Newcastle, NSW · Formed 2025
The Newcastle Jazz Collective
Jazz musicians from across the Hunter playing the Jazz Messengers book — the arrangements exactly as written, the solos entirely our own. Hard bop first, and outward from there.
What we play
The Messengers book
Six players working through the Art Blakey catalogue, with the arrangements played as written. The heads, the backgrounds, the shout choruses, the three-horn voicings that made those records sound the way they do — that’s the part worth getting exactly right, and we do.
The solos are ours. Nobody in this band is reciting somebody else’s chorus back at you, because that was never what the music was for. The writing is the tradition. What happens over the top of it is why anyone came.
- The arrangements Taken off the original records and played as written — heads, backgrounds, ensemble figures, the lot.
- The solos Improvised, every time. Same charts, different night, different music.
- The band A sextet as standard — three horns and rhythm. Contracts to four and expands to seven, depending on what the chart was written for.
- Where it goes Hard bop is the starting point, not the boundary. Earlier and later styles as the band grows into them.
Personnel
Sized to the chart
Front line
- TrumpetMat Woodcock / Dave Thompson
- SaxophoneGareth Lewis / Shane Shanks
- TromboneMatt Keegan · Artistic Director
Rhythm section
- PianoJo Cadman
- Double BassJeremy Burrows · Artistic Director
- DrumsSimeon Staker
- Quartet One horn and rhythm. Ballads and small rooms.
- Quintet Trumpet and tenor. The 1958 book, as written.
- Sextet Standard. Three horns, the 1961 front line.
- Septet A fourth horn, where the voicing calls for one.
The chart decides, not the budget. The 1958 book is written for two horns and doesn’t want a third sitting in it; some of the later writing wants four. Deps come from a standing list of Hunter players who know the book.
Upcoming
Where to find us
No upcoming shows confirmed yet — check back soon, or get in touch to book us.
Bookings
Book the band
Tell us the room, the date and how much stage you have. We’ll come back with a programme, a stage plot and a fee. Presenters, festivals, venues and schools welcome.
- Email jeremyburrows@jeremy-burrows-music.com
- Response time Two business days. Quicker if the date is close.
- Stage A sextet needs roughly 4m × 3m, plus a house piano or room for a stage keyboard. Stage plot and input list supplied for whichever line-up you book.
- Good to know We hold a date for seven days without a deposit. Public liability certificate available on request.