About Band Members

Derek Hopper (leader, trumpet, flugel) is a music teacher whose playing experience includes the Queen City Big Band, Auckland Philharmonia, NZSO and the Basin City Big Band. He holds a Master of Arranging Certificate from Berklee College of Music and has arranged and composed many songs for Jazz Inspired.  

Don Durrant's (tenor, flute)  musical experience started in the UK where he played tenor saxophone for rock bands providing backing for shows by top UK rock stars and visiting American stars on tour eg. Ted Heath Big Band, Gene Vincent, Gary (US) Bonds, Gene Mc Daniels, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Burnette, Beatles, and the Everley Brothers. Don currently teaches woodwind instruments in several Northland schools.

Jim Thorne (alto, clarinet) led dance bands in  Japan as part of the post-war occupation force. In Auckland in the 1950s he played for radio broadcasts and led bands in cabaret dance halls. Since moving to Whangarei in 1965 he has been actively involved in dance, cabaret and pit bands for repertory musicals, and teaching at schools.

Phil Cullen (drums) has played in various Country, Rock and Roll, Rock, Blues, R&B and Jazz bands in  Auckland and Northland. More well known bands Phil has played in include: Whiplash, The Dealers, The Suspects, Witzend, Smokestack, Sidewinder, Misabara4, The Basin City Big Band, and Lounge Sweet. Phil was in the backing band for the John Grennell Northland Tour of 2006. Phil just completed his MBA at Massey University and is currently working as an itinerant drum teacher.

Patrick (guitar) started his guitar playing career as a wild rocker and has a suitcase of effects pedals to prove it. However, his first exposure to music was playing the bugle as a boy. In his more mature years Pat performed with Mike Cunningham in a guitar-flute duo playing mostly latin-jazz standards and could be seen at many venues around Whangarei.

John Drake plays upright acoustic bass. He has played music for over forty years having started as a teenager playing with a variety of pop groups. Over the past twenty years he has been involved with a number of jazz musicians and bands. He has played with the Kerikeri High School Jazz Band, Bronwyn Case-Gilbert Trio, Mike Nettman, Lounger Sweet and the Bays Windjammers. He is now currently involved with the Basin City Big Band, Sentimental Journey, Jazz Inspired, Thelonious Punk and a variety of impromptu groups. His style of playing is best described as being rhythmic. punchy and expressive.