International Jazz Day Celebration

Starring James Morrison and his Jazz Orchestra

Jazz legend James Morrison brings his 18-piece Jazz Orchestra to the Gold Coast to celebrate International Jazz Day at HOTA.

Local big band Sweet Thunder will also appear, featuring a raft of the best local players drawing on the legacy of Ellington, Strayhorn, Basie and more. The evening will also feature the debut of the Jazz Gold Coast Inc All-Star Schools Big Band, comprising of the next generation of emerging jazz musicians.

Presented by HOTA, Home of the Arts in association with the Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Club

James Morrison

James Morrison is, by anybody’s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays piano, all the brass, saxophones, and double bass.

James is known throughout the world for his sheer brilliance as a jazz musician and an all round entertainer. He is constantly on the move, touring everywhere and anywhere fine music has an audience. His recordings are best sellers and James works with the cream of the world’s best performers. Ray Brown called him “The Genius” and Dizzy Gillespie called him “One of The Best” but Wynton Marsalis summed it up: “Man, James Morrison can play!”

Sweet Thunder

Sweet Thunder is a 13-piece jazz orchestra based on the Gold Coast. The band plays a mix of big band jazz and was formed by pianist/arranger, Rick Best, in February 2018 with a view to playing an eclectic mix of big band jazz music in the manner of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The band draws heavily on the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn legacy while also being influenced by Benny Carter, Gerry Mulligan, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, and others.

Sweet Thunder’s performances are based around tight ensemble playing and  the band’s arrangements are written with  particular soloists in mind. The band’s repertoire is unlike that of any other band in country, ranging from faithful recreations of classic early Ellington through to modern arrangements based on the work of more contemporary composers.