John Morrison

Dingo Creek Jazz & Blues Inc are pleased to announce that John Morrison will be playing for your enjoyment at the 2010 Festival.

John Morrison

“The Cat in the Hat”

John Morrison has delighted audiences for more than 25 years with his humor and dedication to sounds that swing. Equally at home in a small group or big band setting, his musical facility runs the entire spectrum from traditional jazz, swing, Bebop, R&B, Soul and commercial jazz rock.

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 for over 12 months 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 a variety of other well-known artists including James Moody, Scott Hamilton, Richie Cole, John and Jeff Clayton, Garry Dial, Jimmy Whitherspoon, Eartha Kitt, Don Burrows, George Golla, and Bob Barnard.”

As the driving force behind Swing City, John, who was voted Australia’s best big band drummer, looks forward to a big future for his most exciting project to date – Swing City.

Further to his playing schedule, John is a musical director for Pan Pacific and heads highly successful high school jazz 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 99.3

Visit John’s website for more information.

Wilbur Wilde

We are pleased to announce that well known Australian musician Wilbur Wilde will be playing for fans at the 2010 Dingo Creek Jazz and Blues Festival.

Occupation: Musician. Sax and Vocals. Acting. Radio Broadcasting. Public/After Dinner Speaking. Television Presentation/Production/Writing. Master of Ceremonies. Event and Tour Management. Music Producer/Director. Jingle composition and copy writing.

Music Experience: OL’ 55. Skyhooks. Elvis Costello. Garth Brooks. Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. Tom Jones. Split Enz. Roy Orbison. Cold Chisel. Dire Straits. Frankie J. Holden. Lou Rawls. Billy Daniels. Ricky May. James Morrison. Renee Geyer. The Angels. The Black Sorrows. Joe Camilleri. Glenn Shorrock. Dragon. Billy Thorpe. James Reyne. The Sports. Paul Kelly.

Television: Countdown. The Fast Lane. Flying Doctors. Hey Hey it’s Saturday. MDA. Logie Awards segment producer. Our Place. ABC Jazz Series. The Paul Hogan Show. Daryl Somers’ Tonight Show. Blankety Blanks. Sale of the Century. Celebrity Squares. MTV. Getaway. Wilde about Golf. A Pub too Far. Postcards. The Russell Gilbert Show.
Spicks and Specks. Live at The Basement.

Blind Lemon

Blind Lemon has evolved from hardworking journeymen to one of SE Qld’s most respected acts.

The fluid and funky Blind Lemon engine room has established an enviable platform for the twin peaks of singer/dynamic harp player Jamie Symons and Strat wrangler Harvey to work their magic. The award winning band is guaranteed to produce incendiary blues fireworks at any musical event around Australia.

Deriving elements from the earthiness of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, the magical harmonica of Blues Traveler, the electricity of SRV, Hendrix and soulful feel of Led Zeppelin, Blind Lemon’s musical blend is entirely their own.

In the last eighteen months Blind Lemon has wowed the fans at music festivals up and down the East Coast including Byron Bay Blues and Roots, Broadbeach Blues and at the Gympie Music Muster. In 2008 the band won the Blues Association of South East Queensland’s prestigious Performer of the Year award and as a result was a knock-out at the Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn early in 2009.

“Blind Lemon takes to the stage and a charismatic harmonica immediately ignites uniform foot-stomping. Their raucous blend of boogie and burning blues licks is exhilarating; the harmonica mesmerizes at every unpredictable turn. The wailing guitar and howling harmonica share centre-stage and complement each other perfectly. Blind Lemon are an early highlight latecomers will regret missing”.
Justin Grey, Time Off Magazine.

With Australia wide airplay on triple J, the third album (Bit ‘o Juice, Live) released 2009, features a majority of strongly crafted road tested original material, reinvigorated Blues anthems and has helped gain a large fan base for the band.

Blind Lemon is fast establishing a name as a highly talented and entertaining addition to festival line-ups around Australia.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/blindlemonblues 

Johnny Nicol

Johnny Nicol was born at Ayr in far north Queensland.  His introduction to music was at family gatherings around an upright piano played by his sisters.  His first job was shovelling salt in the sweltering salt pans.  Talent was Johnny’s passport out of hard labour to the wondrous world of music.

