Biography (1995 - 2009):

The band, started with students at MLSPA by the Musical Director Rory J Thomas OAM, was a 17 piece band, named 'ZOOO Rhythm and Jazz Big Band'.

In July 1995, ZOOO Auditioned for the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was invited to perform there with 20 other Bands. They were the only band from Australia. ZOOO then went on to do the Monterey (Ca. USA) Jazz Festival.

In July 1997, ZOOO International Big Band, toured to Europe. They were invited to play at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Haag, the Casablanca Jazz Club in Amsterdam and a performance at Paris Disneyland. They won the Most Outstanding Performance Award at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

In July 1999, ZOOO International Big Band were again invited to tour the Jazz Festivals in Europe, but could not raise enough Funds to do this. Instead the Rory Thomas Atom Quartet performed at Jazz a Vienne in France, and the Montreux Jazz Festival, as well as performing for Jazz Workshops at the Conservatoire in Vienne (Fr.) conducted by Rory.

In July 2000, ZOOO Big Band finally raised enough funds and toured to Montreux. They received the Most Outstanding Performance Award again.

In July 2002, ZOOO was invited back to Montreux and Vienne again.

In July 2004, the ZOOO SUPERBANDE toured to Europe again, performing first in Germany at Heppenheim, then Russelscheim. They then performed at Vienne (FR) and then on to Montreux. This was the first time ZOOO had performed in Germany.

Zooo Superbande not playing for Jazz-A-Vienne, Sydney

Zooo Superbande playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival on the Rouvenaz stage to capacity crowds, in 2004

In July 2006, ZOOO SUPERBANDE toured to Europe yet again. First staying at Mainz (Germany), the band played at local venues and saw the local attractions. After a few days in Mainz, the band then moved to Vienne (France) to play at the international Jazz Festival. The band then traveled to Montreux (Switzerland), for the Montreux Jazz Festival where they spent the rest of their trip.

In July 2008, ZOOO SUPERBANDE once more travelled to Europe and commenced there performances in Vienne, France at Jazz à Vienne.

NUCLEUS performed several New Orleans Jazz Street Marches as part of the Festival and were invited back for the 2009 Festival.

Luke Strange, Louis Stapelton, Hugh van Schaick, and Chris Barbera, formed the Alliance Jazz Ensemble with four young musicians from France performing to capacity audiences at the Scène de Cybèle Stage.

The Band then toured to Paris performing at Disneyland Paris, this was followed by an overnight coach tour to Berlin where they performed for the Berlin Jazz Club. On to Weimar, ZOOO SUPERBANDE performed to capacity audiences at the Sturmkasse Jazz Club, the Band then travelled South through Germany with a concert at Russelscheim. The tour then moved to Montreux Jazz Festival with performances by ZOOO SUPERBANDE, NUCLEUS and SMOOOTH.

The end of the tour was at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, then back to Frankfurt by coach to catch the return Plane to Australia.

In July 2009, the famous Ciccarelli Brothers, Nick and Mike were invited to Jazz à Vienne to Participate in the 2009 Alliance Jazz Ensemble. They also assisted Professeur Rory Thomas with his Jazz Workshops at the Académie Ponsard and Tente à Bouef Stage for the two weeks of the Festival.

In July 2010, ZOOO SUPERBANDE , NUCLEUS and SMOOOTH have been invited to the European Festivals once more to participate, the touring Band ZOOO SUPERBANDE will comprise of;

Trumpets:Luke Stephens Leader, Joel Williams, Nick Robinson, Chloe Vaughan, Will Thomas

Trombones:Altay Nuhoglu Leader, Marcus Rizzardo, Harrison Luke

Saxophones: Alara Nuhoglu Leader, Ryan Thomas, Luc Macmillan , Harry Campbell-Russell

Rhythm Section:Hugh van Schaick Leader/Drums, Chris Barbera Contrebass, Viet Le Guitar, Guy Marsh Keys

Band Leader: Chris Barbera

Musical Director: Rory Thomas OAM

The Band's repertoire ranges from the era of Jazz Legends such as Benny Goodman and Glen Miller, right up until present day Big Band compositions by Gordon Goodwin and Jeff Jarvis. The Band plays a wide variety of styles, both instrumental and vocal, such as; funk, swing, dixieland, latin and blues.

Over the years, ZOOO SUPERBANDE has had the privilege of playing alongside many Jazz Greats, such as:

- Randy Brecker

- James Morrison

- John Morrison - John is now the Patron and Mentor of the ZOOO SUPERBANDE.

- Dan Barnett

- Mark Murphy

- Don Burrows

- Galapagos Duck

- The Idea of North

- Emma Pask

ZOOO SUPERBANDE has performed at many important functions:

- Government House, Sydney for Presentations of Awards,

- the Baulkham Hills Center,

- Blacktown Civic Center for Naturalization and Australia Day Ceremonies.

Jazz à Vienne Sydney, 2006 at the 'Mean Fiddler'

ZOOO SUPERBANDE 2008

ZOOO’s Musical Director, Rory J Thomas OAM, has been a clinician for the Montreux Jazz Festival each year, and is in charge of 'International Jam Sessions' daily, as well as instrumental workshops. He is also the Cultural and Artistic Ambassador for the city of Vienne. Each year since 1999, he has been Professeur des Etudes de Jazz at Academie Ponsard at the Jazz à Vienne Festival in France.

In January 2006, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for Services to the community, and youth through Music, especially the Jazz Bands.

Remember that ZOOO SUPERBANDE is for hire! If you wish to hear us play at any occasion or event, view 'Contact Us' in the menu bar to find our details.