A concert spectacular featuring one of Australia’s greatest big bands: John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band.
Fifteen Australian musicians and singers, including esteemed vocalists Gregg Arthur and Jackie Cooper and some of Sydney’s t
op instrumental jazz soloists, come together to form The Celebration of Swing: a special concert highlighting the greatest Big Band hits of the 1940s.
The repertoire will feature timeless pieces from iconic musicians including Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Benny Goodman and more.
Celebration of Swing’s Musical Director, John Morrison, is widely recognised as a gifted jazz drummer, bandleader and educator, and has been Musical Director of the famous Sydney Jazz Camps for over 25 years.
“Here is a great band making its mark in the 21st century with all the colour and trappings of a 1940’s Hollywood movie set…
No wonder it’s a hit!” – Kevin Jones, The Australian
John Morrison has delighted audiences for more than 25 years with his humor and
dedication to sounds that swing. While his musical facility runs the entire spectrum
from traditional jazz, Bebop, R&B, Soul and commercial jazz rock, it is the swinging
sounds of the big band era where John’s passion lies.
The eldest of the Morrison family, John has spent much of his musical life playing
and recording with his younger brother James Morrison. At age 8, John began
playing cornet in the school brass band and by the age of 10 had built his first drum
set from pots and pans. In these early few years he played many different
instruments and styles but jazz drumming was to be his calling.
After living in New York in the late eighties, John and James returned home to form
Australia’s premier jazz big band “The Morrison Bros Big Bad Band”. John widened
his exposure and experience also playing with many well-known artists including
James Moody, Jimmy Whitherspoon, Eartha Kitt, and of course Australian legends
Don Burrows, George Golla, and Bob Barnard.
As the driving force behind Sydney big band, Swing City, John, who was voted
Australia’s best big band drummer, loves the big band sound and started his own big
band festival, Big Band Blast, held in Port Macquarie in May. He is also a dedicated
jazz educator who travels around Australia inspiring primary and high school
students to play jazz and big band music.
John Morrison is sponsored by ProMusic Australia, Dixon Drums, Bosphorus
cymbals, Gibraltar hardware, Wincent drumsticks and Protection Racket cases.
Date: Sat 12 March 2022