The Daryl McKenzie Band started in the early 80’s as both a versatile function band and a band that could back world class artists. Over the years both the 8-piece and big band have been critically acclaimed for their superb musicianship and polished professionalism.During the 90’s Daryl McKenzie took over the role of Musical Director of the Nine Network’s “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” which saw the Hey Hey Band perform with international artists such as Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Barry Manilow, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Roger Daltry and Randy Crawford; as well as Australian artists such as Tina Arena, Human Nature, Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Rhonda Burchmore, Debra Byrne and Marcia Hines (to name a few!). A reunion series saw the Hey Hey band back in 2009. Other TV shows Daryl and the band were involved with included Australia’s Got Talent (series 1, 2007) and Dancing with the Stars (4 eps. 2005/6) and the AFI awards (2004). The band toured internationally to the USA and Malaysia and also performed to large concert audiences in Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Sydney, Gold Coast and Ayers Rock.The Daryl McKenzie Band has been in demand for corporate functions and major events including the Adelaide and Melbourne Grand Prix (Billy Thorpe, Tommy Emmanuel, Jack Jones), the VAC Federation Australia Day concert, the Sounds of Christmas for the Salvation Army (Thelma Houston), the reopening of the Adelaide Casino, the Myer Melbourne relaunch (Guy Sebastian), VAC New Years Eve and Morning Melodies, Lindsay Fox’s 75th birthday (50 piece orchestra), Carlton FC's 15th night (Vicka & Linda, Daryl Braithwaite, Anthony Callea), Anthony Warlow & Faith Prince (Hamer Hall 34 piece orchestra) and was featured at the North Queensland Jazz Festival in Mackay, Jazz in the Vineyards at the Morning Star Estate and the Castlemaine State Festival. The big band has also featured on the soundtracks of several movies such as “Bran Nue Dae”, “Death Defying Acts”, “The Wogboy”, “Two Hands”, “Love and Other Catastrophes”and “Bootmen”. As the 18 piece Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra, the DMJO have recorded three critically acclaimed CD’s and appears monthly at the Apartment Bar and Restaurant performing with singers including Darren Percival, Wilbur Wilde, Rhonda Burchmore, Nina Ferro, Nichaud Fitzgibbon and Matt Hetherington.For occassions where a smaller band is more suitable, the Daryl McKenzie Band is available as a 14 piece band (still a big band sound), an 8 or 10 piece (a great function band with a horn section), and a 5 piece band (great for smaller weddings). All the bands feature top class singers.Both the big and small bands perform a wide range of material to suit all tastes. Our extensive repertoire ranges from the classic songs of the big band era through the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s disco hits and right up to the latest in great current dance music. We can tailor our repertoire to suit a themed function and can provide anything from an instrumental jazz trio to a symphony orchestra.Pricing for events are quoted individually depending on the customer’s needs. Example song lists are available for perusal. DARYL McKENZIE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
San Diego native Danny Green has managed to carve out a place
for himself in the lineup of young jazz artists who have a pulse on
keeping the tradition of jazz piano and composition alive while stepping
boldly into the future. According to JazzReview.com, “Danny Green is
what evolution in jazz is all about, expressing the traits of those that
came before him, with a style and panache that is all his own...an
individual who expresses what is inside of him.”Green revealed to
the world his impressive talents on his 2009 solo debut recording, With
You In Mind. The San Diego Tribune reviewed his debut recording and
described Green as “Equally adept at jazz, classical and various
Brazilian styles…but even in its most intricate moments, his music never
sacrifices soul for technique or substance for flash.” The album
received extensive airplay around the globe rising to on the Jazz Week Charts, and won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2009 San
Diego Music Awards. Green began working on With You In Mind after
producing the Afro-Cuban Jazz inspired album, Past Due (which featured
trumpet, bass, drums, percussion and a very young Danny Green). With You
In Mind focused on Brazilian influences cradled in mainstream jazz and
classical nuances.In 2012, Green teamed up with Tapestry Records
to release his latest album, A Thousand Ways Home. As on With You In
Mind, Green's compositions incorporate Brazilian and Latin as well as
jazz and classical influences. The core group consists of Green on
piano, Justin Grinnell on bass, Julien Cantelm on drums and Tripp
Sprague on soprano and tenor saxophone. Green also features an
incredibly talented cast of guest artists that include mandolinist Eva
Scow on four of the tracks, guitarists Chico Pinheiro, Peter Sprague and
Dusty Brough as well as Brazilian vocalist Claudia Villela. The
camaraderie shared by the players is obvious. A Thousand Ways Home
received numerous rave reviews nationwide, rose to on the Jazz Week Charts, and was voted into KSDS Jazz 88.3’s “Top Ten Jazz Releases of 2012.”
