Dingo Creek Wine, Jazz and Blues Festival 2008 - Artists Information.

Sit back and unwind with your friends and a glass of fine wine, and experience Australia's best of Jazz & Blues. Performing on the main stage over the weekend will be:

John Morrison

John Morrison believes Jazz has a magic that makes people want to smile. "The Cat in the Hat" has delighted audiences in Australia and abroad with his humour and dedication to sounds that swing. John is one of the most recognisable and sought after jazz drummers working in Australia today. Equally at home in a small group or big band setting, John’s musical facility runs the spectrum from traditional jazz, to swing, to funk and commercial jazz rock.

In 1998 John was awarded the best big band drummer in Australia.

John Morrison with his new big band show SWING CITY

John Morrison is the eldest of the Morrison family and has spent most of his musical life playing with his younger brother James Morrison. At age 8, John began playing many of the instruments in the school brass band and at age 10, had built his first drum set from kitchen pots and pans. In his formative years he played a variety of musical styles, however, jazz was the music that he would become best known for playing.

After two study trips to New York, John and brother James formed Australia's premier jazz big band "The Morrison Bros Big Bad Band". John also widened his exposure and experience playing with a variety of other jazz greats including James Moody, Scott Hamilton, Richie Cole, John and Jeff Clayton, Garry Dial, Jimmy Whitherspoon, Eartha Kitt, Don Burrows, George Golla, and Bob Barnard.

Further to his playing schedule, John is a musical director for Pan Pacific and heads highly successful high school music camps.

He is known for his work in the recording studio both as player and producer and hosts his own "Jazz at Five" radio show on Sydney radio station FM 91.5 Flying has also been a big part of the Morrison family and John has gained many hours as a professional pilot. Over 5000 flying hours in more than 50 different aircraft means John has the dual role of pilot and drummer when the band travels. More information on John and Swing City can be found at www.swingcity.com.au.

Also on Main stage will be Jacki Cooper, Ingrid James, John Nicol, Dave Pudney, Willy Qua,Mason Rack singing the Blues, the Detachment of  the   Royal  Aust  Navy  Band, The Police Band of Blue, Paul Furniss, Peter Locke, Wilma Reading, , Bobby Henderson Gil Askey, and a host of other local and interstate performers.

INGRID JAMES – Australian jazz singer has a voice that’s been described as “chocolate: rich, dark and smooth”.

Performing throughout Australia and overseas Ingrid James is one of Queensland’s leading Jazz vocalists. Appearances range from soloist with the Queensland Orchestra in Spirit of Christmas broadcast nationally on ABC TV and with Maestro Tommy Tycho in tributes to Cole Porter and Gershwin to crowning as Queen of the Noosa Jazz Festival and special guest at many other Jazz Festivals throughout Australia.

In between Ingrid has performed at venues as varied as The Blue Note in Monte Carlo, the 606 Club and Spice of Life in London and the City of Music in Marseilles. Described as a “fearless and gifted Jazz singer" by the Sydney Morning Herald, a candidate for the Best 10 list by Cadence Magazine reviewer in New York and a singer who has “a special affinity for Brazilian music (who) brings out the full beauty of the lyrics” by critic Joao da Penha of Brazil, reviewers acknowledge the heartfelt warmth and intimate style that characterizes her performances.

Regularly recording award winning albums, Ingrid performs principally at corporate events while still finding the time to appear at popular venues in Brisbane such as the Premiers Wine Bar at the Conrad Treasury, the Press Club and the Brisbane Jazz Club.

A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Ingrid also teaches privately and runs master classes and workshops. Following the national distribution of her latest CD "Essence" by Newmarket Music, Ingrid has recorded an originals project, "PORTRAIT” with colleague, Louise Denson, released nationally in 2007 by Newmarket Music. They were recipients of the Q Song Pinnacles Jazz Award for best original jazz song in 2007 with “Time to Be” from their album.

INGRID JAMES – CD REVIEWS & LIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

“Ingrid’s rich voice will enthral and haunt you”
(Darwin Sunset Jazz Series July 2007)

“Something which strikes me throughout the night is how Ingrid always seems to be seeking and discovering over and over again the different manifestations of a perfect balance between technique and emotion. I think her disarming stage manner is deceptive – within the friendly, honest person is so masterful a vocalist that no matter how lost she may seem in the feeling of a song, or how deftly she might navigate a blistering bop melody, I am certain that she never completely discards one in favour of the other (technique + emotion).”
(Reviewer for Valley Jazz Festival, 2007 – Greg Gottlieb)

“This turns out to be a recital by a fully integrated quintet of improvisatory travelers, not adverse to eschewing main roads for cross country forays. Ms. James uses song materials for her own improvisatory ends, without surrendering the vital signs thereof.” “I’m penciling this one in as an early probable for my 2005 “best ten” list. It comes as a most challenging and welcome vocal surprise”.
Alan Bargebuhr, CD review, Cadence Magazine, New York (NEW YORK REVIEW OF CD“ESSENCE”)

“At a time when so many singers rely on cliched embellishment, it comes almost as a shock to hear lyrics delivered with directness and clarity. Ingrid James brings the listener to the inner essence. It's deju vu in reverse.

