Harmonix Big Band
Harmonix Big Band was established in 2019 by David Humphreys and Hayden Dalton. The band is set up as a modern big band, with a full complement of saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets and a 4 piece rhythm section. Big Band plays a wide variety of styles, ranging from classic swing, latin, funk, and ballads.
Big Band plays at community events, festivals, and is also available to play at private functions. In 2021, Harmonix Big Band headlined their own show, Sinatra Meets Bublé to a packed audience at Dural Memorial Hall, featuring the vocals of Jimmy Zappia.
Big Band rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30pm at Baulkham Hills Community Centre; 390 Windsor Road Baulkham Hills.
David Humphreys - Musical Director
David has been playing since he was 12 years old and has performed in many of the major concert halls in the UK, such as the Royal Albert Hall and Manchester’s Free Trade Hall. During his youth, he played with the award-winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra and then the Andy Prior Big Band, recording albums with both.
He has been a radio presenter since 1998, broadcasting programs on the history of jazz, interviewing local and visiting jazz artists (including Bob James, Bela Fleck and Jeremy Monteiro) as well as hosting his own weekly show Double-Time with David Humphreys on Passion 99.5FM in Singapore.
Whilst living in Singapore, he became lead alto and bandleader of Thomson Big Band, the premier Singaporean large jazz ensemble. He also conducted the intermediate level group and led both groups in numerous performances.
Arriving in Australia in 2003, David formed the Brisbane Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. This ensemble, made up of established and emerging musicians, performs a repertoire which reflects the diverse styles of the jazz idiom, including swing, funk, Latin and rock. It also features original compositions. Performances include the Brisbane Festival, Ambiwerra Festival, Valley Jazz Festival and Brisbane Jazz Club.
In 2019, along with Hayden Dalton, David formed Harmonix Big Band, with the aim of providing quality community music opportunities to the Hills district.