The Melbourne-based band plays an exciting style of music inspired by the happy and carefree jazz of the 1920s. Their extensive repertoire embraces Dixieland favourites, popular tunes from the 20s and 30s, as well as compositions by such legendary Australian jazzmen as Graeme Bell and Ade Monsbourgh, both of whom have performed with the band.

This Australian heritage gives the band a distinctive sound and rhythm. The band members are acutely conscious of the importance of this part of their musical heritage, and consider it an honour to pay tribute to their own jazz pioneers.

Original leader Steve Waddell formed the Creole Bells around 25 years ago and their popularity is well established at home and overseas. In recent years, the band has appeared all over Australia, notably at such festivals as the Melbourne International festival, Wangaratta, Glenelg, Manly, and the W.A. Jazz Festival. The band has backed visiting international jazz artists, including U.S. singer Carol Leigh, and has several television credits, including their own appearance on the ABC’s Jazz As Now program.

Frequent visits to the U.S. have found the band performing as special guests at festivals such as the Los Angeles Sweet & Hot Festival, the Sonoma DixieJazz Festival, and the prestigious Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

The band has recorded a number of bestselling CDs, including three for the U.S. record label Stomp Off Records. Waltzing Matilda, title track of the most recent of these releases, was chosen by Australian ABC Regional Radio to bring in the New Year 2000.

Reviews:

“This is a great band…. Their music, which ranges from SF trad to Aussie, was a delight to hear…. The Creole Bells were easily the best of the trad bands at the festival.”

Broadcaster Stan Brager, Station KLON, Los Angeles, 1997.

“ For some twenty three years, Steve Waddell’s Creole Bells…have been our best-known exponents of relaxed, two-beat jazz…’

Jazz pianist Graeme Bell, AO MBE, Sydney, 2002.

Click here to see a review of the Creole Bells at the Canberra Southern Cross Club on August 12, 2004