You've probably heard these songs before - but never like this. Thoughtful, inventive and, above all, swinging, Ingrid squeezes every line for nuance and meaning. The impeccable phrasing and accurate intonation come almost as a bonus." David Bentley, Journalist (REVIEW OF CD “ESSENCE”)

“[Ingrid James] is a fearless and gifted jazz singer for whom the songs are there to be teased, flirted with and milked for all their improvisational potential. [Her latest CD] is much more about life on the edge, about chances taken and pulled off with panache.”
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald (REVIEW OF CD “ESSENCE”)

“Ingrid James floats and swings effortlessly through the changes with a tone of honey. As well as great technique, there’s an engaging warmth to her delivery like a close friend smiling at you.”
Tony Backhouse, Sydney

(REVIEW OF CD “LAZY AFTERNOON, RECORDED AT ABC STUDIOS, MELBOURNE FOR JAZZTRACK ABC-FM)

“A very true singer who has a special affinity for the Brazilian music. She sings Chega de Saudade with an unmistakably personal approach, with a sound that does not belong to anyone else. A swinging bossa nova singer, but she is also well equipped to bring out the full beauty of the lyrics.”
Joao da Penha, Brazilian journalist, author & music critic (REVIEW OF CD ‘ESSENCE’)

“Ingrid James’ passionate vocals cut like musical light-sabres with each note - yet injected warmth and depth of meaning and pathos that only deep compassion can bring.”
Matthew Hutchinson, Special Music Consultant to the Noosa Jazz Festival - “live” performance review

“Renditions of songs are common; however when a vocalist such as Ingrid can make the song sound completely new you sometimes forget what the original even sounded like.”
Aparna Datta, Music Journalist based in Los Angeles (REVIEW OF CD “ESSENCE”)

“Ingrid is a singer who can draw you inside the most touching standard and make you smile with an up-tempo tune and a scat chorus. [Her] infectious humour and her delightful interpretations of jazz classics made her a popular choice for best performer and ensured an invitation for the 2004 Festival.”
Peter O’Neill, Strategic Director of Kiama Jazz Festival

GIL ASKEY (George Negus Interview)

Broadcast 6.30pm on 12/07/2004
A legend behind many classic tracks from the Motown era.
Gil has worked as composer, producer and musical director for performers like Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, Gladys Knight and many, many more. These days Gil Askey is more likely to be seen with a bunch of kids in his adopted hometown of Melbourne, passing on his enthusiasm for music, in particular jazz.
GEORGE NEGUS: On the couch, though, a bloke more familiar with music as different from punk as it can get and still be on the same musical planet. He's worked as a composer, producer and musical director for the likes of Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, to name just a few. Clearly Gil Askey was a Motown man but his incredible musical pedigree actually goes way beyond that. Gil, welcome.

GIL ASKEY: Thank you, George.

GEORGE NEGUS: I've got to ask you something before talking about your music. What did you think of that?

GIL ASKEY: Well, you're asking me... It's just music.

GEORGE NEGUS: Is it music or noise? Is it music?

GIL ASKEY: Well, I came along at a time when people played all the, you know... when you played 'Star Dust' everybody hit the dancefloor. People were dancing.

GEORGE NEGUS: Yeah.

GIL ASKEY: But when the problem of transporting bands got very bad, then there were small groups. And then one group had to always outdo each other in order to get records played. But the man producing it, they used to walk up to the saxophone player and pull his mouthpiece out so it sounded funny. So music started to sound like it wasn't music.

GEORGE NEGUS: So it's always been changing?

GIL ASKEY: It's always been changing. The kids that are going for the punk rock, they weren't back there. They know nothing about 'Star Dust' and Rodgers & Hart. They don't... I used to say to our drummer, "No, don't play it like this. You got these clubs. They're like clubs." He said, "Oh, you mean old-time?" So things change. And kids change. I...I love all of it.

GEORGE NEGUS: You didn't get that accent in Sydney or Melbourne.

GIL ASKEY: No, I was born...

GEORGE NEGUS: Where are you from originally?

GIL ASKEY: Austin, Texas.

GEORGE NEGUS: Austin.

GIL ASKEY: I was born in Austin, Texas.

GEORGE NEGUS: Nice city.

GIL ASKEY: But I left Austin when I was still 17 years old. Me and a bunch of... bag full of raggedy clothes. I finished two years of uni on a...on a medical scholarship. I was supposed to be a doctor.

