Lucy Ridge
Vocals / Percussion
Lucy Ridge is a Canberra-based musician performing with a number of local ensembles, with a focus on jazz and soul. Primarily a singer, Lucy established and fronts nine-piece soul band Lucy Ridge and the Derby Widows and can also be seen singing with Scott Temby's Tembtanglement (modern jazz compositions and arrangements) and Capital Club Band (wedding and event entertainment). She also plays trumpet and sings with TraXion Big Band – a well-regarded Canberra ensemble. Lucy is a songwriter best known for passionate, feminist lyrics. Saxedonia is her first foray into percussion. She hopes to one day be able to sing and play Latin claves with her eyes open.
–Photo credit: Tun.ed.in. Visuals
Oisin Smith-Coburn
Tenor Saxophone
A graduate of the Australian National University School of Music, Oisin has been an active performer and music tutor for almost two decades. He has studied with some of the Australia’s leading jazz and internationally renowned saxophonists. He has worked with artists such as Frankie J. Holden, Wilbur Wilde, Jon Gordon,The Soul Sisters, Katherine Lambert, Movement 9, Paige & the People's band, and the ACT's very own Canberra Jazz Orchestra. He plays across a wide range of musical styles including jazz, swing, Latin, pop, R&B, and big band music. He knows how to have fun and create ambience.
Danny Junor
Dan completed a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) at ANU in 2002. Before returning to Canberra in 2019, he worked in Sydney as a freelance musician and regular member of a wide range of ensembles including The Sonic Mayhem Orchestra, Unity Hall Jazz Band, Cumbiamuffin, Mucho Mambo, Kriola Collective amongst others. As well as his regular work, as a freelance musician he occasionally performs for TV and larger events such as on Good News Week or playing in a horn section at the ARIA awards. He is also involved in a number of original and eclectic projects as both a sideman and occasional bandleader. In Canberra, Dan regularly performs with the Brass Knuckle Brass Band, his quintet The Dap Tone Dandies, his quartet and various other ensembles on a regular basis.
Alto Saxophone
Tom Walsh
Originally from Port Macquarie, Tom developed a passion for saxophone and jazz improvisation from an early age. He has a Bachelor of Music (Honours: jazz performance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and has completed postgraduate studies in contemporary jazz improvisation at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Tom’s mentors include: John and Carl Mackey, Graeme Lyall, Jamie Oehlers, and Chase Baird. Now based in Canberra, Tom performs across a wide range of styles, from swinging jazz standards to original contemporary compositions.
Tenor Saxophone
Sharon Robinson
Keyboards
Sharon Robinson is a Canberra-based musician who performs with a range of local ensembles as a keyboardist and synthesiser player. With broad experience across live performance settings, she is recognised for her versatility, musicianship, and collaborative approach to music performance. Alongside her performing career, Sharon is a passionate music educator who enjoys working with children and young people. She finds particular satisfaction in helping emerging musicians develop confidence and skill, especially in those breakthrough moments when students realise they can successfully play and create music for themselves. Outside of music, Sharon also has a strong interest in health and fitness.
Scott Temby
Scott Temby holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Australian National University and has studied with many great players including Eric Ajaye, Miroslav Bukovsky, Vince Jones, and Mike Price. He has performed throughout Australia as well as internationally in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, and New Zealand. Primarily a bassist, Scott also plays trumpet, piano, and guitar, and works as an arranger, composer, teacher, and audio engineer. Outside of Saxedonia, Scott performs with Tembtanglement; Big Boss Groove; Traxion Big Band; Capital Club Band; and his own duo, trio, quartet & septet.
Bass
Viktor Rufus
Born and raised in the Australian countryside and now residing in Berlin (Germany), Viktor has built a dynamic career as a guitarist, composer, and producer – performing over 1,200 shows across Australia, USA, and Europe. Beyond his own projects, Viktor is an in-demand session musician and producer. He has worked in numerous studios across Australia, Germany and the USA, contributing to albums, singles, and promotional recordings. Whether composing, arranging, or shaping a recording in the studio, he brings a deep understanding of both performance and production to each project. Viktor has meticulously transcribed all the recordings and arranged them to ensure a faithful reproduction of Christopher Cross’ band Freedonia, while giving space for the Saxedonia band members to breathe their own expression into the songs.
Arranger/Guitarist (when in Australia)
Dylan Slater
Dylan has been active in the Canberra music scene performing and teaching for the past decade or so. Having graduated with first class honours from the ANU School of Music (where he was awarded multiple prizes and scholarships), his career highlights include performances at the National Folk Festival; Groovin’ The Moo; the Woodford Folk Festival; and playing in the 2024 Canberra season of Chicago at the Canberra Theatre.
Guitar
Bruce Smyth
Bruce “Bruiser” Smyth worked as a professional freelance drummer in Melbourne from the late ‘70s to late ‘80s. He toured with blues legend Bo Diddley, appeared on Countdown, was on the road with Chad Morgan, and backed artists including The Drifters (USA), Ricky May, and Jimmy Little. In the ‘80s, he worked at the Galaxy nightclub reading a new show from Sydney each week. He has extensive live and studio experience, including performing with the 13-piece Melbourne soul band Grand WaZoo, and playing in the original Melbourne run of Little Shop of Horrors. After a 25-year break from playing drums, Bruce returned to performing and now plays with several local bands, including Big Boss Groove, Capital Club Band, The Decideds, and now his own group, Saxedonia.
Drums / Band leader
Rouslan (‘Bubba’) Babajanov
Various saxophones, effects pedals, feedback, chaos, and fun
Bubba’s reputation precedes him. He is known and loved by all in the Canberra music scene. He is a fundamental part of Saxedonia but is yet to be involved. Apart from being a powerful and unpredictable force of nature on sax, Bubba brings the party and fun anywhere anytime. He epitomises the musican’s creed of: ‘Have a good time, all the time’.