Meet the Bands
EllensbuRg Big Band (USA)
Traveling from Washington State, USA the Ellensburg Big Band is super excited to return to the Christchurch Big Band Festival! Founded in 2011 the group is an overlapping Venn diagram of half music educators, half passionate amateurs, half Central Washington University Jazz alumni, and fractions of various professions all within a big happy circle of "those who just love to make music together". The group performs regularly at jazz festivals, swing dances, public concerts and private events all over our region as well as Japan in 2014 and ChChBBF in 2019. We consider ourselves so fortunate to have the opportunity to visit your beautiful country and reconnect with friends in NZ!
NELSON JAZZ CLUB BIG BAND
The Rodger Fox Big Band
The Rodger Fox big band has won 6 Tui awards for the best New Zealand jazz recording. Travelling to Christchurch to play at the festival, their performance will span over 50 years of the Rodger Fox Big Band’s rich repertoire history, featuring exceptional soloists from the band, vocalist Erna Ferry, and trumpeter Ben Hunt. Additionally, you’ll enjoy selections from the band's latest album, “Alive in New York.” True to Rodger’s spirit, expect a blend of surprises and the classic Big Band sound for which his band is famed. Join us in celebrating Rodger Fox’s life and legacy through the vibrant, live music of his Big Band.
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.
Garden City Big Band
Garden City Big Band
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 Big Band is one of the oldest bands in the South Island, originating as the Ellesmere Brass Band in 1902. After the addition of saxes and rhythm in 2004, the band has developed into the swinging Big Band you see today!
With members from all walks of life and many of who travel from Christchurch to rehearse, the Ellesmere Big Band is a proud part of the Ellesmere community. As well as local members there are a number of highly respected Christchurch musicians led by our band Director Vince Leahy.
The Ellesmere Big Band performs at many public events including Oamaru Harbour St Jazz and Blues Festival, Ellesmere A & P Show and Lincoln Christmas Parade as well as many private functions throughout Selwyn and Christchurch.
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.
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.
CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL OF MUSIC (CSM) JAZZ BAND
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 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.
ALL-STAR BIG BAND
Musicians from big bands getting together to form a band especially for the Big Band Boogie Ball at The Arts Centre Great Hall with Music Director Lana Law.
DUNEDIN CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
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.
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. This year marks the band’s 30th annversary.
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.
Cashmere High Stage Band
The Cashmere High School Stage Band is the school jazz big band and has been running for many years at Te Iringa o Kahukura, Cashmere High School. This year the Stage Band is under the direction of Clayton Hiku.
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, 2018 and 2023. 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
Just back from a successful Hanmer tour, the band is excited to be playing at the Big band Festival. Each year the Chisnallwood Jazz band is quite different due to the short time students are at Chisnallwood (2 years for 11-13 year olds) so we look forward to sharing our exciting brand new line up of players and repertoire.
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
CHRISTCHURCH BOY’S HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS
CBHS Jazz Band and Altiora Funk Blasters
SHIRLEY BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL Big BAND
SHIRLEY BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
Shirley Boys High School started up their Jazz Band and jazz programme in the last few years and has been under the guidance of Judith Bell since mid 2022. The students love to share their joy of improvising and playing a range of repertoire.
THE ROSTER
Roster is an up and coming 7 piece Christchurch funk band. We bring a new sound to Christchurch with our groovy rhythms and punchy horn lines. From Cory Wong to Jamiroquai they’ll be something in our set for everyone. Monet Schutte - vocals/sax, Alex Gibson - sax, Alex Boot - sax, Peter Croker - trumpet, Ciaran Kingi-Booth - bass, Nicolae Didenco - drums, Jacob Mullen - guitar, Michael Khor - keys
TPWOW Big Band - Te Puna Wai o Waipapa | Hagley College Big Band
Hagley Big Band consists of a multi-year levelgroup band. The band meets once a week at lunchtime and has been enjoying rehearsing some traditional swing, Bossa Nova to student's original song/arrangements this year. The band is lead by Nanako Sato.
CHURCH BIG BAND
Big Band playing gospel songs down at the Salvation Army on Sunday morning made up from a mix of Salvation Army musicians and musicians from various Big Bands. Vocal lead: Julian Hay from Voices Co.
All-in Workshop Band
All the workshop participants create a big, big band under the guidance of Lana Law and members of the Ellensburg Big Band.
Junior Jazz Jam Big Bands
Chch South Karamata Intermediate
Breens Intermediate Jazz Band
Westburn Jazz Band
Medbury/ Selwyn House Combined Jazz Band
Chisnallwood Intermediate Jazz Band
Lincoln Primary Jazz Band