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jazz & blues festival

Blaine Whittaker Band

Blaine graduated from the Brisbane Conservatorium of Music.In 1993 and 1998, Blaine pursued further studies in New York, with musicians including Wynton Marsalis, George Coleman, Vincent Herring and Garry Smulyon (barritone).  During his time there, he performed with a wealth of American jazz talent including jazz and blues legend Dakota Staten at the famous Lennox Lounge in Harlem. In 1997, Blaine released his first album as a leader entitled Hard Bop Café, with special guest artists Bobby Gebert and James Morrison. He also recorded Live at the Opera House with Morrison and Australian jazz legend Don Burrows, and on the Richard Clapton album Angel Town.  Blaine’s 2001 recording, Bright Lights in Babylon, highlights Blaine’s writing for septet featuring the three movement suite of the same name, Bright Lights in Babylon.  The suite, harbouring writing influences from Wynton Marsalis, Monk and Mingus, was Blaine’s first extended piece on record. In February of 2002, Bright Lights in Babylon was launched with 2 sell-out performances in Sydney at the “Side on Café”.  In the same year Blaine realised a dream come true when he played along side Wynton Marsalis and young tenor star Joshua Redman at Wine Banc jazz club, Sydney during Wynton’s Australian tour.     Blaine was based in Hong Kong from 2002 until 2007 freelancing with studio work, live gigs, concert performances and touring cities and countries including Singapore, Shanghai, Tsindao, Nanjing (China) Mandalay (Burma) Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur, Manilla and Athens (Greece) playing with Roberta Flack and Allen Youngblood.  Blaine was invited as special guest to play lead alto with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra playing Ebony Concerto (Stravinsky), Prelude Fugue and Riffs (Bernstein) and Harlem (Ellington).Whilst in Hong Kong Blaine also played with Swedish Jazz star Nils Landgren, R&B legends Mary Wilson (Supremes), the Temptations, Cleo Lane, Laura Fygi (Holland) Blues man Zack Prather (U.S.) and Martha Reeves (U.S.).  Blaine also found time to record 2 CDs with the multi award winning Sydney All-star Big Band (Doin Our Thing and Pyl Driver) and also play at the Sydney Festival with big band legend Rob McConnell (Canada).  Blaine also performed along side  Canto-pop stars Anthony Lun, Jen Fu, Jade, Leo Ku, Chris Wong, and Twins. 2005 saw Blaine collaborate with American pianist/composer Allen Youngblood to co produce the CD Midnight Odyssey in which Blaine played alto/soprano and wrote all horn arrangements,   During 2007 Blaine toured with Canto-pop megastar Jacky Cheung. Touring USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia/NZ, and all major cities throughout China.Whilst in Hong Kong Blaine played with U.S. trumpet star Roy Hargrove at  jazz club Bohemia Lounge. Blaine has performed at many national and international jazz festivals including the Kuala Lumpur Jazz Festival with “Yellow Jackets” and Diana Krall, Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Vines, Manly Jazz Festival, Glenelg Jazz Festival S.A. (Mike Nock Big Band) Nanjing (China), Taipei (Taiwan) Puerto Galera (Philippines) FCC Jazz Festival (Hong Kong). 

Blaine is now permanently based in Sydney and has recently released his third C.D SOUND BARRIER.

 

Blaine Whittaker Band is performing on these dates: