Ross Anderson Bass player and Leader of the band, Ross began playing around 1952 in a quartet based in Echuca in northern Victoria.  He joined the RAAF in 1956 and for a period of 12 years continued playing in a variety of groups in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Townsville.  Back in Melbourne in 1968 he fronted a jazz trio that played for 9 years at the Dorset Gardens Hotel in Croydon.  Ross joined the famous Storyville Allstars in 1974 and played with them until 1981 when he left to form The New Melbourne Jazz Band.  In 1984 he took this band to the USA to perform at the prestigious Sacramento Jazz Festival where they were a resounding success and since then The New Melbourne Jazz Band has made 14 trips to the USA and Canada to perform at major jazz festivals.  In 1997 Ross was appointed musical director of The Marvellous Melbourne Jazz Festival.  When not playing music, Ross [a carpenter by trade] uses his wood crafting skills to design and build the Anderson Travel Bass.

 

Ron Trigg Ron started learning clarinet at the age of 12.  Being classically trained he won a statewide competition at 15.  Throughout his teenage years he performed as a soloist on radio, television and concerts as a multi-instrumentalist.  He is a specialist in each of his three instruments – clarinet, tenor saxophone and flute.  In the area of improvisation he is a dynamic and exciting performer.  He took part in the Melbourne big band scene as a member and band leader before switching to studio recording and television work.  He has performed with the Australian Show Band, Powerhouse Big Band, Sir Harry Secombe, Matt Munro, Lovelace Watkins, John Hawker Band, Young Talent Time.  He teaches as an instrumental teacher, classical music and jazz improvisation at Tintern Schools in Melbourne.

 

 

Charley Farley Banjo playing Charley was born in England and migrated to Australian when he was 13 years of age.  Taking up banjo at 17 he started his musical career in the folk scene in 1966 with the Witney Green Singers.  Charley then switched to jazz and in 1970 joined the legendary New Harlem Jazz Band which appeared in the movie Squizzy Taylor and also played on the sound track.  In the mid 70s he played with well known bands LaVida, The Nick Polites Jazz Band and Poppa Cass Dixielanders.  In 1978 he was one of the original members of the Creole Bells and played with them for 18 months until joining The Cotton Club and The Cairo Club Orchestra.  In the early 80s Charley rejoined the New Harlem Jazz Band which later transformed itself into the popular jazz orchestra Radio Days.  He stayed with them until 1992 when he joined the Maple Leaf Jazz Band.  Charley joined the New Melbourne Jazz Band in 1997 playing banjo and guitar and singing in his unique vocal style.  An authority on the banjo, Charlie plays a selection of classic instruments, including a Majestic from 1927, which is one of only three in the world.

 

Peter Uppman Peter has been hailed by the media and his peers as being one of the nation’s finest multi-talented entertainers and songwriters.  He has appeared countless times on national television, radio and in media publications, working with world renowned artists such as James Morrison, Kate Ceberano, Don Burrows, Danny La Rue, The Commodores, The Village People and many, many others.  In June 2010 The New Melbourne Jazz Band welcomes Peter playing trumpet and on vocals.