Cool Nights

The Cool Nights Big Band is a local Big Band that began in Toowoomba in 2006. The band started with a basic idea to be an independent Big Band in Toowoomba, and create something for the city that would endure into the future. Now in 2010, the band has significant direction. From putting on major shows with many of Australia’s leading musicians to embarking on tours, the band is always busy and striving to reach its goals. Big bands, or stage bands as they are also known, perform a style of music that is a derivative of the Jazz Era. Current big bands such as Cool Nights still play Jazz, but their music has evolved through the inclusion of modern idioms such as Pop, Rock, Latin and Swing. The number of musicians playing in Cool Nights has also grown from approximately 16 to 20 full time players over their four-year existence.

In 2008 Cool Nights had its first major show at the Empire Theatre featuring artists from across the country including Ralph Pyl, John Zappia, Malcolm Wood and Craig Atkinson. In the following year they invited two of Americas’ top brass players Al Hermann and Bob Montgomery to Toowoomba and then toured northern NSW, inviting Sharny Russell van Herp, Craig Atkinson and Australian Jazz Legend George Golla. In 2010 the band put on another major show at the Empire Theatre incorporating over 35 musicians and featuring internationally recognised artists Emma Dean and Deni Hines The band is currently piecing together overseas touring dates to Europe for 2011.

Cool Nights continues to support young emerging talent in Toowoomba and surrounds and the band receives numerous calls each week by people wanting to play in the band. This year has been no different and currently the band has eight school age members of the highest calibre. Members of the community are very welcome to audition to be in the band at any time.