Meet the Bands
NELSON JAZZ CLUB BIG BAND
DUNEDIN CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
NELSON JAZZ CLUB BIG BAND
The Nelson Jazz Club Big Band is styled after the great bands of the Forties.
The music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Duke Ellington will be familiar to most people and this forms the basis of the bands repertoire. Big Bands have remained popular since their heyday in the late 1930’s and 1940’s and show no sign of losing their appeal, with new arrangements of contemporary music appearing all the time.
The Nelson Jazz Club Big Band has been in existence for around 40 years. Originally known as the Sun City Big Band it predates the formation of the Nelson Jazz Club and many of the bands members were instrumental in the formation of the club. The NCJBB is proud to be the only band to have performed at every Nelson Jazz Festival since its inception and is also kept busy playing regular gigs in the region. Over the years the band has travelled to gigs on the West Coast, Manawatu, Marlborough (appearing regularly at the bi-annual Marlborough Air Show) and has attended the Christchurch Big Band Festival consistently over the last 10 years.
The band’s current Musical Director is Ian Nicholas and although the band serves as a community band with no person financial gain to members, the membership has consistently included some of the best Jazz musicians in Nelson. The combination of talent with many years of musical experience creates a great sound that brings the dance floor alive.
CYJO - CHCH YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Christchurch Youth Jazz Orchestra (CYJO)
Each year as part of the Christchurch Big Band Festival, the Christchurch Youth Jazz Orchestra is formed under the musical direction of Lana Law. This amazing auditioned band with students from secondary Schools around Christchurch takes part in the Hanmer band camp, rehearsals and plays for two performances at the Christchurch Big Band Festival.
ALL GIRL BIG BAND (AGBB)
ALL GIRL BIG BAND
In a largely male dominated musical genre, 18 Christchurch women are changing the face of the big band. The All Girl Big Band is a completely female, full big band who create a "powerhouse of sound" that will blow you away! The band consists of an array of talented musicians whose " infectious joy of music making" is el their live shows. The majority of the band are professional musicians or music teachers in Christchurch - and they have spent much of the last 12 months touring, performing and recording their first CD.
MAINLAND BIG BAND
Mainland Big Band
The Mainland Big Band is a very experienced dance band with a long history of music-making in Christchurch and the Canterbury region. We perform regularly across the region, as well as for private weddings, receptions and large formal, corporate dinner-dances. We are a dedicated team of up to 17 musicians who rehearse weekly under the direction of a talented Musical Director. We have a constantly-expanding repertoire, and with more than 50 years’ experience.
GCBB
GCBB
The GCBB has existed since 1992 and has proved to be a ‘breeding ground’ as well as ‘holding pen’ for a number of well-known Christchurch musicians! The band was led by Christchurch jazz ‘icon’ Stu Buchanan who played & entertained audiences with the band into the new millennium until he died in 2014 and is now led by roger Grenfell.
ELLESMERE BIG BAND
ELLESMERE BIG BAND
The Ellesmere Brass Band was formed in 1902.
It was well known and won many awards at Brass Band Competitions. Bavarian band nights were popular in the 1970s. A history of the band was written during centennial celebrations in 2002, a copy of which is in Leeston Library.
In 2004, with the addition of saxophones and a rhythm section, it became known as the Ellesmere Concert Band. In 2014, the band moved to its current Big Band style.
In recent years it has benefited from the excellent leadership of Dave Neil, Ian Stringfellow and Riwai Hina, all Army Band alumnae. We are now led by the capable and well-renowned saxophonist Matt Davis.
FUNKESTRA
FUNKESTRA
Formed in 2022 from the pool of extraordinary jazz musicians that Ōtautahi Christchurch has to offer, The Natural Selection Funkestra Big Band (Funkestra) plays some of the funkiest and swingingest charts this side of the black stump.
A small big band - the horns lock into one of the best rhythm sections around and drive, drive, drive. Keep your ears out for this band, you don’t want to miss them.
