The Snappers
Formed in 2006 to this energetic group perform jazz, shuffle and RnB music influenced by Louis Jordan and barnyard animals. It features some of Melbourne’s finest young ageing musicians from a variety of jazz backgrounds. In 2007 the band played to packed clubs and fish restaurants in Sacandinavia, Iceland, Holland and Northcote and continue a busy schedule playing clubs throughout their home town of Melbourne.
Flap
Led by the talented Eamon McNelis on trumpet and vocalist Jess Guille, Flap are inimitable to the Melbourne music scene. Their lively and spirited music will make you want to dance. Playing a range of styles from gypsy jazz and swing through to their own original tunes, this delightful quintet will put a smile on your face and will leave you wanting more.
The Syncopators
This Melbourne-based band won the 2009 Bell Award for Classic Jazz Album of the Year and has toured extensively in Australia and overseas. They are polished and entertaining presenting a swinging combination of traditional jazz, swing and R&B. Peter Gaudion (trumpet, vocals), Chris Ludowyk (trombone), Richard Miller (clarinet, saxophone), David Allardice (piano), Jeff Arthur (guitar, banjo), James Clark (bass, tuba), Ron Hayden (drums).
Pugsley Buzzard
Piano player and singer Pugley’s performances draw from a rich vein of piano based music from Harlem Stride, New Orleans Funk, Swampshack Jazz, Barrelhouse Blues to Modern Improvisations. His sound has been compared to Fats Waller, Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart and Professor Longhair. An engaging performer, his shows are exciting and entertaining and delivered with a vaudevillian nuance and humour. Pugsley is joined by Anthony Howe on Drums, Bassist, Ashely Turner and Neil Duncan on Saxophone
NSW Public Schools Jazz Orchestra
The NSW Public Schools Jazz Orchestra is one of Australia’s leading student big bands comprising musicians from public high schools throughout NSW. As regular participants in the Generations in Jazz National Stage Band Awards held annually in Mount Gambier, the Jazz Orchestra has enjoyed great success and gained critical acclaim for their high standard of performance, winning Division #1 in both 2008 and 2009. The Jazz Orchestra undertakes a busy schedule of performances annually including appearances at the Sydney Opera House and tours regional NSW.
Mark Elton
Mark moved to Melbourne in 1994 and has been in-demand as a Double-Bass and Tuba player ever since. A highly regarded musician in the Melbourne music scene, Mark has established himself as one of Australia’s leading Double Bassists. He plays regularly with The Hoodangers, Flap!, The Snappers, The Band Who Knew Too Much as well as working as a freelance musician with various jazz, gypsy and funk groups. In addition to his bass playing, Mark is a sought-after Tuba player and vocalist.
Peter Baylor
In high demand at home and abroad as a guitarist, banjoist, violinist and vocalist, Peter is a talented and exciting musician who plays all kinds of Jazz, Western Swing, Big Band Swing, Rhythm and Blues. He has played with countless bands in various styles in Melbourne and Sydney. In recent years he’s toured Australia, the USA, Europe and Japan with a variety of groups. In addition to his musical talents, Peter played Scotty Moore in "ELVIS, The Musical" and has supported many music greats on their tours.
E Type
What sort of jazz do you get when you mix original, soulfully smooth compositions and some big bluesy numbers with arrangements of contemporary popular songs? You get that Etype kind of jazz! Mike Haynes (double bass), Katrina Ryan (vocals) and Beth Lyon (sax) are Etype. Accompanied by Brenton Foster on piano and Barnabas Smith on drums, this classy five piece act perform a polished show filled with energy and simmering sophistication.
Andrew Dickeson
His playing philosophy is simple: “It should express who you are and how you feel _ reflect your life experience. The swing beat is the universal language which allows people to feel love and joy. It should lift the weight of the world off the shoulders of the listener -wash away the daily grind. Whatever style I play, I hope it leaves the listener feeling good. I want to communicate directly with the listener in an understandable, positive way.” With such an attitude, He appeared at the famous Ascona festival in Switzerland with the David Paquette Band and nationally was a member of such diverse groups as the Bernie McGann 4tet, John Harkins Trio, Dan Barnett Big Band and backed visiting Americans, vocalist Barbara Morrison and pianist Jim McNeely. He is also he is also the principal lecturer of jazz drums at the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Kirrawee High Big Band
The Kirrawee High Big Band is made up of students in years 8 to 12 who have an interest in jazz music. The band has a long history of performances both nationally and internationally. They have performed with such notable musicians as James Morrison, Tommy Emanuel, Don Burrows, Ed Wilson and Mark Isaacs. They have toured to South Africa and China, and are the first school band to have toured to Cuba which they did in 2003 and 2006. Another trip to Cuba is planned at the end of this year. The school sponsored a Cuban student form the conservatorium in Havana to spend a year at the school instructing the students in Afro Cuban percussion. She was also lucky enough to appear at the Thredbo Jazz Festival in 2008. Locally they are regular performers at the Manly Jazz Festival, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Hunter Valley Jazz Festival, the Latin Jazz Fiesta and many more smaller performances throughout the year. The band plays a mixture of swing, Latin, Funk and rock music. They also have many of Sydney’s top jazz musicians in their alumni, including Emma Pask and Evan Manell.
More to come:
Armondo Hurley Louise Perryman Performing Arts Unit Jazz Orchestra Lionel Robinson Admiral's Own Jumptown Swing Roger Manning Sarah McKenzie Alex Boneham Roger Barry Daniel Clohesy
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