Have you ever noticed that there is a hint of metal in Jazz? Well, this is your chance to hear a heavy metal big band as one of the featured performances of this Big Band Blast weekend.
Some quick questions to John Morrison
JK: What is the big band weekend?
JM: Big Band Blast is a celebration of the Big Band sound. The annual event is held in late May each year and welcomes musicians of all ages and abilities to join in. Most participants come as part of an existing Big Band and we have also had groups of musicians form a Big Band and come to Blast. Individual musicians may register and come along to play in one of the “Jamming” Big Bands that form during the weekend. Ed Wilson (from the Daly-Wilson Big Band fame) runs our Saturday afternoon Big Band Jam.
It’s main objective is to give a high quality musical experience to the musicians. The public can see most of it for free and although they are guaranteed to see some fantastic music, the festival is for the musician.
JK: How long has it been running?
JM: 2014 is our second year.
JK: How did it come about?
JM: Jacki Cooper and I have been involved in many events that centred around high school aged big band competitions and although they are well run and a good opportunity for young players to play, they seemed to lack the higher educational outcomes. We believe that music should be a collaborative experience rather than a competitive one.
Our motto is “Come and play WITH each other not AGAINST each other. This model opens up the festival to musicians of all ages and at Blast half the musicians are adults and half are school age. Competitions don’t have this kind of flexibility unless everyone is “graded’ or “boxed” into their own age group.
In recent times we have seen other events change to this model as well. The Brisbane Jazz Club’s Big Band Festival runs as an “open to all” affair with no prizes. We believe playing music is it’s own prize.
JK: What can someone new to the experience expect?
JM: In our first year we were inundated with support for the idea. Most band leaders reported that it lifted their musicians in an inspiring way. On the first night we ran a huge jam session and musicians lined up to join in and I asked a man in his late sixties who was standing in line holding a baritone sax why he had come to Blast. He said. “Im a retired bricky. I took up saxophone four years ago and I play it everyday. I just never imagined I would get to do something like this and play with one of my heroes, Ed Wilson. It’s heaven."
JK: Where did you and Angry meet and how did this collaboration come about?
JM: During an interview let year I was explaining to an enquiring journalist that a Big Band doesn’t have to play just 1940’s swing. A big Band can play latin, rock, fusion, any style is open to a modern big band. I said that you could even have a “Heavy Metal Big Band”. There it was. The words came straight out of my mouth and the plan was hatched. I asked Angry because I wanted an iconic rock legend who listened to big bands in their youth. Angry is perfect for this group and a great guy to hang out with.
If you want to join in the fun, this years BIG BAND BLAST festival is taking place in Port Macquarie, these two unlikely cohorts will team up for the world premier of the HEAVY METAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA. An all-star 35-piece “monster” big band with two drummers and BIG METAL SOUND!
Special arrangements of Rose Tattoo's biggest hits have been commissioned for the orchestra as well original material written especially for the performance.
“The Ultimate Big Band Weekend”
30th May – 1st June 2014
PORT MACQUARIE NSW
Modern big bands play all styles of music. Swing, Latin, Be-Bop, Rock, and with all that brass, why not Heavy Metal?
SATURDAY 31st MAY 7:30pm – PORT MACQUARIE TOWN GREEN STAGE
Over 1000 musicians come from all over Australia to perform, and this year the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra from NZ will be the first international band to join the celebration.
FRIDAY – 30th MAY
2:00pm – ON SITE REGISTRATION OPENS – Glasshouse Forecourt – Register and have a “GOLD CLASS” weekend at Big Band Blast. This is the best way to enjoy Big Band Blast.
6:00pm – BLAST OFF CONCERT –Welcome Concert kicks off on the Glasshouse Forecourt – Official Launch
Three great Big Bands to take us into the weekend!
8:00pm – PANTHERS SWING PARTY – featuring Benjamin’s Big Band. Jam session to follow.
8:00pm – SUNDOWNER JAM SESSION – Come along and join in our Junior Jam on opening night.
SATURDAY 31st MAY
9:00am BANDAMONIUM – Over 30 Big Bands play on outdoor stages from 9:00am till dusk. Glasshouse Forecourt, Town Green and Sundowner “Grass” House and Sundowner Jammin Stage. Free to the public.
4:00pm ED WILSON’s BIG BAND JAM – Sundowner Jam Stage. Come and join in this fun session with the legendary big band leader Ed Wilson. Yes – you can PLAY with Ed Wilson in a BIG BAND. How cool is that?
7:30pm JOHN MORRISON’s HEAVY METAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA featuring Angry Anderson. TOWN GREEN STAGE
SUNDAY 1st JUNE
9:00am NEW ORLEANS STREET PARADE – EVERYBODY WELCOME. Bring a silly hat and join in our colourful Mardi Gras style parade. “Down By the Riverside” starts at the Sundowner and marches to the Town Green.
11:00am GLASSHOUSE SESSION (1) – Judy Bailey’s JAZZ CONNECTION. This year Judy will present her latest original works including “Another Journey” with a full string section. This concert is NOT TO BE MISSED!
2:00pm GLASSHOUSE SESSION (2) – Master saxophonist Mike Stewart performs inside the Glasshouse Theatre and shares his knowledge and experience on playing jazz and “Living the Dream”
3:00pm GLASSHOUSE SESSION (3) – John Morrison presents “The Art of the Big Band”. This session demonstrates the big band style and form with a complete DNA breakdown of Jazz.
4:00pm Finale
MORE INFO ON WEBSITE: www.bigbandblast.com.au
REGISTER FOR $66 and see EVERYTHING!
