If you are going to take on the songs of one of the best Showmen ever, you had better be good. And you’d best be dressed for the occasion too.

And if you are trying to recreate the big-band party atmosphere of a Stevie Wonder performance at Madison Square Gardens, then you are also going to need to have a very good set of musicians behind you.    

Well.  Tick. Tick. Tick.  Tonight, we got it all!!

We had Justin Stephenson at the mic, in his grooviest outfit and cornrow-braided hair… switching between the keys of the Club’s Yamaha Grand and his Yamaha Motif M06.

And we had Nathaniel Andrew on guitar…Max Stowers on bass…James Sandon on drums…Danny Guerrero on congas/percussion…Dyon Tahana on alto sax…Ash Hutton on tenor sax…and Ben Oldham on trumpet…

…an amazing, powerful and entertaining combination that had the BJC pumpin’ to Stevie Wonder’s best, all night!!

Now, you will certainly know that Stevie has written and recorded a mountain of great music. However, you may not know that, so far, he has released 23 studio albums, three soundtrack albums, four live albums, 11 compilations, one box set, and 91 singles.

And yet, somehow tonight, out of all of that, Justin and his band were able to pick out two of Stevie’s best albums…and treat us to every song from both.

First, they gave us Hotter Than July, (which is quite appropriate, because in Brisbane, February is indeed, much hotter than July).

Every track was featured and all were thunderously applauded, particularly, of course, the biggest numbers from that album; ‘Master Blaster (Jammin’)’, ‘Lately’ and ‘Happy Birthday’.

And then they gave us Innervisions, again featuring every track, and again bringing the house down with classics such as ‘Living for the City’,’Higher Ground’ and ‘All In Love Is Fair’.

And it is oh, so obvious that Justin genuinely loves, respects, feels and lives Stevie’s social conscience and the way it is all laid out in his songs. Indeed, right across the night, Justin provided beautifully connected, moving commentary on the story and context for each song. Thank you.

And when it was all over, the eight of them took it out with a very unusual and memorable flourish.

Even though the ‘last’ song didn’t finish until well past Showtime, the audience was absolutely not about to let them go without an encore. And when Michael, the night’s Duty Manager, decided it was probably wiser, and perhaps safer, ☺️ to have the encore, the joint was absolutely jumpin’ and alive with dancers and wavers.

Most of the full house crowd, up on their feet for that encore, ‘Isn’t She Lovely?’. 

What a night!!

Alan Smith                                                              

Brisbane Jazz Club

Oooh!!   Hear that?   Feel that? 

The rumblin’ in the floor….?   The rattlin’ in the roof….?    The risin’ of the river ….?

Well….that is Dr. Bob Harley’s big, slappin’ bass!!   

And it’s no coincidence that our river is rising tonight…..’cos there is a Funky Miracle happening here at the Brisbane Jazz Club!!

Playin’ that funky music and weaving their magic alongside Dr. Bob….that’s Steve Francis at the drum kit. Harvey Blues and his wailing wah-wah guitar. Wil Sargison at the Hammond and Yamaha keys. Neil Wickham and Mal Wood in the Horn Section. And those oh, so glorious, powerful and passionate vocals from Stacey Hoy and Ashleigh Denning.

Yep. This huge, multi-layered funkopated sound meant that for this one big night, we were gonna be Brisbane’s Home of Live Funk!!

And they gave us a giant funkburger with the lot!! They were all there….absolute Funk classics….from the likes of Sly and The Family Stone, Graham Central Station, Average White Band, The Meters, Bill Withers, Isley Brothers and Professor Longhair….alongside touches of Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, and even, surprisingly, Joni Mitchell!!

Thank you, all eight of you, for giving us a thumping great night of get-up-and-dance. We loved it.

And thanks for putting the place back together again, when you left!!

Alan Smith
Brisbane Jazz Club

Welcome to 2025….and our first Thursday night gig of the year!!

And what better place to get the New Year ball rolling, than riverside at the Brisbane’s Home of Live Jazz….with The Vicki Salisbury Trio and Friends.

Let me introduce you. They are:

Vicki Salisbury                                                    Lead vocals.

Dr. David Salisbury                                            Saxophone, flute, vocals.

Larry Thompson                                                 Keyboards, pedal bass, vocals.

Greg Stroud                                                         Guitar.

Callum Pascoe                                                     Drums.

Husband and wife duo, Vicki and David are originally from the USA; New York/Arizona and Los Angeles, respectively. They were performing together regularly, long before they arrived and initially settled in Melbourne in 1993.

12 years after that arrival, they met national/international keyboard maestro, Larry Thompson, in Townsville. These three musical soulmates have been performing together ever since: each bringing a unique set of skills….

Vicki’s vibrant and joyful stage presence is inspired by her mother’s career as a performer in musical theatre, big bands and smaller ensembles…and the love that gave her for The Great American Songbook.

Dr. Dave’s saxophone and flute float through every piece, tight and sweet; a vital ingredient of the trio’s sound.

And while Larry at the keys, glides effortlessly through most styles of music, his Big Love is Modern Jazz. He loves nothing more than taking a well-known Rock song and expertly re-crafting it as Jazz.

Larry also happens to be attached to a manic left foot, which is in constant movement across the switches of his pedal bass, delivering that crisp and driving bass line.

And each of them composes their own original tunes, drawing upon influences from their personal journeys through a range of musical styles, including Pop, Rock, Latin and Jazz.

So, Yes!!, as was evident tonight; the success of this trio is absolute proof of the old adage, that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts!!

But wait. There’s more!!

This evening also featured two special guests…

Greg Stroud’s chilled, smooth guitar playing style is known and loved, far and wide, bringing a touch of class to performances with solo artists, duos, combos and big bands in Melbourne, Sydney/Newcastle, Brisbane and North Queensland.

