Blue Riff Big Band has a traditional big band set-up, with around 18 members making up the saxophone, trumpet, trombone and rhythm sections.  The sound produced is set to get the feet tapping and the heart pumping.

Talented, hard - swinging soloists and a vocalist complete the package, making for a memorable musical experience for all.

The band has the versatility to play music from a wide range of styles: swing, latin, funk, groove, and rock’n’roll, with a good balance of both instrumental and vocal arrangements in its repertoire.  There is plenty to be enjoyed by the jazz audience and those who love to get up and dance, with favourites from the Big Band era like Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman.  The band tailors their performance to the needs and desires of their clients - one may require a full night of swing where another may prefer some background jazz over dinner and then to pick up the pace for the crowd to get down on the dance floor.

Background

Blue Riff Big Band was formed as a community band for the youth of the northern beaches of Sydney in 1987 by local teachers Gavin Lidgard and Martin Hardy.  The past decade has seen Blue Riff Big Band mature into the tight-knit, focused group it is today.

Performing regularly at a range of clubs, dinner dances and other corporate and community events, the band has also become a popular feature at a number of Australian Jazz Festivals, including Manly, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Kiama and Darling Harbour.

Some of Australia’s finest artists have appeared with Blue Riff, including John Morrison and Don Burrows.