The Sydney All-Star Big Band

The Sydney All-Star Big Band: Doin' Our Thing

by Jack Bowers
January 1, 2002

Fans of big–band Jazz may rest assured that things are swingin’ Down Under, and here’s the proof — nearly an hour of invigorating straight–ahead Jazz by the talented Sydney All–Star Big Band led by trumpeter Ralph Pyl in its long–overdue coming–out party. All but one of the nine selections on Doin’ Our Thing were written by members of the band including two (“All Clear,” “Wallflower”) by American expatriate and world–class trumpeter Don Rader. The lone exception is Frank Mantooth’s funky ...