The
Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra
The Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra
began in the early 80’s as both a
function band and a performance opportunity for promising young jazz
musicians. Over the years both the octet and big band have been
critically acclaimed for their musicianship and polished
professionalism. In 1992 Daryl McKenzie took over the role of Musical
Director of the Nine Network’s “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” and for the next
8 years the Hey Hey Band performed with international artists such as
Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Barry Manilow, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood,
Ernie Watts, Martin Taylor and Randy Crawford; as well as Australian
artists such as Tina Arena, Human Nature, Tommy Emmanuel, James
Morrison, Dale Barlow, Joe Chindamo, Paul Grabowsky, Rhonda Burchmore,
Debra Byrne and Marcia Hines to name a few. Not many bands can boast
performances with Samuel L Jackson, Shane Warne and Grant Hackett! The
band toured internationally to the USA and Malaysia and also performed
to large concert audiences in Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Sydney, Gold
Coast and Ayers Rock. Since the end of the television regular stint,
the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra has continued to perform at corporate
functions and major events including the Melbourne Grand Prix, the VAC
Federation Australia Day concert and Morning Melodies, the Sounds of
Christmas for the Salvation Army, the premier of the movie “Ned Kelly”,
the reopening of the Adelaide Casino, and was featured at the
Castlemaine State Festival, the North Queensland Jazz Festival in
Mackay and Jazz in the Vineyards at Morningstar Estate. The Jazz
Orchestra has also featured on the soundtracks of several movies such
as "Bran Nue dae", “Death Defying Acts”, “Hating Alison Ashley”,
“Strange Bedfellows”,
“After the Deluge”, “The Wogboy”, “After the Rain”, “Two Hands”, “Love
and Other Catastrophes” and AFI award winning scores “Bootmen” and “La
Spagnola”. The orchestra also featured on an AT&T TV
advertisement broadcast on US television during the Superbowl.
Australian Television appearances include GMA, the 2004 AFI awards,
Dancing With The Stars, Australia’s Got Talent and the Good Friday
Appeal. Many of the band’s members supplemented the Harry Connick Jr
Big band at the Allan Border medal night 2005.
In 2002 Daryl McKenzie took over the Australian Showband which had
backed many local and international artists including: Peter Allen,
John Denver, Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle, The Electric Light
Orchestra, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and the late great Ricky May
to name just a few. In 2002 The Australian Showband toured as the
orchestra for Ray Charles and support artist Rene Geyer. In 2000 The
Australian Showband was chosen to tour as the orchestra with The
Ultimate Rock Symphony (starring among others, Alice Cooper and Roger
Daltry), Jerry Lewis and for the Australian Dancesport Championship.
The Australian Showband now works as the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra
performing once a month at the Apartment with guest vocalists including
Nina Ferro, Rhonda Burchmore, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Alison Wedding,
Yvette Johansson and Wilbur Wilde.
The
Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra Personnel
Daryl McKenzie (Musical
Director & Trombone) a graduate of the
VCA, played with the North Texas State University Two O’clock Lab Band,
and Dallas Jazz Orchestra. Daryl was Assistant Musical Director of the
Bert Newton Show and Musical Director of Hey Hey It’s Saturday and
Australia’s Got Talent. Has directed the AFI awards for the ABC and
episodes of "Dancing with the Stars” and the Good Friday Appeal for the
Seven Network. Has orchestrated and conducted numerous international
movies including The Truman Show, Death Defying Acts, Hating Alison
Ashley, After the Deluge, Bootmen and Two Hands and the Olympic and
Commonwealth Games themes for the Seven Network. Daryl currently
lectures in Arranging and Orchestration at the VCA (University of
Melbourne) and directs the Victoria Police Showband.
Lachlan Davidson
(Assistant Musical Director and lead Alto Sax) has
been with the Australian Showband since it’s inception in the early
80’s and contributes many compositions to the band’s repertoire. He is
also a much in demand session player and performer with other bands
such as the John Farnham Band, Dancing With The Stars, It Takes Two,
the Australian Art Orchestra, and his own band Unlokked. Lachlan has
performed with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and has
appeared as a soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He is also
a published composer of solo saxophone, saxophone quartet and big band
works.
