Simon Stribling was born in Australia on the
13th August 1969. He was very fortunate to grow up in a musical family. His father
Neville, was a very well respected jazz reedman and laid down the foundations for Simon at
an early stage.
Simon became really interested in jazz in 1989 and
basically has been playing jazz ever since that time.
In the early 1990's, he played regularly in such
bands as the Black Adder Jazz Band and the Hotter than Six jazz band. Simon went on to
lead the Fireworks Jazz Band. The Fireworks Jazz Band (formerly Hotter than Six) has
enjoyed great success since its formation in 1991.
The band has toured interstate regularly and has played at the Vanuatu Jazz Festival, Kobe
Street Jazz Party (Japan), TerrifVic Jazz Party (1998, 1999), Chilliwack Jazz Festival
(1998, 1999), Las Vegas and at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in California in 1994, 1995,
1997, 1998 and 1999. The band has also appeared on Jim Cullum's weekly jazz show on P.R.I
Also of note, the band has toured Europe twice, once in 1996 for 8 weeks and again in
1998, playing to capacity crowds in many different countries, as well as a very successful
Alaskan Cruise (1999) with Jazzdagen Tours.
Simon has also toured the world on numerous occasions by himself and has played with such
greats as Spiegle Wilcox, Ade Monsbourgh, Graeme Bell, Dan Barrett, Roy Williams, Anti
Sarpilla, Bob Barnard, Ralph Sutton, Bent Persson, Jim Goodwin, Becky Kilgore, Eddie
Erickson, Jon-Erik Kellso, Tommy Saunders, Keith Nichols, Bobby Gordon, and the Jim Cullum
Jazz Band.
In 2000, Simon moved to Vancouver, Canada. This is where he resides these days with his
beautiful wife, Lauri. Just in the last year, he has formed a hot driving little New
Orleans quintet called the "New Orleans Ale Stars". The band is enjoying massive
success! Already the band has appeared at major jazz festivals within the
United States; Ocean Shores WA, Port Angeles WA, Sacramento CA, Chandler
AZ, Aberdeen WA, as well as various clubs around Oregon and Washington
State. Simon also has assembled a very unique and popular 10 - piece big
band, called the "Hoppin' Mad Orchestra". The band has been
performing once a month over the last year, at the Boundary Bay Bistro in
Bellingham Washington. The band has also performed at various festivals
within the United States. The future for both bands looks incredibly
strong and exciting!
Simon has made special guest
performances at the following festivals: Breda (Holland) Jazz festival 4 times,
Eindhoven (Holland) Lights festival, Ascona (Switzerland) New Orleans Jazz festival,
Kobe (Japan) Jazz Festival 3 times, and countless festivals throughout the
United States, Canada and Australia.
Finally, Simon finds his inspiration and motivation from Louis Armstrong's classic quote:
'Jazz is played from the heart. You can even live by it! BUT ALWAYS LOVE IT!!'
