John Morrison has delighted audiences for more than 25 years with his humor and dedication to sounds that swing. Equally at home in a small group or big band setting, his musical facility runs the entire spectrum from traditional jazz, swing, Bebop, R&B, Soul and commercial jazz rock.

 

The eldest of the Morrison family, John has spent much of his musical life playing and recording with his younger brother James Morrison. At age 8, John began playing cornet in the school brass band and by the age of 10 had built his first drum set from pots and pans. In these early few years he played many different instruments and styles but jazz drumming was to be his calling.

 

After living in New York in the late eighties, John and James returned home to form Australia's premier jazz big band "The Morrison Bros Big Bad Band". John widened his exposure and experience also playing with a variety of other well-known artists including James Moody, Scott Hamilton, Richie Cole, John and Jeff Clayton, Garry Dial, Jimmy Whitherspoon, Eartha Kitt, Don Burrows, George Golla, and Bob Barnard.

 

As the driving force behind Sydney big band, Swing City, John, who was voted Australia's best big band drummer, loves the big band sound and started his own big band festival, Big Band Blast, held in Port Macquarie in May.

 

Further to his playing schedule, John is a musical director for Jazz Workshop Australia Jazz Camp, and Generations in Jazz and is patron of Zooo Superbande, MoJo Jazz Orchestra and The Australian Southern Stars, Palm Cove Jazz on the Green and the Smithfield State High School Jazz Academy.

 

As well as having a regular Sydney Jazz Band, they have bands they use all over Australia including Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Music Workshops can be organised anywhere in Australia for primary schools, high schools, community bands and choirs.

 

He is known for his work in the recording studio both as player and producer and hosted his own "Jazz at Five" radio show on Sydney radio station FM 99.3 for many years.

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John Morrison is sponsored by ProMusic Australia, Dixon Drums, Bosphorus cymbals, Gibraltar hardware, Wincent drumsticks and Protection Racket cases.