DANNY GREEN TRIO
The Mighty Soul Drivers bring the classic Soul sounds of Memphis, Muscle
Shoals and points South to the hills of New England. The Mighty Soul
Drivers take their inspiration from the giants of Southern Soul - O.V.
Wright, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding and more and combine that with
contemporary tunes written in the classic style. The Mighty Soul Drivers
turn every venue they play into a Soul dance party!Bob Orsi - Vocals, Guitar, Veteran front man Bob Orsi's dramatic vocals have driven the success of
bands from CT's legendary Scratch Band to the award-winning D. Smith
Blues Band. Although perhaps better known to the public for his
harmonica skills, Bob is also an accomplished rhythm guitarist who
brings an extra dimension to several of the songs. And of course it is
his impassioned vocals that are at the core of The Mighty Soul Drivers'
sound. River City Slim - Drums, Vocals After singing and playing harp as the front man for The Blues Blasters
throughout the 90's, Slim has led The Zydeco Hogs as they brought the
sound of Louisiana Zydeco and Blues to the Northeast. Slim has been
spreading the Soul, Blues and R&B gospel over the air for years as a
DJ on WWUH and WAPJ. The idea for The Mighty Soul Drivers had been
kicking around in the back of his mind for a while when a chance meeting
with Bob at a CT Blues Society jam session in early 2012 finally put
the wheels in motion. Larry Willey - Guitar, Vocals Crowd-pleasing guitarist Larry Willey has led Blues and R&B bands
for years, including The Working Band and The Blues Talkers. After
witnessing the excitement of the Blues and R&B pioneers at the
legendary Shaboo Inn in its 1970's heyday, Larry cut his musical teeth
with CT Blues pioneers The Albert Otis Band, and has been a fixture on
the CT Blues and R&B scene ever since. Andy Karlok - Bass, Vocals Andy came off the road with nationally-known Blues artist Luther 'Guitar
Jr.' Johnson to join River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs as they
barnstormed their way throughout the Northeast. Andy has also held down
the bottom for Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party, a New England band specializing
in New Orleans R&B. Steve Donovan - Keyboards. THE MIGHTY SOUL DRIVERS
Ernie Peniston was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in 2003.
He is a product, in part, of the Minneapolis music scene, and he has
shared the stage with Prince, Morris Day, The Temptations, Koko Taylor,
Lonnie Brooks, James Brown, Albert Collins, and many others. He also
spent four years as the frontman with Blind Pig recording artists,
Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings, traveling the US and Europe. A happenstance meeting in 2013 between Peniston and former EPB guitarist
Joe Collins and a daisy chain of phone calls thereafter pulled together
friends and musicians from across the country to re-form the Ernie
Peniston Band. This reunion led to a string of engagements, culminating
(so far) with the release of “Live at the Muddy Waters” (recorded
earlier this year) and an appearance at the opening night of the 30th
Mississippi Valley Blues Fest (Ernie played the first one in 1985).Peniston formed The Ernie Peniston Band in the Quad-Cities in the late
80’s, and the current players are a reiteration of an early 90's lineup
of reacquainted consorts from all over. THE ERNIE PENISTON BAND
Emphasizing old New Orleans-style ensemble playing, a stomping rhythm
section, and a genuine love of the hot, bluesy, no-frills melodies that
once poured forth from New Orleans’ dance halls, Shotgun Jazz Band
makes music that is both immediate in its influences and timeless in its
appeal.
To date, Shotgun Jazz Band has recorded 4 albums; Algiers Strut 2011, their enthusiastic live release, One DrinkMinimum 2012, and their official full-length debut, Don’t Give Up the Ship 2013. Scheduled
for a fall 2014 release is their latest, Yearning, recorded at
Luthjen's Dance Hall and featuring James Evans on clarinet &
saxophone, Charlie Halloran on trombone, and Ben Polcer on piano. While
SJB’s core lineup tends to be fairly consistent (Marla Dixon on trumpet and vocals, James Evans on reeds, Twerk Thomson on bass, Justin Peake on drums and John Dixon on banjo)
on any given night it may also feature incredible musicians such as
Orange Kellin, Tommy Sancton, Craig Flory, Charlie Halloran, Haruka
Kikuchi, Michael Magro, Walter Harris, Tom Saunders, Ben Polcer, Aurora
Nealand, Peter Loggins, Benji Bohannon, and Jon Gross. On special
occasions, even Barry Martyn comes out to play.These days Shotgun
Jazz Band is as equally at home playing for tips and smiles on Royal
Street as they are playing for dancers and fans at clubs, courtyards,
and weddings. SJB currently enjoys residencies at The Spotted Cat Music Club, Three Muses, & Maison Frenchmen, and may also be found at Mimi’s in the Marigny, Allways Lounge, Fritzel's European Jazz Club, DBA, Sbisa's, 21st Amendment, Marigny Brasserie, and Bacchanal. The Band has also been featured at Preservation Hall, Dew Drop Social & Benevolent Jazz Hall, WWOZ’s Traditional Jazz radio show as well as the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and has participated / or is scheduled to participate in several festivals, both in New Orleans and across the country. SHOTGUN JAZZ BAND
