Blue Tongue Brass Band

Biography

Formed in 2012 out of a desire to bring together some of Sydney’s top musicians in a unique new project, this is Sydney’s modern take on the traditional New Orleans marching brass band. Quirky and unique jazz, pop, soul and funk covers with a twist.

The band’s full line-up consists of 2 saxophones, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, sousaphone and 2 drummers using marching percussion. This gives any arrangement, from classic street party tunes to modern pop tunes, an infectious groove that appeal to a huge range of audiences. The band can also scale down to as small as a 4-piece band for events on a smaller scale.

The band’s members have hugely diverse musical backgrounds ranging from work with high profile groups such as the Sydney Jazz Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to modern touring and recording artists such as Powderfinger, Guy Sebastian and Silverchair. All members are highly accomplished jazz musicians with performances alongside some of today’s great artists such as James Morrison and Michael Buble , and legends such as Bob Florence and Bob Mintzer.

This wealth of musical talent is easily demonstrated in their eclectic repertoire. Where else would you see the likes of Calvin Harris and Bruno Mars on a set list next to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, especially from a brass band!? The sound is both cutting edge yet traditional. The musical arrangements have elements of traditional jazz harmony alongside high energy modern rock riffs, whilst always staying true to the musical roots of the New Orleans marching band mentality; great fun and great music! Music that appeals to the feet as well as the ears.

Totally unique, acoustic, mobile and full of energy!

Inspired by the traditional New Orleans ‘second line’ marching band sound the band draws influences from a diverse background of traditional jazz, contemporary pop, classic high-energy rock, R&B and even the UK ‘colliery brass band’ scene. The band’s repertoire is hugely diverse in order to cater for a multitude of performance styles. All of the band’s musical arrangements are written by the band members and you can expect covers of artists including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Journey, Ray Charles, Bruno Mars, The Scissor Sisters, Calvin Harris, Kings of Leon and Justin Timberlake. Even some of the influential contemporary brass bands such as Rebirth Brass Band, Youngblood Brass Band and Hackney Colliery Band get a feature somewhere!

The line-up of musicians in the band reads like a “who’s who” of Australian jazz talent. Most of the musicians studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and now play with the Sydney Jazz Orchestra or the Sydney Allstar Big Band. Some of the musicians play (or have played) with the NSW Police Band, Royal Australian Airforce Band, Sydney/Melbourne/Queensland Symphony Orchestras and the Australian Idol Band. The band’s experience crosses all boundaries from some of Australia’s top young jazz players to established musical educators performing clinics, workshops and master classes.

The band’s musicians have had the pleasure of working with such renowned artists as:

Anthony Callea, Anthony Warlow, Barry White, Bob Florence, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Buddy Greco, Caroline O’Connor, Dame Cleo Laine, Danni Minogue, Diana Ross, Doug Parkinson, Franki Valli, Guy Sebastian, James Morrison, Jerry Lewis, Jim Pugh, John Farnham, Lou Rawls, Marcia Hines, Maria Schneider, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, Neil Sedaka, Olivia Newton-John, Pete Murray, Petula Clarke, Powderfinger, Rob McConnell, Shannon Noll, Shirley Bassey, Silverchair, Sir Cliff Richard, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Tom Burlinson, Tom Jones, Tommy Tycho, Vincent DeMartino, Wayne Newton.