Sample Song
Big Wheel Band
"From its humble beginnings in Jim Conway’s lounge room, Big Wheel had the magic, a distinctive sound that jelled from the start."
Australia’s own living legend of harmonica, Jim Conway, has assembled an astonishing array of talent to galvanise the ranks of his new dream band. "Big Wheel" boasts an absolute all star line up of musicians who share Jim’s passion for Blues, Jazz, Jump & Swing.
Featuring: (from left to right)
Don Hopkins: Keyboards, Vocals (Gumbo Fever, Dr Don’s Double Dose)
Brad Child: Sax, Vocals (Doug Parkinson, Bob Barnard, The Brad Child Big Orchestra)
Jim Conway: Harmonica, backing vocals (Backsliders, Conway Bros, Captain Matchbox)
Andrew Byrnes: Drums & Percussion (Hughie & The Swing Thing, Psycho Zydeco)
Paul Robert Burton: Double Bass, Vocals (Shuffle Kings, Headhunters,)
Arne Hanna: Guitar, Vocals (Jackie Orszaczky, Lilly Dior)
Big Wheel launch their debut CD "Little Story" (ARIA Nomination, Best Blues Album 2004)
A landmark recording, unique in Australian Blues music, which draws on influences as diverse as Jump Blues, Jazz, Swing, Cajun, Reggae, African, 50’s pop, and Doo-Wop. Add to that the inspired and often quirky instrumental and vocal performances by Jim’s hand-picked favourite musicians combined with his legendary Harmonica and you get an idea of the excitement this band can generate.
Jim Conway
Harmonica & Vocals
Jim Conway is acknowledged as a highly accomplished harmonica player whose distinctive style is well known to blues, jazz and country music enthusiasts. His extensive career includes national tours with American bluesman Brownie McGhee, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Circus Oz and The Backsliders.
Jim was a member of the Conway Brothers Hiccups Orchestra from 1984 - 1988 and toured the U.K. in 1986 appearing at the Edinburgh Festival, the Capitol Music Festival and the Newcastle Festival. In 1988, the Conway Brothers appeared at the Houston International Festival, World Expo 88 and the Perth Festival. Jim joined the Backsliders in 1989, touring nationally at festivals which include the Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Festivals, Womad, the East Coast Blues Festival, the Port Fairy Folk Festival, and the Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival .He has twice been a judge at the Hohner Australian Harmonica Championships at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Jim has also composed, produced and recorded music for a broad range of film and radio projects, including the Kennedy Miller telemovie "The Riddle of the Stinson."
At the Sydney Paralympics Opening Ceremony Jim performed a piece of music specially written to feature his harmonica playing. A documentary film celebrating Jim’s contribution to Australian music was screened on S.B.S. Television in July 2000.The film won a silver medal for Best Independently Produced Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival.
jimconway@optusnet.com.au
www.jimconway.com.au
Brad Child
Saxophone, Clarinet & Vocals
Brad Child has been a regular performer around the Sydney Jazz scene for twenty years. He plays saxophone and clarinet and has performed with such luminaries as Bob Barnard, Dan Barnett, Geoff Bull, The Unity Hall Jazz Band, Barbara Morrison, Doug Parkinson, Mucho Mambo and Delicatessen. With his own band, he has played at most major Jazz festivals in and around Australia, as well as playing overseas in New York, London, Europe and the Edinburgh Festival. To add to his capabilities, his band, The Brad Child Big Orchestra, held the longest running residency in Sydney, lasting for over eight years at the Soup Plus. He has a rather eclectic taste in music which will become apparent if you listen to his weekly radio show on Sydney 89.7FM Mondays 3pm till 4pm. All in all, a very talented musician who should not be missed
Don Hopkins
Blues & Soul Singer, Piano Player, Songwriter, Teacher.
Don Hopkins, who is well known in the Sydney blues scene, has performed professionally since the early seventies. Don’s blues drenched vocals are backed by a virtual history of blues piano styles. Ragtime, Boogie Woogie, Stride, Jazz, & New Orleans R&B. Artists covered include Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Professor Longhair, Jerry Lee Lewis, Doctor John, Leadbelly, Huey Piano Smith... with many well known songs given the Don Hopkins treatment.
Don’s most recent collaboration has been with Rob Grosser to form Dr Don’s Double Dose, releasing their first CD together in 2005 called "Conjure Bag". Don formed Gumbo Fever (1995 - 2001) with ex-Split Enz drummer, Mal Green. A live CD of Gumbo Fever is available. In 1999 Don received the Chain Award for Best Blues Duo/Band at the Goulburn Blues Music Awards. In March 2001 Don toured New Zealand for Arts on Tour NZ, with Mal Green. Don entertains as solo, duo or leading larger combinations.
Paul Robert Burton
Double Bass, Vocals, Percussion, Harmonicas, Guitars, Dobro Mandolin.
Paul has been a professional musician for 20 years, touring & recording with many artists including:
Austentayshus, Ian Moss, John Williamson, Dave Tice & The Headhunters, Kevin Borich, Don Walker (Catfish), Kevin Carmody, Doug Mulray, Eddy Youngblood, Milky Bar Kids, Ed Kuepper, Nathan Cavaleri, Paul Kelly, Graeme Connors, Pete Wells(Rose Tattoo), Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything) & Phil Emmanuel. He has toured with Elvis Presley’s original drummer DJ Fontana & recorded with James Brown’s drummer Toni Cooke. He currently manages & plays in his own band "The Shuffle Kings" as well as occasional reunion shows with The Headhunters, concerts & Festivals with Jim Conway’s Big Wheel.
Paulrobertburton@bigpond.com
www.paulrobertburton.com.au
Arne Hanna
Electric Guitar & Vocals
Arne Hanna has been playing electric guitar in various ensembles since 1971. He studied electronic sound synthesis with Felix Werder in Melbourne in the early 1970s and also participated in events at Peter Mumee’s New Music Centre. In 1977 he played electric guitar in, and recorded with, Ian "Ollie" Olsen’s band WhirlyWirld and, along with Peter Tyndall and Michael Earls, was co-artist in residence at Preston Institute of Technology. After moving to Sydney in 1986, he became a permanent member of Jackie Orszaczky’s funk-soul group the Godmothers, including two tours of Hungary, Germany, Slovenia and Holland. As a member of ambient-rock group Wandjina, he was invited by the Far Eastern and South Pacific International Congress (FESPIC) to perform at concerts in the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Sendai in 1990.
Arne has played guitar for artists such as Michelle Morgan, Coco Robicheaux, Terry Evans, John King Cleary, Renee Geyer, Marcia Hines, Denni Hines, Nick Cave, and Michael Spiby and continues to work with Jackie Orszaczky and Jim Conway’s Big Wheel.
Andrew Byrnes
Drums & Percussion
Andrew’s career begins back in the early 80’s with Sydney band "The Moffs", they toured the country and released 3 singles, mini album, and an album with citadel records. 1989-93 saw Andy freelance drumming with many different outfits including rock, funk, Latin, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Indian and fusion music. Toured USA with "Bob Armstrong", studied Indian Tabla intensely. 1993, Toured nationally with pop group "The Clouds" 1994-96, Worked full time with swing outfit "The Harlem Shuffle" and "Psycho Zydeco" & continues to tour and work internationally.
