Brisbane Jazz Orchestra
About
Paiste Artist Since
March 2026
Nationality
Australia
Main Affiliations
Brisbane Jazz Orchestra
Rhydian and the Residuals
Other Affiliations
Funky Miracle
The Bower Hot 5
The Peter Cupples Band
Website
stevefrancisdrums.com
Setup
Cymbals listed from left to right
14" Masters Dark Hi-Hat
18" Masters Dark Crash
22" Masters Dry Ride
16" Masters Dark Crash
Biography
Australian musician Steve Francis began his musical journey in 1977 at age eight when he started drum lessons and joined his school marching band. At 15, he won the best drummer award for Queensland Festival of Music Big Band category, and then was offered a position to work professionally in a professional Big Band performing across the east coast of Australia. Steve continued to develop his skills as a chart reader for jazz ensembles, pop groups, and as a session player for theatre and television shows, as well as touring artists. Steve’s great love is drumming for Big Band, funk, and jazz ensembles where he can be seen regularly playing in the Brisbane scene. Steve has also had a unique insight into the dance world holding a regular full-time drumming day gig for 26 years as a contemporary dance accompanist. He is also a passionate educator working as a private tutoring, lecturer and clinician. Steve has performed and recorded with artists such as James Morrison, John English, Peter Cupples, Venetta Fields, John Paul Young, Brian Cadd, Louie Shelton, Andy Firth, Darren Percival, Adrian Cunningham, Caroline O’Conner, Richard Clapton, Lee Conway, Rhonda Burchmore, Kate Ceberano, Luke Kennady, Topology, Glen Shorrock, William Barton, Ten Tenors, David Campbell, Monica Trapega, Grace Knight, Normie Rowe, Mark Williams, , Mirusia Louwerse, Judith Durham, Jane Rutter, Wilbur Wilde, Sean O’Boyle, David Bentley, Megan Washington, John Forman, Guy Noble, Sean O’Boyle, QLD Ballet, Queensland Orchestra. Steve has worked in many theatre shows, musicals and he has opened shows for acts such as Stevie Wonder, The Neville Brothers, Andrew Strong and the Commitments, Dig, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Jordan, Star Ship, Vibraphonic, Marcia Hines, Mental as Anything, Leo Sayers, Anthony Warlow, Silvie Paladino and Don Burrows. Steve has also worked with Bangara Dance Company, Lee Warren, Matt Lee, Victorian College of Arts, QTC and Qld Ballet. Steve is presently working with The Louie Shelton Band, Mirusia, The Peter Cupples Band, Rhydian Lewis and the Residuals, Blue Turtles - the music of Sting, Step it Up, QLD Ballet, Swing on This, The Brisbane Jazz Orchestra, Funky Miracle, Karen Anderson & the Fortunate Sinners, Queensland Orchestra, The Bowery Hot Five.
Setup Cymbals
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Full, warm, brilliant, shimmering, deep. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Quick response, fairly soft feel. Rich, strong crash sound with open low end and shimmering highs. Very versatile, responsive crash cymbal suitable for numerous musical styles.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14", 15"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Rich, warm, lush, deep. Wide range, complex mix. Giving and responsive feel. Broad, warm open sound. Compact, lush chick sound. Extremely versatile hi-hat, perfectly suited for dynamic, articulated playing in a wide range of styles. “They are just chunky enough, but not overpowering. They are a little more chocolaty than the classic 602s”, describes Vinnie Colaiuta.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 10", 8"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Light
Sound character: Warm, airy, snarling, silvery. Fairly wide range, complex mix. Soft feel with a very responsive, explosive splash sound. Low tuned effect cymbal for lively accents in moderate volume. Well suited for hand-playing. Vinnie Colaiuta explains: “They are sweet, they are these kind of punctuation marks in the background.”
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 18", 20"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Light
Sound character: Warm, silvery, airy with a mystical touch. Medium wide range, fairly complex mix. Very soft, papery feel. Very responsive. A graceful crash cymbal for delicate, sensitive playing with light sticks, brushes, rods and hands. Well suited for mallet rolls.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Light
Sound character: Dark, warm, smoky. Medium wide range, complex mix. Buttery, soft feel with quick response. Rich, dark, mystical crash sound with tender clarity. Extremely lively cymbal for broad accents and crashes in intimate to semi-loud settings. Well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells. «For those guys who really appreciate just having a cymbal that can do everything, the larger Dark Crashes can do anything. Very crash-able, and if you want to ride on them, they will give you all the ride patterns in the world.» - Gregory Hutchinson
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14", 15"
Volume: Soft
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Dark, full, soft, multi-layered. Medium wide range, complex mix. Soft, responsive feel. Velvety sizzling open sound. Rich, dark chick sound. A sensitive hi-hat perfectly suited for light to medium heavy use within Jazz, Blues, Country and other acoustic music styles.
- Sounds