmosphere.

"The success of this year’s Festival is a true affirmation of the vitality of creative jazz music as a thriving, ever-evolving art form. I am thrilled to have observed how Melbourne, and our ever-broadening audience, so enthusiastically embraced the program and the many extraordinary, ecstatic musical moments we experienced over the past ten days" said Sophia Brous, Melbourne International Jazz Festival Program Director.

With over 400 performers, more than 120 events – including 46 free events, six world premieres, 20 Australian premieres, 16 Festival exclusives and 12 Australian/international collaborations, the 2011 Melbourne International Jazz Festival continues to be the largest and most diverse festival of its kind in Australia and is carving out its own place one of the most progressive and innovative jazz festivals in the world.