Launched in July 2022, the AR Big Band provides opportunities for contemporary composers of large jazz ensemble to create world class music and expand the Australian jazz canon.

Featuring many of Sydney’s leading jazz musicians, the bands goals are:

• to provide the highest level musical environment for composers to create new music

• to promote gender diversity in large ensemble jazz

• to encourage multi-generational transfer of knowledge

The band began a residency at Sydney’s Foundry616 jazz club throughout 2022 and was featured at the Manly Jazz Festival in the same year. Works premiered by the band include ‘Renegades’; ‘Valley of the Water Dragons’ and two large works ‘Symphony For Big Band’ and ‘The Journeyman Suite’.

Recording July 2023 - ‘Journeyman Suite’ for Big Band + String Quartet - Studios 301, Sydney

We’re SUPER excited to announce that the entire 5 movement ‘Journeyman Suite’ for Big Band and String Quartet is ‘in the can’! Recorded at Sydney’s premiere recording studio, Studios 301, in late July 2023 this groundbreaking work is on it’s way to release. Blending elements of 20th Century Western Art Music with jazz Big Band, the work tells the story of a working musician’s journey from a young performer through to experienced/valued music community member to leader/creator at the ‘pointy end’ of the music world. The work has obvious autobiographical contours with the composer, yet is also the story of many of the experienced musicians that we are incredibly fortunate to call band members.

There’s a bunch of editing, mixing, mastering to go with 50+ minutes of music with such a large ensemble, however we’ll keep you posted as it comes closer to release. In the meantime, enjoy some pics from Noni Carroll Photography of the sessions!