UQ Big Band

The UQ BIG BAND is based at the University of Queensland in Australia, and consists of students and alumni who major in a range of academic fields but who all share a passion for jazz and contemporary art music. The UQBB has become one of the most innovative and aspiring large jazz ensembles in Australia, having premiered many new programs in recent years. The UQ BIG BAND was established in 2007 and is directed by Churchill Fellowship recipient, Clint Allen.

In 2014, the UQBB received rave reviews for their performance of Markus Geiselhart’s “The Other Side of MozART” that involves jazz-infused reinterpretations of Mozart’s works. In 2016, the UQBB toured the USA from Los Angeles, San Diego and New York, where they worked with Vincent Gardner and Bob Mintzer, performed with Gordon Goodwin at CalArts (Los Angeles) and Randy Brecker(Shapeshifter Lab, New York). They also were the first Australian Big Band to be featured at the New York International Music Festival, performing at Carnegie Hall.

In 2018, the UQBB joined forces at the Press Club with LA-based Australian movie composer/drummer/conductor Tim Davies (La La Land, Trolls, Minions, Ant-Man, Lego Ninjagoand Frozen) to perform a series of his Grammy-award winning compositions for Big Band. The band also performed at the Wynnum Manly Jazz Festival, participated in the Essentially Ellington Festival, played at the Ironside Ball in Toowong, presented a winter themed program for a VIP Fashion Event at Westfield, and made their debut at the Doo-Bop jazz bar.

See “Series” below for all performance times.