AMBUSH BRASS
AMBUSH BRASS
Gig-hardened defenders of the right to groove on the move, prepare yourself, if you can, for AMBUSH BRASS. This 8-piece troupe of ragtags deliver a healthy dose of joyous, New Orleans second line music to the detours and dead ends of the Christchurch urban landscape, far away and hometown festivals, sports games and other surprising scenes. Playing inspirations from hip-hop to the sounds of a Mardi Gras street party from genre-leading legends: Rebirth Brass, Hot 8, Youngbloods, New Orleans Nightcrawlers brass bands (USA). Band: Sousaphone - Matthew Harris Tenor Sax - Matt Davis Bass drum - Cat Wall Snare - Chris Searle Trumpets - Greg Knowles, Sarah Hickman Trombone - Charlotte Crone MC - Tucker XL
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE BIG BANDS
St ANDREW’S BIG BAND
St Andrew's College has had a lot of success over the years having won the NZ Youth Jazz Festival Best Big Band award in 2018 and having won Southern Jam eight times in it's history. The Big Band is made up of students that love jazz, and love the risk of improvising... well, most of them do :) We aim to play a variety of popular jazz standards in different genres.
ST ANDREW’S JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Our Jazz Orchestra is made up of year 7-11 musicians who are extending themselves with challenging repertoire including popular jazz classics.
CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL OF MUSIC (CSM) JAZZ BAND
The CSM Big Band had its origins back when CSM was at The Arts Centre and the band was led by Chch jazz icon, Stu Buchanan. THE CSM Big Band started back up again in 2018 and rehearses once a week as part of the Christchurch School of Music programme. The band has a wide range of ages, and absolutely loves performing all styles of music. Led by Georgina Rees-Stevenson.
CHRIST’S COLLEGE BIG BAND
Directed by by Claire Oliver
PAPANUI HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND
Papanui High love playing at the Big Band Festival and it has now become an annual tradition. The band has achieved many Gold awards at Ara JazzQuest and Southern Jam over the last few years, and was runner up Best Big Band at Southern Jam in 2018. The band is planning to travel to play in Sydney in 2020, and constantly strives to improve performance, keep learning, set new challenges, and have fun.
ST ANDREW’S SOUL BAND
Our Soul Band features the tight harmonies of three wonderful singers with a jazz group. They perform popular jazz and pop tunes in our signature 'soul' style.
ALL STAR BIG BAND
Musicians from big bands getting together to form a band especially for the Big Band Boogie Ball at 12 Bar. MD Lana Law.
DUNEDIN CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The DCJO is Dunedin’s premiere Big Band formed in 1988 by Calder Prescott MNZM from local players who had grown up through the jazz scene. The band follows a long line of groups big and small that Calder ran in Dunedin for over 60 years. DCJO gigs regularly around the town at public events, pubs, dances and concerts as well as travelling to festivals in Queenstown, Oamaru and Christchurch. DCJO has also made trips to Australia, West Coast USA and Europe, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, and always plays to great acclaim. We have a focus on developing promising young players and although the personnel changes over the years the standard remains high and swinging. The band’s current Musical Director is Nick Cornish, a long time player in the band and a nationally sought after multi-instrumentalist in all genres.
QUEENSTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
QUEENSTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The Queenstown Jazz Orchestra was formed in 2011 by a group of enthusiastic Jazz musicians residing in the Wakatipu area. All members have extensive musical backgrounds and have been part of the music scene in Queenstown and the Wakatipu Basin for many years. Additional musicians and vocalists join the Orchestra for specific functions and events. The 16-piece big band line-up performs big band classics from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Buddy Rich, through to popular vocals from the big band era. The band has played at numerous functions and social events over the years including Christchurch Big Band Festival, Jazz in Concert in Queenstown, Arrowtown and Wanaka, Queenstown Winter Festival, Alexandra Blossom Festival, Queenstown Jazz Festival, Arrowtown Spring Swing, Queenstown Wine and Food Festival, Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival, concerts in the Queenstown Gardens as well as many private and corporate events.
SOUTHLAND YOUTH BIG BAND
SOUTHLAND YOUTH BIG BAND
The Southland Youth Jazz Band (SYJB) features young musicians from across Southland that share a passion for jazz music. The band performs a wide range of repertoire and regularly play for community events and festivals. The band was formed in 2015 and is directed by Emma Jarman.