In his mid-teens Johnny journeyed south to Sydney and worked at various jobs including playing guitar at Bill McConnell’s Redfern boxing gym where three Maori musicians linked up with Johnny and they formed the now legendary Maori Troubadours.  During his years with the Troubadours Johnny travelled the length and breadth of Australia and often performed up to fifteen shows daily in a marquee on showgrounds.  He learned the craft of entertaining.

Johnny left the Troubadours to go solo.  Travelling overseas he combined his learned craft with his talent and performed in numerous prestigious venues including The Hacienda in Las Vegas, the Ilikai in Honolulu, the Fontainbleu in Miami, Lycayan Beach Hotel at Freeport in the Bahamas as well as several Playboy Clubs and many hotels and clubs in the UK, Europe and the Far East.
Back in Australia Johnny quickly found his place as a contemporary jazz artist.  Critics acclaimed him the “finest jazz guitar stylist in Australia” and “our own George Benson in both vocal style and jazz guitar technique”.  His following grew with exposure as a regular guest artist on television’s national Midday Show.  When Sydney’s Regent Hotel first opened its doors Johnny was the “star” in the Don Burrows Supper Club – a role he was asked back to fill regularly.

During 1989 considerable recognition came Johnny’s way with his nomination for three major awards – the Mo Award as an entertainer, the inaugural Ricky May Jazz Award and the Artist and Performing Rights Award for the best Australian composition for his song “Where the love is” – a song featured on his album for Larrikin Records. 

In 1990 the luxury Radisson Plaza Hotel, newest of the Cairns tourist resorts brought Johnny back to  far north of Queensland to open and star in the hotel’s showroom – the Johnny Nicol Supper Club.

His albums include Touch of  Blue, Traces, I Remember, Where the love is, Moving Forward and Just the way you are.
Johnny is now living on the Sunshine Coast and continues to travel interstate and overseas for appearances.

For more information, visit Johnny’s website at www.myspace.com/johnnynicolmusic

Willy Qua

Saxophones, flute, percussion and drums

Willy is a founding member of Galapagos Duck first joining in 1973. He has also worked with Australian greats James Morrison, Don Burrows, Vince Jones, and USA greats Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Jimmy Witherspoon, Earl Hines, Mark Murphy as well as with rock greats Marcia Hines, Renee Geyer and Sam and Dave.

Willy has also performed with the Australian Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, NSW Dance Ensemble and recorded with everyone from Billy Field to Slim Dusty.

Willy’s broad career as a musician has taken him to all the major jazz festivals: Tamworth Country Music Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival. He is also active as a teacher in schools and has been a senior lecturer with the Sydney Jazz Action Society and has done hundreds of shows in schools in NSW, QLD, and VIC.

Dave Pudney

David began his musical career in a small band with the Morrison brothers in the late 70’s on piano and then electric and double bass.

A meeting with Don Burrows in 1981 resulted in an Australian tour with Don and James and later with George Golla in various small group settings led by Don.

A scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium in jazz studies saw him graduate with merit top of his year in 1984.

David has played in many small bands since then with artists including Julian Lee, Kerrie Biddell, John Nicol, Bob Barnard, Judy Bailey, James Morrison, Mike Nock, Chuck Yates, and many more.

David’s recording credits include albums by Don Burrows, Bob Barnard, Ed Wilson, Grace Knight, Dorian Mode, Daryl Aberhardt, Ian Cooper, The Sydney All Stars Big Band, Kevin Hunt, Marie Wilson and Tom Burlinson.

David is currently playing with the Don Burrows Quartet, the Kevin Hunt Trio, Adrian Cunningham, Marie Wilson Quartet, the Joy Mulligan Quartet and various other casual engagements.

David is also a regular member of the Sydney All Stars Big Band which has performed with artists such asTom Burlinson in his hit show “Frank, A Life In Song”, for the 5 years running.