 |
Big Band
The Dungeon Big Band brings together 17 of the Hunter
Valley's finest professional musicians, such as Paul
Isaacs from the Funky Do Das.
Having performed since mid 2004, when Dungeon Jazz featured
the band in its premiere concert, the Dungeon Big Band
has gone on to headline at festivals, conferences, concerts
and balls throughout the region and further afield, including
performances for ABC Classic FM, Newcastle
Grammar School, Lake Macquarie Music Society, Newcastle
University Choir, Nelson Bay Rotary Club, The
Leukaemia Foundation and the Newcastle
Club, and in such venues as The Newcastle
University Conservatorium, Newcastle University
Great Hall, Soldiers Point Bowling Club, Lake
Macquarie Performing Arts Centre and Newcastle
City Hall.
The music performed covers the best of the Swing era,
branches out into Latin rhythms and explores more contemporary
styles.
The ever-expanding repertoire presently numbers 250, some
of which are arranged and composed specifically for the
band. Colin Campbell, Leigh Sherringham, Jill Fraser and
John Barnes have all provided the band with quality charts.
Included in the repertoire are such hits as:
- Golden Wedding - Woody Herman
- Caravan - Duke Ellington
- Whirlybird - Count Basie
- Sing Sing Sing - Benny Goodman
- Begin the Beguine - Artie Shaw
- A Country Boy - Maynard Ferguson
- Hunting Wabbits - Gordon Goodwin
- In The Mood - Glenn Miller
- Dirty Boogie - Brian Setzer
- Big Swing Face - Buddy Rich
The line up for The Dungeon Big Band includes: Paul Isaacs,
of Funky Do Da’s fame, on tenor sax; the sweet trumpet
of Fiona Watson; Craig Parish on soprano, alto, baritone
and bass sax and Leigh Sherringham on trombone. As well
as a fine calibre of musician, the Band also, on occasions,
calls on talented vocalists such as Lisa Kinna, Julie
Wilson, Jill Fraser, Daryl
Aberhart, and Zac Isaacs, and
special guests Bob Henderson (trumpet)
and John Kellaway (trumpet). 2007 saw
the Dungeon Big band present a concert at Newcastle City
Hall celebrating Dungeon Jazz’s 10 year anniversary,
as well as a nationally broadcast live concert for ABC
Classic FM. The Dungeon Big Band’s CD, 'Strike
Up The Big Band' is available
now.
The Dungeon Big Band:
- Julie Wilson, Lisa Kinna – vocals
- Daryl Aberhart - vocals
- Craig Parish – soprano, alto, bass sax & clarinet
- Clint Lawrence – alto sax, clarinet & flute
- Paul Isaacs – tenor sax, clarinet & flute
- Rod Barnes – baritone sax & clarinet, bass clarinet
- Fiona Watson – trumpet
- John Kathner – trumpet
- Natalee Spinks – trumpet
- Leigh Sherringham – trombone
- Akira Weller-Wong – trombone
- Zac Isaacs – trombone
- Michael Bell – bass trombone
- Joe Cadman – piano
- Brian Saxby – guitar
- Dave Christensen – bass
- Ben Barnes – drums
- Steve Morton – percussion
VALE – NEVILLE HOLMES
1940 – 2008
A founding member of The Dungeon
Big Band, Neville Holmes sadly passed away in August
2008. Neville was the second trumpet (solo) and he brought
untold experience and energy to the band (as well as
many jokes).
Nev was also one of our singers, on
many occasions fronting the band in classics such as
Mack The Knife, Hello Dolly and New York New York. He
loved sharing the bandstand with younger players and
always encouraged them with suggestions and words of
support.
We are fortunate to have our recordings featuring Nev.
He will be missed by us all.
|
