BIOS

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JOHN MORRISON - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - BIG BAND BLAST https://www.morrisonmusic.com.au/ 

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For more than 25 years, John Morrison has captivated audiences with his infectious humour and unwavering passion for the swinging sounds of jazz. Equally comfortable performing in intimate ensembles or commanding the energy of a full big band, his musical versatility spans traditional jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, soul, and commercial jazz rock.
 

As the eldest member of the Morrison family, John has shared much of his musical journey with his younger brother, James Morrison. His love for music began early—he started playing cornet in his school brass band at age eight and, by ten, had built his first drum kit from pots and pans. Though he explored many instruments and styles, jazz drumming soon became his true calling.

After spending time in New York during the late 1980s, John and James returned to Australia to form the country’s premier jazz big band, The Morrison Bros Big Bad Band. John’s career continued to flourish as he collaborated with numerous acclaimed international artists, further broadening his musical horizons.
 

As the powerhouse behind Swing City Big Band, John—voted Australia’s best big band drummer—continues to champion the big band tradition. His passion for the genre inspired him to establish Big Band Blast, a festival celebrating the joy and energy of big band music.
 

In recent years, John has dedicated much of his time to music education through his work with the Queensland Music Festival, where he helped launch band programs in three Indigenous primary schools in the Cape York Peninsula. Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians, he travels across Australia conducting school workshops, teaching at jazz camps, and mentoring educators to strengthen their musical teaching skills.

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JACKI COOPER - PRESIDENT - BIG BAND BLAST  https://www.morrisonmusic.com.au/

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Jacki Cooper is a dynamic jazz vocalist whose career has taken her across the globe, now proudly based in Sydney. A graduate of Adelaide’s esteemed Elder Conservatorium, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice in 1993 and has since released six independent albums showcasing her distinctive style and artistry.

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In 1994, Jacki was invited to teach jazz voice at the world-renowned Stanford Jazz Workshop at Stanford University in California, where she also studied with several of the region’s most respected jazz masters.

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A passionate performer with an adventurous spirit, Jacki has toured extensively throughout Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia with an eight-piece swing band, and has performed alongside jazz luminaries in the USA, Vietnam, China, and Australia. One of her career highlights was performing in New York City in March 2009 with her husband, acclaimed drummer and big band leader John Morrison.

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Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians, Jacki has been a lecturer in Jazz Voice at Central Queensland University since 2014. Together with John, she travels across Australia conducting workshops, performing in schools, and teaching at the annual Jazz Camp. In 2013, the pair co-founded Big Band Blast in collaboration with a passionate team of Port Macquarie teachers and musicians, creating a vibrant celebration of big band music and education.

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HANNAH JAMES - DOUBLE BASS 

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Hannah is an award-winning bassist and composer in Sydney, Australia.

She leads the acclaimed ten-piece ensemble Pharos, the HJT (Hannah James Trio) and HJQuartet. She is a member of leading Australian Jazz ensembles Volant, feel-good New Orleans band The Crawfish Po’Boys, Mingus Amongst Us, Andrew Robertson Big Band, the award-winning “Lady Sings it Better”, portugese inspired Alma Orkestra, fusion project Energetic Zen and Divergence Jazz Ensemble. Playing credits include Don Burrows, Katie Noonan, Ingrid and Christine Jensen (USA), Helen Sung (USA), Lakecia Benjamin (USA), Silke Eberhardt (Ger.), Sandy Evans and Matt Keegan amongst others. She was the 2011 recipient of the prestigious Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and a recipient of the ANU Undergraduate Scholarship for four consecutive years.

 

Hannah has performed across Australia, the UK and Asia in jazz, contemporary pop and theatre
productions. When she is not performing, Hannah is the first full time female lecturer in Jazz Studies at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

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ANDREW ROBERTSON - REEDS/FLUTE

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After completing the Jazz Studies program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Andrew established a multifaceted career as a professional musician, composer, arranger, publisher, and educator.

 

He has performed with an impressive array of artists including Michael Bublé, Boy George, George Benson, Frankie Valli, Michael Feinstein, Jerry Lewis, Paloma Faith, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Wayne Bergeron, Hugh Jackman, and in numerous major professional Broadway productions. His work as an arranger and recording artist extends to many well-known Australian television jingles for brands such as Mortein, Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Finder.com, and Carlton & United Breweries.

 

Recognised as one of Australia’s most sought-after jazz and commercial arrangers, Andrew has served as the Jazz Harmony and Arranging Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 2016. His writing credits span live performances, recordings, the US Super Bowl (2021), Australian Idol, the Eurovision Song Contest, countless television commercials, and the annual NSW Schools Spectacular. Specialising in big band and orchestral arranging, his work encompasses a remarkable range of ensembles—from choirs to large-scale productions such as the NSW Primary Instrumental Festival, featuring 800 recorders and 250 strings.

 

During the 2021 Sydney COVID lockdown, Andrew composed a three-movement, 30-minute work titled Symphony for Big Band, featuring tenor saxophone and viola. The first movement received grant funding for a virtual recording project, Big Band @Home, which is available to view on YouTube.

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ERIC DUNAN - TRUMPET 

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Eric Dunan founded the Jazz Program at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music in 2001.

His ensembles have toured extensively across China, Japan, and the United States, earning multiple awards at the Reno International Jazz Festival. They have shared the stage with renowned artists such as Sandy Evans, John Morrison, and Bobby Shew. Eric also conducts the 200-member Wollongong Megaband, which has performed alongside Fred Wesley, Mucho Mambo, and James Morrison.