Tim Wilson (Alto
Sax) is an exciting improviser and leads his
own jazz trio who was nominated for an ARIA award in 2000. He performs
regularly with his fusion group ”Logic” and is a member of the
orchestra for “Spamalot”. His other credits include Ray Charles, Olivia
Newton John, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tom Burlinson, Russell
Morris, and The Badloves. In 2004, Tim was selected as a semi-finalist
in the White Foundation World Saxophone Competition, which was held in
London as part of the BBC Jazz Festival.
Tony Hicks (Tenor
Sax) is a highly regarded performer on the Melbourne
jazz scene. He has an extensive list of theatre credits of many years
and has performed on numerous television shows including Hey Hey It’s
Saturday and Dancing with the Stars. Tony has performed with Frank
Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and the Australian Art Orchestra. He has also
performed classical saxophone concertos with the Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra.
Cheryl Clarke
(Tenor Sax) is an experienced jazz performer and
educator. Her credits include Ray Charles, Jerry Lewis and currently
plays oboe in a jazz group with Ken Schroeder. Cheryl has performed
with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Pops Orchestra
and currently lectures for the music department at NMIT and at
Melbourne Girls Grammar School.Cheryl is co-author of three
contemporary music books, Creative Saxophone, Creative Saxophone Duets
and Creative Saxophone Improvising, all of which are published by
Oxford University Press (UK) and currently distributed worldwide.
Stuart Byrne (Bari
Sax) is a versatile woodwind player playing multiple
instruments. His credits include Ray Charles, Gene Pitney,Jerry Lewis,
Marcia
Hines, David Campbell, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Boy from
Oz, Spamalot and the Producers.
Stuart is currently playing for the
production Billy Elliot and has performed on television with shows such
as Dancing with the Stars and the Logies. Stuart is a member of the
Foulkes, Jazzopoly and the woodwind trio "Doubling Up"
which have performed on ABC classic FM.
Shane Hughes (Lead
Trumpet) One of Australia’s best lead Trumpeters,
his credits include Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Starstruck and the Good
Friday Appeal. Shane has played for Ray Charles, Jerry Lewis, Shirley
Bassey, Dionne Warwick and has played lead Trumpet for Harry Connick
Jr.
Vinnie Burke
(Trumpet) is a beautifully melodic soloist at home in many
styles. He plays lead Trumpet for the Moovin’ and Groovin Orchestra,
The Cotton Club Orchestra, the Pearly Shells, the Swingin Sidewalks and
his credits include Ray Charles, Jerry Lewis and Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
Ross Irwin
(Trumpet) contributes many works to the band’s repertoire
and is an exciting improviser. Ross is a member of pop band, the “Cat
Empire” and leads his own Big Band. Ross was a finalist in the James
Morrison scholarship many times and was commissioned to write the 3rd
Division test piece and adjudicate this year for Generations in Jazz.
Ross has played at festivals all over the country including the
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Manly International Jazz
Festival, the Meredith Music Festival, Livid, Perth Blues and Roots and
the Big Day Out. Ross has also performed on such TV shows as
Australia’s Got Talent, The Panel, Good Morning Australia, Rove Live
and has performed with Nina Ferro, Daryl Somers, James Morrison, Guy
Sebastian, Vanessa Amarossi and James Brown.
Danny Madden
(Trumpet) has been working in Melbourne theatre shows
since 1976 starting with Gypsy up to the production of The Producers.
He has worked freelance with Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet and
the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performed with the television bands
for the Don Lane and Daryl Somers Shows and has backed international
artists such as Shirley Bassey, Billy Eckstein, Eartha Kitt and Ray
Charles.
