James Morrison and the fruits of his labours

AUSTRALIAN jazz virtuoso James Morrison reckons big bands are the heavy metal of jazz and unequalled in sheer power.

Northern Rivers fans will have a chance to experience the wall of sound for themselves when Morrison brings the Big Band Liechtenstein to Byron Bay on November 26.

“It’s a bigger palette of sound, it’s richer, and you can create soundscapes that you just can’t create but for the sheer number of sounds you’ve got on stage to work with,” Morrison said.

“It’s also the power of a big band, and I don’t just mean volume, I mean sort of the power of that much sound.

“When a symphony orchestra strikes a note, it’s got incredible depth to it and it’s more of an experience.”

The Big Band Liechtenstein has a 40-year history, performing for Pope John Paul II, at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and accompanying stars such as Bob Mintzer, Willie Murillo, and Olivia Chindamo.

Morrison recognised the band’s potential decades ago and has since performed regularly with the ensemble across Europe.

“I’ve been playing with them for many years, and we’ve made a couple of albums together, Morrison said.

“Liechtenstein is very small, but quite well off and with sponsors, we made it work. I was keen to do the regional areas too.

“It’s very rare for an entire big band to come to Australia from overseas, and I don’t know the last time a European big band played in Byron at all, but I reckon it’s probably never.”

Morrison said the European big bands had a different sound from those of the United States.

“A lot of the work in Australia centres around the traditional repertoire, which is swing,” he said.

“European big bands, and particularly this one, tend to focus on a different area. They can play that stuff, but this is more of a Latin, funky kind of groove.

“We also do contemporary material, and we put a different groove to it which you wouldn’t normally expect from a big band, such as Stevie Wonder, for example.

“That’s great fun, too, and something I’m keen for the Australian audiences to hear.”

As Australia’s most famous fruitarian, Morrison brought the fruit-based dietary protocol to the forefront decades ago, with dramatic health benefits.

“I actually went off it for a little while, but I’ve just gone back, which is great,” he said.

“You feel so much better, and probably as I’m ageing, I’m feeling it more, especially touring.

“The advantages of it, the benefits, the way you feel, are just too good and too hard to ignore.”

It’s hard to argue with what works, be it fruit banquets or big bands in the Bay.

For tickets, visit byroncentre.com.au