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A graduate of California State University, East Bay, Eric worked as a freelance trumpet player in San Francisco from 1989 to 2001, performing with numerous groups including the influential soul-funk band Lydia Pense and Cold Blood. He now leads his own quintet and continues to perform regularly as a freelance jazz trumpeter.

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ROD HERBERT

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Sydney-based musician Rod Herbert has been an integral part of the city’s music scene since 1988, performing across a diverse range of genres and styles. His experience spans Trombone Jazz, Big Bands, World Music, Classical Orchestral Bass Trombone, and leadership of the corporate and wedding ensemble “Big Sound Quintet.” Rod’s versatility extends to Dixie Swing, Funk rhythm section Tuba, Hip Hop, Electronica, Orchestral, Big Band, and Concert Band arranging, as well as Pop music, advertising, and freelance studio recording sessions.

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In addition to his performance career, Rod is deeply involved in music education. Since 1999, he has served as Director of Bands and Ensembles and classroom music teacher for Years 7–12 at Marist College North Shore in North Sydney. He has also been a Board of Studies HSC Music Performance Examiner since 2009. Prior to this, Rod gained extensive experience conducting primary school bands and teaching classroom music from Kindergarten level upward.

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Since 1988, Rod has taught brass privately, working with students from young beginners to HSC and university levels. His teaching covers Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn, and Euphonium, as well as AMEB examinations, jazz improvisation, and the organisation of music camps and workshops.

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SARAH MORRISON

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Sarah is a vibrant and dedicated trumpet player with a deep passion for Music Education. She is currently studying Music Education, majoring in Jazz Performance, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Since deciding at the age of six that she wanted to become a music teacher, Sarah has embraced every opportunity to develop her musicianship with enthusiasm and positivity. Her journey has taken her overseas to attend youth jazz programs, record her debut album before turning twenty, and tour nationally with Sydney’s Mosaic Jazz Collective. She has also performed as a soloist at renowned Sydney venues, including Foundry 616 and the Sydney Opera House.

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Her greatest inspirations are her Aunty Kath—her mentor and trumpet role model since she was seven—and her primary school music teacher, who first ignited her passion for teaching.

Sarah has been involved with Big Band Blast every year since 2015, and 2026 marks her second year as a member of the teaching team.

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DAVID THEAK AND THE SYDNEY CONSERVATORIUM JAZZ ORCHESTRA 

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Since its establishment in the early 1970s, the Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra has produced an impressive alumni network that includes many of Australia’s most prominent jazz artists. The ensemble, consisting of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, guitar, piano, bass, and drums, showcases some of Sydney’s most talented young improvisers.

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In recent years, the Jazz Orchestral Studies program has evolved significantly, focusing on collaboration with and performance of works by leading international composers such as Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Bert Joris, Florian Ross, Jim McNeely, Darcy James Argue, Julian Arguelles, and Dick Oatts. This approach exposes students to cutting-edge compositions and contemporary techniques essential for performing jazz orchestral music at the highest level. These exceptional young musicians consistently meet the challenge, delivering performances that demonstrate a level of artistry and sophistication typically associated with professional jazz ensembles.

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MOSAIC JAZZ COLLECTIVE

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Mosaic is a vibrant 10-piece contemporary jazz ensemble rapidly emerging as an

exciting force in the Sydney jazz scene. Mosaic performs and premieres all

original compositions written for the band by Australian composers under 25,

culminating in a uniquely youthful and energetic sound.

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Led by Lee Orszaczky (Trombone), Mosaic is a collaboration between Braden

Clarke (Flugelhorn), Sarah Morrisson (Trumpet), Ravi Trachenberg-Ray (Piano),

James Watt (Bass), Noah Meija, Leo Marland (Saxophones), Matt Simmonds (drums)

and Cailey Soon (Trombone).

 

Mosaic will be releasing their anticipated second album Rinse and Repeat in May

2026. With the assistance of Creative Australia, this record will feature interstate

collaborations with brilliant young composers from Melbourne, as well as

vocalists Leah Reinhardt (Lapis) and Liz Player (The Voice 2023). Their debut album,

Where We Are Now, is a compilation of new compositions

written specifically for Mosaic by members of Mosaic and commissioned by

emerging Australian composers including Sarah Purdon, Thnvir Gill, and

Gabriella Hill. Where We Are Now debuted at #2 on the ARIA Jazz & Blues charts and #5 on

the AIR Independent Albums charts.

 

Big Band Blast are excited to have Mosaic not only perform at Big Band Blast, but members will also workshop the regional scholarship participants. 

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CONNECTIONS BIG BAND - MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM - BATHURST

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Mitchell Conservatorium’s Connections Big Band was formed in early 2023 after a chance meeting of some former musicians and band directors of Denison College’s Swing Factor – a band well known to the Big Band Blast Festival. These, now, adult musicians expressed a desire to again, play Big Band music but the opportunities after high school graduation had not been available in the Bathurst region.

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The Connections Big Band was then formed under the direction of Mitchell Conservatorium, Executive Director, Andrew Smith, with co-direction from Brent Dickson. With a great deal of interest about this program, the positions were quickly filled, and the band represents a broad cross section of the Bathurst musical community.  

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Connections members have been keen to extend themselves with challenging, Swing, Latin, Funk and Popular arrangements. As a result, the band has quickly developed and with such experienced musicians, they have produced a strong adult contemporary sound and style which offers a point of difference to the high school-based bands of Bathurst.

Connection Big Band members feel honoured to be a part of the new, Big Band Blast Roadshow and are looking forward to performing.

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