FIREWORKS
Biography
The FIREWORKS Jazz Band is one of the most exciting jazz bands in the world today. The band aims to play red hot, driving jazz at the highest level. Co-leader of the band, playing mainly trumpet, is Simon Stribling, son of one of Australia’s great reedsman, the late Neville Stribling. The other co-leader, Dr. Jo Stevenson, is a very gifted musician and plays all the reeds (including bass saxophone). Jo practices medicine in his spare time. The trombone chair is filled either by the very talented multi-instrumentalist from Sydney, Tom Baker, or by Chris Ludowyk, who is also the leader of another fine local Melbourne band, the Society Syncopators.
The rhythm section is led by drummer, Ian Smith, who doubles on trumpet and is a fine vocalist. Ian is well known as the leader of the old New Harlem Jazz Band, and as the second trumpeter in Tom Baker’s San Francisco Jazz Band. On banjo and guitar is John Withers who played for three years with Rod Mason’s Jazz Band in England. The pianist is Graham Coyle who was a member of Frank Traynor’s Jazz Preachers, Roger Bell’s Pagan Pipers and Len Barnard’s Famous Jazz Band which featured Bob Barnard on cornet. Graham’s inspirations come from Jelly Roll Morton and Earl Hines. Mark Elton, a key member of the Fireworks with his driving rhythm, doubles on double bass and tuba.
The female vocalist with the Fireworks is the wonderful Nina Ferro who has gained much acclaim both locally and overseas. Nina has performed on a number of occasions with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, a popular group in the U.S.A famous for its live broadcasts from "The Landing" in San Antonio, Texas.
The band first performed publicly at the Montsalvat International Jazz Festival in Melbourne in 1991 and subsequently performed there five years in a row. Two of its members, Jo Stevenson and Nina Ferro, won the award as the best young performer at the festival.
Since its inception, the band has performed overseas on many occasions. In 1992 the band appeared at the International Jazz Festival in Vanuatu. In 1994, 1995 and 1997, 1998 and 1999 it has played at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in California, which is the largest traditional jazz festival in the world. In 1996 and 1998 it made very 2 very successful 6 week tours of Europe which included performances in Germany, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden and Finland. In 1997, the band performed at the Kobe Street Jazz Festival in Japan. In 1998 and 1999, Fireworks appeared at the TerrifVic Jazz festival in Canada. More recently, the band played on a cruise ship that travelled from Vancouver to Alaska.
The band has also played at numerous festivals throughout Australia, including the York Festival in Western Australia and the Noosa Jazz Party in Queensland, each on four occasions, the Brisbane Jazz Carnival, and the Glenelg Jazz and Seafood Festival in Adelaide.
Locally in Melbourne, the band plays Friday nights at the Caulfield R.S.L. Club in Elsternwick and at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Richmond.
Over its eight year history, this band has performed with many fine musicians. These include: Bob Barnard, Graeme Bell, Tom Baker, Ralph Sutton, Keith Smith, Ade Monsbourgh, Tommy Saunders, Andrew Firth, Jon Erik-Kelso, Abe Most, Bent Persson, Allan Vache and Dan Barrett.
The band has also recorded 6 compact discs and a cassette. The CDs still available are entitled "Let The Great Big World Turning" and "The Biggest Danger Of All Is Ignorance," both are essential additions to any jazz collection.
When the band was first formed, the intention was to perform predominantly classic jazz from the 1920’s and 30’s, building its repertoire from the music of jazz greats like Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Luis Russell, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller. However, over the years the Fireworks band has diversified greatly, encompassing many different styles of jazz while still holding to its traditional jazz roots. By not clinging to one idiom, the bands appeal has broadened considerably. People all around the world are amazed by the fact that at one point in a performance the band might be playing a Lu Watters classic and then the next tune might be from Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker or even Louis Prima. The ability of many of the band’s members to play many different instruments proficiently also adds to the flexibilty of the band. The band has arrangements featuring the three trumpeters playing together, as well as tunes with three clarinets and three saxophones!
The band has researched and presented a number of concerts featuring the music of particular well known artists. These include tributes to Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, George Gershwin, Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington.
The band also performs a wide number of compositions by great Australian musicians such as Graeme Bell and Ade Monsbourgh, recognising their unique talents and what a great impact they have had, both in Australia and abroad.
While always performing the music with great passion and respect for the original masters, the band is well aware of the need to keep its audience entertained and this it does with great aplomb. The energy and musicianship with which this band plays has captivated audiences all around the world. A particular goal of the band is to develop a following amongst younger audiences, thus guaranteeing the longevity of the music. Having four of the band members under the age of thirty certainly puts the band in a strong position to fulfill this. The band has run a number of jazz workshops, predominantly with school students, with the hope that they in turn will gain an appreciation of this wonderful art form.