SIDELINE SWING
SIDELINE SWING
Sideline Swing is an 18-20 piece, Christchurch based community Big Band playing Swing (and other) tunes from the 1910s to today. We like to keep things fun and light hearted in our performances, with a bit of humour whenever we can. Our members range in age across 7 decades, and our repertoire spans more than a century. Under the musical leadership of renowned trumpet player, Kaiaho “Butch” Green since 1994, Sideline Swing provide Christchurch and Canterbury audiences with lively, danceable, and fun shows, playing classic tunes from familiar favourites like Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. We can be heard playing for local businesses, private parties, community, and public events.
MIDDLETON GRANGE SCHOOL BIG BAND
THE MIDDLETON GRANGE JAZZ BAND
The MGS Senior Jazz Band is jam packed with keen beans who love to play! We can't wait to share our tunes with you and get you on the dance floor.
BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BIG BANDS
BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND
Directed by Chris Petch, the Burnside High School Big Band has established itself as New Zealand's finest high school big band, winning Gold and "Best Big Band" titles at the ARA Jazz Quest every year since 2013, at the NZSM Wellington Jazz Festival on each of their 5 appearances and at the Manawatu Jazz Festival on their only visit in 2018. They have just won the national title as winners of the 2022 Band-It competition. In addition to their competition success the band enjoys regular concert tours and performances closer to home, especially those as part of the Christchurch Big Band Festival which they have given every year since 2012, including two sell out "Big Band and Strings" concerts in 2016 and 2018. Many of the band are members of Burnside's Specialist Music Programme, a unique programme in New Zealand that provides high level music education for especially talented young musicians, and the band has a proud history of students selected for the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Burnside High School JUNIOR BAND
Directed by Chris Petch, the Burnside High School Junior Jazz Ensemble is one of the many ensembles that run within its Junior Performance Music course. This is a "mini big band", essentially a training band for year 9 and 10 students only, and many students progress to membership of the senior big band in later years, with whom they share their performance slot in this, their second appearance at the Christchurch Big Band Festival. This year the band was especially proud to win a Gold Award at the ARA Jazz Quest competition.
Several of the band are members of Burnside's Specialist Music Programme, a unique programme in New Zealand that provides high level music education for especially talented young musicians.
Burnside High School FUNK BAND
Under the direction of Cain Hood, the Burnside High School Funk Band has recently established itself as an exciting newcomer on the Christchurch jazz and contemporary music scene, winning Gold and "Best Ensemble" awards at the ARA Jazz Quest in both 2019 and 2020. This is their first performance as part of the Big Band Festival; whilst not strictly a Big Band, with their incredible vocalists and powerhouse horn and rhythm sections you are sure to love their fresh takes on classic tunes from the likes of Tower of Power, James Brown, Edwin Star, the list goes on.
Many of the band are members of Burnside's Specialist Music Programme, a unique programme in New Zealand that provides high level music education for especially talented young musicians
CHISNALLWOOD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BIG BAND
Chisnallwood Intermediate School Jazz Band
Each year the Chisnallwood Jazz band is quite different due to the short time students are at Chisnallwood (2 years). This year we have an exciting brand new line up with mostly new players aged between 10-13 years.
RANGI RURU GIRL’S SCHOOL BIG BAND
RANGI RURU GIRL’S SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
The Rangi Ruru Girls’ School Jazz Band is a group of very keen musicians from Years 9 – 13. Under the direction of Lana Law the girls enjoy working together learning new charts, taking on the challenge of learning to improvise, and working to improve their individual and collective playing. The band regularly participates in both Ara JazzQuest and the Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival, where the girls have been both Gold and Silver Award winners, along with receiving individual player awards. Earlier this year the girls performed at Cavell Leitch International Jazz Festival, and they also enjoy performing at Rangi events and other community gigs.
CHRISTCHURCH BOY’S HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS
CBHS Jazz Band and Altiora Funk Blasters
SHIRLEY BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS
SHIRLEY BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS
Shirley Boys High School started up their Jazz Bands and jazz programme in the last few years and under the guidance of Judith Bell they have really taken off. There is now a Senior, and Junior Big band and all the students love to share their joy of improvising in a supportive environment. 2023 will be a big year for the bands as they will finally get to play some gigs and competitions for the first ever time starting a legacy of Jazz in the school. This year, the young men from Shirley Boys High School will share their love of music and the sound of Jazz from the East of Christchurch, with a bigger audience than ever, and they are so excited to do that.