Ian Bell
(Lead Trombone) is a fine exponent of lead trombone playing
and an exciting jazz soloist. Ian’s TV credits include Dancing with the
Stars, It Takes Two, Starstruck, the Logies and IMT. He is also a busy
studio and theatre player including the recent productions "Wicked",
“Priscilla”,
“The Producers” and “Dirty Dancing”. He has played with Ray Charles,
Michael Buble, Jerry Lewis, Wayne Newton, Shirley Bassey and Anthony
Warlow.
Roger Schmidli
(Trombone) contributes material to the band’s repertoire
and is a fine soloist. Roger directs his own band Funky Brass Monkey
and is head of Brass at Scotch College. He has performed with Ray
Charles, Jerry Lewis and Shirley Bassey. Roger has played for numerous
theatre shows and most recently played in the orchestra for “Shout”.
Joe O’Callaghan
(Bass Trombone) received his Masters Degree from the
VCA and is a busy freelance performer. His credits include the Logie
Awards, Ray Charles, Jerry Lewis, Chicago, the Ross Irwin Big Band,
Anthony Warlow, Tom Burlinson the VSO and MSO. Joe directs the Big Band
at Caulfield Grammar and was director of the Box Hill City Band.
Gianni (John)
Turcio (Piano) has many years of experience as a
performer, arranger and Musical Director. His credits include New
Faces, the Good Friday Appeal, the Logies, numerous European song
contests and the Italo-Australian Jazz Festival. John leads his own
highly acclaimed jazz group and is musical director for many vocalists.
He has performed with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, James Morrison,
John Farnham, John Paul Young, Doug Parkinson, Chelsea Brown, Lisa
Edwards, Julie Anthony, Rhonda Burchmore, to name a few.
Jack Pantazis
(Guitar) is a highly regarded jazz soloist and performs
regularly with his own group “the Jack Pantazis Quintet”. His credits
include the AFI awards, the Australian Pops Orchestra, Black Taxi, Mike
Stern, Rent, Sweet Charity, Mamma Mia and Les Miserables and is a
member of the music faculty at NMIT. TV credits include Good Morning
Australia and the ABC's The Art Show. He is responsible for the ANZCA
Modern Guitar Syllabus, which he co-wrote eight years ago and for which
he is also an examiner.
Kim May
(Acoustic and Electric Bass) has
performed
on the national TV shows "Australia's Got Talent" and "Dancing With The
Stars". Kim has a long and impressive list of performance credits to
his name, including fusion outfits Loose Change (with Virgil Donati,
Joe Chindamo and Mark Domoney) and "Gnomes of Zurich" (Jack Jones,
Virgil Donati), plus 3 years as the house bassist with the "Hey Hey
it's Saturday" band. Kim is a regular performer in the Melbourne music
scene with bands such as "the payback"and is also the bassist for
Swedish-Australian grunge-babe
"Kitto" when she's in Australia.
Daniel Farrugia (Drums)
has toured with bands throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and played at
such venues / events
as The Jazz Café in London, Womad, Falls Festival, Byron Bay Blues and
Roots Festival, St Kilda Festival,
Sydney Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Golden Plains, Melbourne
International Jazz Festival and more.He is a key member of and
regularly plays with The Bamboos, The Irwins, Anton Delecca Quartet and
FGHR. Daniel has performed with outstanding local and international
artists including Renee Geyer, Doug Parkinson, Eddie Floyd, Eddie Bo,
Syl Johnson, Betty Harris, Missy Higgins, Joe Bataan, Jackson Jackson,
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mia Dyson, Frock, The Quantic Soul
Orchestra and Alice Russell.
Phil Binotto
(Percussion) is a versatile Percussionist and Drummer. His
credits include Dancing with the Stars, the Lion King, Nina Ferro,
Lloyd Spiegel, the AFI awards, Ross Irwin Soul Special, Rhys Meirion CD
recording with the Australian Pops Orchestra and VCA Sunday's Company
Series. Phil is a member of the music faculty at Ivanhoe Grammar
School.
© 2009 McKenzie Music Productions Pty Ltd