GEORGE NEGUS: Like those punk rockers.

GIL ASKEY: I know. There's a little group right here in Melbourne called the Cat Empire and they invited me down to the Prince of Wales one night just to do 'What a Wonderful World'.

GEORGE NEGUS: You with the Cat Empire?

GIL ASKEY: They wanted me to close their show. So I went into a little thing that I do. (Scats) So I did this song.

GEORGE NEGUS: People would pay a lot of money to hear you play with Cat Empire.

GIL ASKEY: And the whole audience just got going and I pulled out my horn and I played jazz... I play jazz with country people...

GEORGE NEGUS: Do it now. What would you play now? 'Wonderful World', or what?

GIL ASKEY: You want a bit of that?

GEORGE NEGUS: 'Wonderful World'.

GIL ASKEY: (Plays 'What a Wonderful World' on trumpet) I'm just making a short version.

GEORGE NEGUS: I thought so.

GIL ASKEY: Want me to do it all?

GEORGE NEGUS: (Laughs) Is jazz ultimately your great love?

GIL ASKEY: I think...

GEORGE NEGUS: Look at the list of people you've played with - Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Count Basie. They don't get much bigger than that.

GIL ASKEY: Most of the people that started playing rock'n'roll were jazz musicians. Big Joe Turner said, "We gonna rock this joint tonight! We're gonna rock and roll!" They were talking about that long before the term was used in that thing.

GEORGE NEGUS: How did you come to Australia?

GIL ASKEY: I came to Australia in 1973. As y'all might know the story, I was musical director for Diana Ross. And some ladies... We were caught in the rain, and this voice, "Hey, you want a ride?" We're trying to get back to the Southern Cross Hotel from Festival Hall. And six musicians and five singers went and jumped in this van, and seven years later I married the lady that was driving that van.

GEORGE NEGUS: You got literally picked up.

GIL ASKEY: Well, not really. They were just nice people. And so I wrote a letter to thank her. All I know is that seven years later I married this lady and it changed my whole life. And so we had a son in 1982. And so I was travelling again with the Four Tops. I was travelling with the Four Tops and the Temptations. We had the Motown 25.

GEORGE NEGUS: Every time you open your mouth, you're dropping wonderful names.

GIL ASKEY: Well, the Motown 25, you know, brought all the people back together - Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson did his 'Billie Jean' thing. But the big thing in the whole show was a battle of singing between the Four Tops and the Temptations. And so we went on the road for 10 weeks just to do that show and it lasted for six and a half years. Meanwhile, I had a kid that was born, and so my wife was screaming at the kid. He must've been about three. I said, "Why are you always fussing at the kid?" She said, "You just shut up." I said, "You never talked to me like that. Everybody brags about what a wonderful wife I got." She said, "Well, you're never home." So we came here to live, and that was in 1988.

GEORGE NEGUS: Can you imagine your life without music?

GIL ASKEY: It took completely over my life from a kid. From a kid. The first time I saw Louis Armstrong, I was about seven, eight years old. This is the way my life has... I played music with the likes of Buck Clayton, with the likes of Jimmy Crawford, Lester Young. (Mimics) "Hey, come on up here and play something." "Here come, Tex, and that trumpet." So I haven't been able to get rid of the trumpet.

GEORGE NEGUS: Gil, got to leave it there, but thank you.

GIL ASKEY: I'm sorry I went to the South Pole to get all these explanations out.

GEORGE NEGUS: Give us a few blasts before you go.

GIL ASKEY: (Plays mellow riff on trumpet)

GEORGE NEGUS: Thank you. Thank you very much.

GIL ASKEY: Thank you for having me.

GEORGE NEGUS: Just stay there. Thank you. Thank you.

JACKIE COOPER

Jacki Cooper is an exciting jazz artist who has been living and working in the USA, Europe, and Asia since 1989.

Her career highlights include performing with international jazz greats, Mark Murphy, Mulgrew Miller, Lewis Nash, John Clayton, Madeline Eastman, and Jim Cullum, and lecturing in jazz voice Stanford University in California. Australian highlights include performances with Don Burrows, George Golla, Graeme Bell, John Morrison, and Dave Dallwitz.

Always ready to hit the road to sing, Jacki has toured Europe, Russia and Scandinavia with an 8 piece swing band, sung with jazz luminaries in the USA, and performed with jazz stars in Viet Nam at the Sax n Art jazz club in Saigon.

Closer to home, Jacki has been invited to perform at numerous events and festivals around the country, including the world renowned Manly International Jazz Festival and the Sydney DH International Jazz Festival.

Jacki Cooper has been nominated for awards for both performance and songwriting. Her two self-produced CD’s —Jacki Cooper and Friends (2000) and Love For Sale (2002), were released to critical acclaim.