In 2005, after completing a successful season in the Ellaways’ sponsored “Weekend Swing Cats” promotion series, several of the original band members, under the guidance of professional musical instrument and singing teacher Shea Stanley, formed the ‘Urban Swing Big Band’. The Brisbane based Urban Swing Big Band comprises up to 14 musicians of all ages, all with enthusiasm and many with years of experience, plus several professionals. The band started initially as a community social band; however live performance opportunities arose, and for several years now has been a more serious ensemble playing a variety of styles of music from the 40s to the 80s at public, private and corporate functions. The band has appeared regularly at the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Jazz Clubs.

With a large repertoire and musical styles, the band caters for all type of events and the play lists can readily be altered to accord with the particular event, or venue. A deal of the music played is to encourage dancing, with about half the repertoire of numbers being vocals.

In addition to the exclusive functions mentioned above, the band has performed at venues and jazz festivals around the Brisbane region and also organises several public dances each year at different venues around Brisbane. For two years (prior to its demolition), the band appeared regularly, with a large following of dancers, at the Seabrae Hotel on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

Shea's vocals are featured in many of the arrangements with many of the players being featured as soloists at some time, which gives them a chance to play to the mood of the audience. Audience appeal from both young and old is a major draw card for the band, as the band's versatility caters for all music enthusiasts. With a focus on 'making great dance music', the Urban Swing Big Band brings to life any function by inviting guests to dance the night away to well-known swing standards through to hits of the 80s. The sounds of the Swing, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Pop and Latin genres are all included in the band's repertoire with the band's versatility such that the music for a function can be adapted to suit the venue, function, or theme.

Late in 2009 a CD was recorded at the Brisbane QUT studios; the CD contains 16 representative tracks of the band’s varied repertoire.

The band has performed at a variety of venues and locations, and has played under verandas, in lounge rooms, but it is more preferable and comfortable of course on a stage, in a larger hall. The band travels quite often to close by regional areas such as the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Toowoomba region.

Russell Cornish

7th May 2011 

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