Music lovers across the globe have discovered the secret that music is
easily enjoyed with our ears, but completely experienced when our bodies
are moving in total accord with the surroundings. New Orleans’s own
Flow Tribe aims to prove this truth in their own style every time they
take the stage. Growing up in the dive bars and neighborhood venues in the city’s dimmest corners, this six-piece ensemble captures the passion of
the Crescent City, bending genres into their own brand of "backbone-cracking music.” Rooted
in the tradition of New Orleans R&B and funk, spiced with Cuban
flair, and dipped in rock and hip-hop, these musicians invite their
audiences to groove their hips until they sweat as they jump from rhythm
to rhythm each and every night. FLOW TRIBE
Have been playing their unique style of blues the world over for almost forty years. Not limited to one style, but able to play Chicago Blues in the style of Muddy Waters. Little Walter and Billy Boy Arnold; Kansas City Swing in the style of "Big" Joe Turner; Texas Blues like "T" Bone Walker and Freddie King; and the swampy Louisiana sounds of "Lazy" Lester-all played with the distinctive originality of band leader Sugar Ray Norcia, vocals and harmonica, guitarist "Monster" Mike Welch, Anthony Geraci at the piano and Hammond Organ, Michael "Mudcat" Ward playing acoustic and electric bass, and drummer Neil Gouvin.All of the members of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones have been featured on other Artists recordings which include Hubert Sumlin, John Hammond, Johnny Winter, Otis Grand, Pinetop Perkins, The Mannish Boys, Sugaray Rayford, Debbie Davies, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl and many more. SUGAR RAY AND THE BLUETONES
Paul Thorn's new album "Too Blessed To Be Stressed" stakes out
new territory for the popular roots-rock songwriter and performer. "In
the past, I've told stories that were mostly inspired by my own life,"
the former prizefighter and literal son of a preacher man offers. "This
time, I've written 10 songs that express more universal truths, and I've
done it with a purpose: to make people feel good."That's really
Thorn's mission for Too Blessed To Be Stressed, which can be heard as a
running conversation about life between Thorn and listeners - a
conversation leavened with gentle insights, small inspirations, and
plenty of cheer. "I wrote these songs hoping they might put people in a
positive mindset and encourage them to count their own blessings, like I
count mine," Thorn observes. "There's no higher goal I could set for
myself than to help other people find some happiness and gratitude in
their lives." PAUL THORN
Mandy Lemons and Low Society are blazing new trails on the stomping
grounds of Blues and Americana music. Texas Blues, Memphis Rock 'N Soul
and a healthy dose of New York attitude help define the sound and spirit
of their latest album, 'You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down', on Icehouse
Records. It's a diverse collection of original songs that inject new
life into, while remaining firmly rooted in, the traditional music that
they live and breathe. Among the albums guest appearances are two of
Memphis' best known musicians, B.B. King and Lionel Hampton alumni Dr
Herman Green on the saxophone and Lucero's Rick Steff on keys and
accordion. The album was recorded at the historic Memphis landmark,
American Recording Studio, and mastered by Stax legend, Larry Nix.Low Society is the brainchild of blues belter Mandy Lemons, and her
partner in crime, guitarist and producer Sturgis Nikides, former
guitarist for John Cale (The Velvet Underground). The pair has codified
their shared love of Texas and Delta Blues, soul music and rock 'n roll
into their own subconscious language. Mandy sings the blues with an
emotionally charged powerhouse voice that mixes original southern fried
soul and northern attitude. Woven together with Sturgis Nikides
blistering slide guitar they blaze their way through a veritable map of
the South. Holding down the rock solid rhythm section are Memphis native
sons, Mike "Drummerlife" Munn and Nick Dodson on the bass guitar. The
band has traveled extensively, playing hundreds of shows on festival,
juke joint and club stages everywhere from Eastern Europe to NYC, from
Mississippi to Texas, to Memphis, to Arkansas and Missouri, to
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Montana, Florida and points
beyond. They have appeared at Clarksdale Mississippi's Juke Joint
Festival for the last 4 consecutive years, the 2012 Bluesalive Festival
in the Czech Republic and Poland, as well as NYC's Howl Festival for 3
consecutive years. They also participated in the 30th International
Blues Challenge. Their first album, 2011's 'High Time' received critical
praise for it's raw "neo-delta" roots and blues sound. Big City Rhythm
& Blues Magazine said “these hipsters have taken southern country
blues and super-charged it to a white-hot intensity”. The band will be
hitting the road, from coast to coast to support the new CD, make sure
to keep an eye on their schedule - you don't want to miss this!!! LOW SOCIETY