And that’s Callum Pascoe at the kit. A Brisbane local, Callum is drummer in a number of ensembles, including the Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band, with whom he plays locally and nationally, giving him the invaluable experience of performing alongside greats such as James Morrison, Darren Percival, Andy Firth, and others.

What a night you all gave us!! Five individually great musicians in perfect sync, across two inspired sets of beautifully paced and arranged vocals, instrumentals, home-grown numbers, and a sprinkle of classics.

Thank you, Vicki, David, Larry, Greg and Callum. Please come back soon!!

Alan Smith                                                              

Brisbane Jazz Club

Take a Ferry Across The Mersey….well, the Holman Street Ferry across the Brisbane River…and you’re at the Brisbane Jazz Club.

Tonight, it’s Annie Street, Kangaroo Point…but it could be Bourbon Street in New Orleans…or a 1930’s Prohibition-era Speakeasy in New York…as on stage, there’s a long cool woman in a black dress with a big black rose in her hair…and five just-as-cool dudes in black shirts, black pants, black hats and white ties….

‘So, please put your hands together for Nicole Parker Brown and The Jazz Kings…here to entertain you with a night of toe-tapping, swinging Jazz, heart-touching Blues and sexy, simmering Soul. And for the launch of their great new album, Blue Jazz’.

This combo is very well named…because they are, indeed, Brisbane Jazz Royalty!!

Five Kings and one Queen to rule them all. They are….

Nicole Parker-Brown. Vocals and occasional touches of percussion.

Inspired by the lady legends of Jazz and Blues, such as Nina Simone, Bessi Smith, Diana Krall and Ella Fitzgerald, Nicole has been singing Jazz and Blues for most of her life. She has performed with greats such as the late Wiley Reed, and has written and recorded many of her own songs.

Peter Uppman. Trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals.

World-class trumpet-player, singer and songwriter, Peter has worked with dozens of internationally renowned artists, in presenting a repertoire which embraces every imaginable music style.

Gordon Matheson. Electric and acoustic guitars.

Talented guitarist, Gordon has worked with many world-class acts, including The Seekers, Liza Minnelli, Peter Allen, John Farnham, Tina Arena, and Winifred Atwell. He is the principal guitarist with the Gold Coast Big Band.

Col Atkinson. Electric bass and vocals.

Sublime subtlety is the hallmark of Col’s bass playing and Latin Jazz Standard vocals. Across the years, the big names that he has played with include Norman Wisdom, the Karl Denver Trio, Bert Weeden, Kamahl, Kerry Anne Kennelly and Galapagos Duck. He is the principal bass player with the Gold Coast Big Band.

Rodney Ford. Drums and vocals.

Before taking up the drums, Rod played trombone, trumpet and clarinet. As a drummer, he has toured and recorded extensively with  Galapagos Duck, and featured in many big stage productions such as The Wiz, Man of La Mancha and Chorus Line.

Jose McLaughlin. Piano, Nord electro keyboard and vocals.

Keyboard maestro and singer-songwriter, Jose is probably best known as a former member of Gerry and the Pacemakers…and for having his portrait hanging on the walls of the Brisbane Jazz Club. He has performed and recorded with many international music stars including The Doobie Brothers, Thelma Houston, Chuck Berry, Peter Allen, Stan Getz, Blood Sweat and Tears, Jose Feliciano, Ronnie Scott, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra…and Australian artists and bands, such as Vince Jones, James Morrison, Marcia Hines, Broderick Smith, Pantha, Daniel, Hired Hands, The Executives and Crossfire.

Across two power-packed sets, these six talented musicians, in combinations that changed regularly across the night, lived up to their promotional material by treating a grateful and enthusiastic audience to a wonderful night of ‘…standard jazz and blues classics combined with some originals and unique arrangements and delivered with light-hearted humour and extraordinary talent’.

Lead vocal responsibilities were shared by Nicole, Peter, Jose, Col and Rod. And each of the instruments was featured in timely, expertly delivered solos.

And EVERY song was a highlight…but to mention a few…

From the Blue Jazz album…

They gave us a cruisy instrumental version of the Jimmy Dorsey classic, On Green Dolphin Street.

Nicole gave us big and Bluesy renditions of How Blue Can You Get, Georgia On My Mind and Moanin’.

Jose gave us Popsicle Toes and a seriously Swinging arrangement of Ferry Across The Mersey.

Col told us the sad tale of Brooks Bowman, before giving us the unfortunate lyricist’s East Of The Sun.

Rod gave us his own song, Rockin’ Gold…a rollicking 12-Bar Rocker, which he said he talked the band into believing would be a classic Jazz Ballad!!

And from Peter, we got Still Got The Blues. And for the night’s Big Finish…an original; All Funked Upp.

Among the non-album numbers were…

Maria Elena, with Gordon playing lead on his Almansa Flamenco acoustic, and Jose on Rhythm guitar. Beautiful!!

Nicole’s Black Coffee. How else could you have it, given their dress theme?

Rod’s busy, buzzy interpretation of Misty…and his tribute to Fats Waller, with Honeysuckle Rose.

Jose’s All Of Me and Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying…the latter, a former UK #1 that he co-wrote with Gerry Marsden.

Crooner Col’s Night and Day.

Peter and Nicole on vocals for Blue Drag. Apparently written as a dirge….they certainly did NOT perform it as one!!

And Peter…with help from the enthusiastic audience…gave us the Blues Brothers classic, Flip Flop Fly. An appropriate choice, as they were all dressed as if they had just stepped off the movie set…on a mission from God!!

What a great night!!

Thank you…Nicole, Peter, Gordon, Col, Rod and Jose.

Alan Smith

Brisbane Jazz Club