Big Band Blast co-founder Jacki Cooper performing on tour with brother-in-law James Morrison. Photo: Supplied.
Vocalist Jacki Cooper is warning Wagga of impending ‘bandemonium’ when Australia’s ultimate big band festival hits the Riverina this month.
The Big Band Blast is a weekend of educational and performance experience for young musicians and the wider community.
It’s the brainchild of Jacki and her drummer husband and big band leader, John Morrison.
“We started the Big Band Blast in 2013 in Port Macquarie at the request of a group of locals whose kids were playing in several bands and it was a way to bring them all together to learn more about playing big band music,” Jacki explained.
“We came to Wagga last year to do a workshop at RivCon (Riverina Conservatorium of Music) and were able to see the beautiful new building and meet the staff to discuss the possibility of running the event.
“While it will be smaller than what we did in Port Macquarie, we’ll be bringing the same energy with lots of workshops and lots of performances!”
Drummer and band leader John Morrison. Photo: Supplied.
A traditional big band generally includes 12 to 25 musicians with a rhythm section and loads of brass.
“A big band is a large jazz ensemble and traditionally you’re thinking about Glenn Miller, Count Basie and those sorts of bands of the 1940s,” Jacki said.
“Your classic big band is five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones and the rhythm section with piano, bass, drums and guitar, but of course out in regional schools, not everybody has that.”
High school bands, singers and a broad range of music students will get a chance to participate and engage with the program across the weekend, starting on Friday night (14 June) with a Blast Off concert.
Wagga’s own Simmons St Big Band, the Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus and the Australian Army Band Kapooka will all be performing at various events along with the Blast team and visiting musicians.
The Big Band Blast works with students and regional musicians to foster a love for large jazz ensembles. Photo: Supplied.
For Jacki it’s all about sharing a love of the music and getting a new generation involved.
“I really love singing with a big band and I always was very drawn to that style of music,” said Jacki.
“After COVID in 2022 we toured almost the whole of Australia with the full big band and a show called ‘Celebration of Swing’.
“We toured lots of regional areas and the capital cities along with John’s brother, James [Morrison] and I feel very fortunate to have experienced that.
As a vocalist with so much brass at her back, Jacki said that it’s a unique way to perform.
“It can be pretty full on and it’s a very different way of singing compared to a smaller band where you have more freedom to change the arrangement,” she explained.
“You have to know not only what you’re singing, but also what the band are playing, because you want to get out of their way when they’re doing their thing!”
The Big Band Blast begins on Friday 14 June with a jam-packed schedule of workshops and events across the weekend.
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