Track Listing

1. Leap Frog

2. Opus One

3. Destination Moon

4. Hey Ba Ba Re Bop

5. Wrappin' It Up

6. King Porter Stomp

7. Aint That A Kick In The Head

8. Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night

9. Mack The Knife

10. Shorty George

11. Can't Buy Me Love

12. Frenesi

13. C'Est Magnifique

14. Alright Okay, You Win

15. Just A Gigolo / I Aint Got Nobody

16. Sing Sing Sing

Click on above buttons to hear samples of select tracks

    

  More info

The B# Big Band (that’s, B Sharp for those of you new to ‘music speak’) is Melbourne’s most exciting, swingin’ Big Band – just ask their biggest fan, Australian jazz virtuoso, James Morrison!

They’re bringing a fresh, invigorating sound to Melbourne and casting a spell on new audiences with every performance. The B# sound has certainly got feet a-tappin’ and hearts a-poundin’ all over town!

15 years in the dreaming and 1 year in the making, B# launched in September of 2003 to an audience of over 600 Big Band swing lovers at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre. They’ve built a legion of devoted swing fans with every performance since – everyone from Gen ‘Y’ through to Gen ‘Wartime’.

The founder and manger, Henry Kovacevic, was keen to pull together some of Australia’s best jazz & session musicians to perform the classic arrangements of Basie, Ellington, Goodman, Miller and other Big Cats of the 30s, 40s & 50s. In addition, guest vocalists perform tunes made famous by Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Peggy Lee amongst others.

Many of the arrangements B# has acquired, or had carefully arranged, are well known classics! Some have for many years been ‘lost’ classics, not performed by other Big Bands around Melbourne, and rarely in Australia, if at all. B# resuscitate these infectious tunes with a fresh twist, exposing new audiences to the lush, invigorating sound that made Big Band swing addictive to swing ears then, and now again.

To effectively perform these exciting and complex tunes, B# has cajoled some of the most talented and passionate musicians of international standing to lend their expertise. The band understands the important nuances of Big Band swing and what sets it apart. That means a big, slick, energised sound, with more than a nod to the particular acoustic style of the era

The B# team: Alto Sax 1- Tim Wilson ,Alto Sax 2 & Clarinet - David Gardner, Tenor Sax 1 - Anton Delecca, Tenor Sax 2 - Ian Whitehurst, Baritone Sax - Greg Clarkson ,Trumpet 1 - Greg Spence, Trumpet 2 - Shane Gillard, Trumpet 3 - Eugene Ball, Trumpet 4 - Gianni Marinucci, Trombone 1 - Ian Bell, Trombone 2 - Jordan Murray, Trombone 3 - Ben Gillespie ,Bass Trombone - Simon ‘Rock’ Scerri, Guitar  -Sam Lemann, Double Bass - Phil Rex , Piano - John McAll, Drums - Dave Beck

 The band has hosts the ‘cat’s pajamas’ of vocal talent, including Nina Ferro, Julie O’Hara, Emma Franz, Fiona Thorn, Frank Benedetto, Eugene Hamilton, Dave Williamson and David Dean (aka Dean’s Martini). David Campbell, Ross Wilson, Tim Campbell and Joe Camilleri have also featured as guest vocalists.

And speaking of honoured guests, James Morrison has performed with the band on several occasions and has had this to say about them: "When I'm in Melbourne, there's only one Big Band I want on stage with me - B#." “Melbourne hasn't known a swinging Big Band like this for a long time!” So go on… check out the debut CD - Bounce!, and let B# get your joint jumpin’!

   You can visit their website or e-mail them at henry@bsharpbigband.com.au