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Mainstream Jazz Band. PMJB History PMJB is to the best of our knowledge Queensland's
longest running Jazz Band and was founded in 1976. Original members of In 1977 not long after starting John Ruffle In 1978 PMJB recorded the first ever locally recorded
and produced vinyl album PMJB has appeared at Festivals all over Queensland and appeared at the Australian Jazz Festival in 1978. The band's music style supports its name and the music ranges from early Trad, to mainstream, to swing with a hint of modern. The bands motto is take the music seriously
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Stokes Nicholson Big Band. The Stokes Nicholson Big Band (SNBB) was formed in 1991 through collaboration between the late Roy Stokes and Les Nicholson. Each man had his own individual reasons for wanting a Big Band, perhaps influenced by the difference in their ages with Roy being 17 years older than Les. Roy wanted to create an opportunity to keep experienced musicians playing challenging music so their talents didn't go rusty. Les came from a different perspective and wanted to provide an opportunity for music students of all ages to sit beside experienced jazz musicians to absorb the musical synergy that classroom teaching alone cannot develop. A number of experienced musicians were invited to join the various sections of the new Big Band with most sections being led by a member of Les' already well-established Pacific Mainstream Jazz Band. The original Principals were Roy Stokes (not in PMJB), saxophone; Les Nicholson, trumpet; Neville Minon, trombone; and Bob Hebden, rhythm. Roy, Neville and Peter Alloway were all still private music teachers music at this time and some of their pupils were the first students to be part of this adventure. The Stokes Nicholson Big Band was up and running, meeting once a month for rehearsals with an expectation that each section would practice individually or as a group in between these rehearsals. Sadly Roy passed away on 1 January 1993 after a period of illness. Les continued to manage the band and conduct rehearsals, as well as playing first trumpet. In 1997 he enlisted the help of John Ruffle who took on the role of Musical Director, allowing Les to relax a little and enjoy his playing more. Roy would no doubt be very proud to see how much his beloved Big Band has developed over the past sixteen years. It is now a very accomplished band with a diverse repertoire and the technical expertise capable of backing great Jazz singers. The band today demonstrates it has achieved the aims of both Roy and Les with experienced musicians arriving in town and feeling very proud to join such a powerful Big Band. A number of the original student members from 1991 are still in the band and have now joined the ranks of the experienced musicians and new students are still progressing from school bands to the Stokes Nicholson Big Band.
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Downtown Dixie. Now defunct.
Townsville's only Dixieland band is Downtown Dixie. Founded around 1985
Trumpeter Andrew was a member of the local 11th brigade Army Reserve Band
led by the late Mo Murakami. Mo inspired Andrew to play Jazz and form
Downtown Dixie and was also the driving force in starting the North
Queensland Jazz Club. Downtown Dixie was the resident band when it was
first launched at the Sovereign Hotel. The 2006 line up is: Andrew Dajski, Trumpet and vocals. Tony Fitzgerald, Clarinet, Saxes and vocal. Nev Minon, Trombone. Nev Hermes, Banjo and Guitar. Ken Burnes, Drums. Steve Goldworthy, Bass. Guest musician during uni holidays Natlie Dajski, Clarinet, Alto saxophone and vocal. Love for Swing Love for Swing is a recently formed five-piece jazz band led by Andrew Dajski. Natalie Dajski - sax, clarinet, vocal
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1998 - 2002 2002 - 2005
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Larry Thomson Little Big Band
The Larry Thomson Little Big Band was formed |
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Captain Nemo. The Captain Nemo Story By David Salisbury, a.k.a. Captain Nemo The Captain Nemo band started out as an opportunity for three James Cook University lecturers to get together and play some jazz in the autumn of 2005. I knew about the Palmer Street Jazz Festival and soon contacted the organizing committee to see if the band could play at the festival. When asked what the name of the band was I came up with Captain Nemo on the spot referencing the fictional character Captain Nemo of Jules Vern’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I felt the name conjured an association with Townsville’s location by the sea and Barrier Reef. Before long the group began to expand adding my partner Vicki as vocalist and the beginnings of a horn section with a trumpet player. I also began to add some original compositions to workshop. By the time Captain Nemo performed at the Palmer Street Festival it had expanded to twelve members including a percussionist. The band’s full name now officially 'Captain Nemo and the Golden Mean Jazz Regime' and settled at 12 instrumentalists, including a full rhythm section of piano, bass, drums and guitar; seven horns of two trumpets, four saxes and trombone and Vicki as vocalist. This configuration offered me an excellent opportunity for arranging more contemporary jazz or jazz-rock pieces and originals for a large ensemble format. This also gave several JCU music students and other like-minded community members a chance to perform different styles of contemporary music. Since the 2005 start Captain Nemo has performed at the Palmer Street Festivals of 2005-2007, including the highly respected trumpeter, John Hoffman who sat in for the Centre Stage performance in 2006. Other performances include the Great Tropical Jazz Festival on Magnetic Island, the Riverway opening, the North Queensland Jazz Club and the Italo-Australian Club. Currently the band has reduced to six members and added more standard jazz repertoire along with contemporary and original material.
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Steve Martin. |
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Barrier Reef Jazz Band. from Cairns
Trumpet Vocals: Nobby Neilson. |
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