About

Jeromie Clark

Musical Director/ Trombone 1

A recent transplant from the US, Jeromie holds a Jazz Studies degree from the University of North Texas, and most recently, was a permanent member of the Mike Curtis Jazz Project and the Providence Stage Band, contemporary large ensembles in Portland, Oregon.  He is also a regular contributor to local brass band and wind ensembles, and currently plays in the Upper Hutt brass band.

Greg Crayford 

Drums/Co-Musical Director

(Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa)

From strong jazz whānau lineage, Greg has been part of the Aotearoa music scene for over thirty years. In addition to drumming duties in CCBB (& many other bands), he is Head of Music of Rongotai College, and Musical Director of the award-winning RC Big Band. Greg runs Wellington’s longest currently-running jazz residency, at The Realm in Hataitai. Greg holds degrees in Performance Jazz (Hons), Māori Studies, Education, and is also the band’s chairperson.

Ruthanne Kennedy

Vocals

Ruthanne, our wonderful vocalist is one of the longest serving band members. She has a huge repertoire singing a variety of arrangements, ranging from Norah Jones to Natalie Cole. When she's not on stage, Ruthanne is a teacher by day.

John Jones

Lead Trumpet

John Jones (JJ) started playing the  Flugelhorn at 12 years old and has played in Brass Bands for 53 years.  He has won 4 National Junior Titles, represented NZ 6 times in Youth Brass Bands and was selected for the 3 month world tour with 1978 National Band of NZ. JJ spent 13 years in the NZ Army Band including 6 years as principle cornet/leader, and 5 years in Singapore with 1RNZIR Band as cornet/trumpet player and leader. As well as CCBB, he is currently plays the flugelhorn for Porirua City Brass and is both the lead trumoet and Musical Director of the Liberty Swing Band.  His favourite Band is Uriah Heep..

Don Holborow

Trumpet 2

Don has been playing the trumpet since he was 8 years old. Classically trained, he saw the light a couple of years ago, and embarked upon a very rewarding journey into Jazz.

Jemma Sergent

Trumpet 3

Jemma is another long standing band member - she was headhunted to join CCBB when she was still at Tawa College and she has played the trumpet with us ever since. She has a Masters in Communications from Victoria University and works as a digital support specialist and volunteers with an animal rescue in her spare time.

Glenn Walbran

Trombone 2

Glenn started his musical journey back at school in form two playing the baritone. Later that year an Australian school dropped by with a big band. Glenn saw the lineup of trombones and thought that'll be me. Needless to say Glenn has played trombone ever since in both big bands and brass bands.

Liam George

Trombone 3

Liam started playing music from the age of 5, initially learning piano, playing pop and classical music. He then took up the trombone from the age of 13 at Rongotai College and has been playing it for 5 years now. During this time, he has been involved in various jazz bands including the Rongotai College Big Band, Disciples of Leigh Combo/Piano Trio and the Fresh Dope Lit Quintet. He has also won the Rodger Fox Award for the most outstanding trombonist twice in a row at the Manawatu High School Jazz Band Competition. He is currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music playing in Big Band 1 under the direction of Rodger Fox. He loves all kinds of music and when he is not studying at uni, Liam gets involved in various jam sessions around Wellington and is a frequent guest artist at Greg Crayford's Jazz Nights at the Realm. 

Dave Merrall

Trombone 4

Dave started learning the trombone at High School. He has played in many Orcestra's and Brass Bands but his first love is Big Band Jazz. Now playing in CCBB, Liberty Swing Band, Manawatu Jazz Club Big Band and Swamp City Big Band. Dave likes to spend time in his garden or with his whanau and very patient partner.

Greg Rogan

Lead Alto Saxophone

Greg has a varied musical background that includes playing woodwind and brass instruments in orchestras, symphonic bands, jazz combos, big bands, blues bands and show bands around the Waikato and Wellington regions. He loves the range of genres CCBB cover, along with wonderful musical direction and performance opportunities with a talented bunch of like-minded musicians.

Ralph Titmuss

Alto Saxophone 2

Ralph learned to play on the youth jazz scene of London before taking an extended break from performing. Now back in the swing of things, he is thoroughly enjoying being back in the spotlight. His main influences are Harry Allen, Art Pepper, and Hank Mobley. With qualifications in both jazz saxophone and baroque recorder, his azz recorder debut is closer than ever to the stage.

Amity Alton-Lee

Tenor Saxophone 1

Amity has performed and taught saxophone around the Wellington Region for over 20 years. She completed a Masters in Jazz in 2009 studying the late great British tenor player Tubby Hayes. She has performed in many styles over the years from Bebop to Blues to Balkan to Bollywood music but Big Band jazz will always be her first musical love,

Jonathan Woolley

Tenor Saxophone 2

Jonathan specialises in jazz and musical theatre with eclectic musical tastes from classical to drum and bass to metal but considers Miles Davis and Nathan Haines to be his main influences. He has taught and performed cello, flute and clarinet but favours the sax. Highlights include touring NZ with Michael Barrymore and Tina Cross for a production of Chicago and joining The Honeymakers big band in Sydney. Currently Jonathan also plays the Liberty Swing Band, and Duke Wellington

Liam Boyle

Baritone Saxophone

Liam has been playing saxophone and clarinet since he was 10 years old. He was a member of the NZ Youth Jazz Orchestra in his senior college years before studying Music at the NZSM. He also studied english and history at the University of Auckland, but moved back to Wellington to pursue teaching. He is currently HoD Music at Wellington College and is a co-Musical Director of the Wellington All-Star Youth Big Band. Liam particularly likes the the Big Band sounds of the Woody Herman Big Band and has a soft spot for versions of pop songs cleverly arranged for Big Band!

Daryl Prowse

Piano

Having learnt the piano at St Mary’s, Daryl, armed with their brother's saxophone, attended the National Big Band Workshop in 1982 run by the Fox family at Mana College with Bobby Shew amongst some other big names. This led to double bass studies at Wellington Polytech and more big band, youth orchestras, gigs and hotel residencies and tours backing artists such as Dalvanius, the Ink Spots and Maria Dallas. Daryl is trained as a teacher and currently tutors at eight schools, and plays everything from the tuba to the banjo in various bands. Daryl has a wife of 26 years- Frances- and together they enjoy ballroom dance and playing music. 

Aslan Rowlands

Guitar

Aslan is a guitarist/vocalist from Wellington, NZ. They perform as a part of several musical acts including The High Society Swingers and Blues Clues while also writing and recording their own music in styles ranging from jazz to indie to blues and RnB. They are currently completing a master's thesis at the New Zealand School of Music and hope to pursue further academic endeavours following its completion. They are best known in CCBB for hijacking every rehearsal with their terrible yet hilarious dad jokes.

Josh Jones

Bass

Josh ‘Doctor’ Jones is a well versed jazz and jazz-fusion multi-instrumentalist with a strong reputation as a sideman and studio musician. Known for his skills on saxophone and electric bass, Josh can also be found playing flute, clarinet, double bass, piano, and rhythm guitar. Born and raised in the United States, but currently residing in Wellington, New Zealand, Josh ‘cut his teeth’ playing with jazz ensembles and cover bands all throughout the US, playing bars, hotels, weddings, and festivals of all types. After serving his time aboard Carnival Cruise ships as a stage musician, he began taking on leadership roles in his bands, handling the booking and managing duties. He has a solid reputation in the studio as a performer and composer, contributing to tracks for bands such as Mystic Biscuit, The Silver Moon Riders, Jason ‘Slim’ Gambill (Lady A), and The Juices of Brazil.