2008 Artists - Page 1 of 3
Click here for a list of band line-ups
Julie O'Hara
| Julie O'Hara began singing with bands in Melbourne in the late 80's. She performs regularly around Melbourne and in 2006 toured to Denmark to perform with her rifftet at jazz and music festivals. Julie has also spent time living and performing in Thailand, Germany and Hong Kong with bands and as a solo piano player/singer. In the past few years, Julie has been a regular guest with Melbourne's; Virus, The Shuffle Club, The Cat Empire, Blue Drag, The Hoodangers, The Pearly Shells and the Paul Williamson's Hammond Combo as well as performing regularly with The B# Big Band, Bopkick, The Julie O'Hara Quintet and Sydney violinist and vocalist, George Washingmachine. |  |
Ben Jones
| Still in his 30s, saxophonist and vocalist Ben Jones has already played and recorded with some of Australia’s finest musicians. He has played at most major Jazz festivals and venues around the country, being a featured artist at the Manly, Thredbo, Wangaratta, Devonport, Wagga, Noosa and Newcastle festivals. Ben is often part of James Morrison’s six-piece swing band and was an original member of John Morrison’s big-band “Swing City”. Ben travels to Europe on a regular basis performing at major jazz festivals in several countries. His saxophone sound is reminiscent of the big-toned 1930’s and 40’s tenor players and his vocal style is a unique mix of swing and “crooning”, taking heed of the masters; Sinatra, Bennett & Torme. |  |
Michael McQuaid
| Michael has been leading bands since the age of 14, and aims to bring new life to older styles of jazz, such as those from the 1920's and 1930's. Traditional jazz and swing are vibrant and creative musical forms that offer tremendous variety, whether hot and energetic or slow and bluesy. He moved to Melbourne in 2003 to pursue his musical career, where he plays with the Creole Bells, the Sweet Lowdowns and his own Red Hot Rhythmakers. A multi-instrumentalist, Michael performs on clarinet, saxophone and trumpet, and additionally is highly regarded for his skills arranging and composing music for the Red Hot Rhythmakers. He performs with flair and has a polished stage presence. |  |
Andrea Keller
| Residing in Melbourne, Keller has performed and recorded with countless leading Australian jazz musicians. A prolific composer and band leader she has led projects such as ‘The Bartok Project’, ‘The Andrea Keller Quintet’, ‘The Andrea Keller Quartet’ and is co-founder of ‘The Bennetts Lane Big Band’, ‘Hustas-Keller’ and ‘Keller/Murphy/Browne’. Andrea has won many awards including the inaugural MCA/Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship, ARIA and Australian Bell Awards. In 2007 the Andrea Keller Quartet released their new album ‘Little Claps’ and toured to Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic. ‘Little Claps’ has been nominated in this year's Australian Jazz Bell Awards for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album. |  |
Jan Preston
| A Kiwi Expat, Jan is recognised as one of Australia’s leading female blues/ jazz artists. Jan’s unique ability lies not only in her exceptional talent as a piano player, singer and songwriter, but also as an entertainer, and her mastery of boogie woogie piano leaves audiences in raptures. Her show includes a superb rendition of Winifred Atwell`s Black and White Rag, along with some quick finger playing covers of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Albert Ammons, and many other of the great rhythm and blues piano players who have influenced her style. Jan is enormously popular on the festival circuit, having played more than 40 festivals throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Europe in the past three years. She has won four Best Female Blues Artist and Blues Artist of the Year awards, is a regular ABC and RNZ radio performer, and has sold out concerts from the tip of Australia to the very South of New Zealand in main centres and tiny regional towns. |  |
Bopkick
| Bopkick, an R&B swing and jump blues band from Melbourne, will be performing at Devonport Jazz Festival this year in a gala dinner dance to be held at Reece High School. The band features a stellar line up of Melbourne musicians, including Peter Baylor (guitar & vocals), Dale Lindrea (electric bass & vocals), Lin Wallis (drums), Dean Hilson (tenor sax & sporadic vocals) and Julie O'Hara (vocals & piano). The band's repertoire is mostly original, written in the style of 1940's/50's R&B swing. The covers they play are from swinging writers and band leaders from the 40's and 50's, like Buddy Johnson and from vocal repertoires like Ella Mae Morse. All musicians have been working together in different bands over the years, from big swing bands, jazz manouche, country & western, swing to bop. |
 |
Red Hot Roosters
| The Red Hot Roosters is a dynamic six-piece group based in Hobart, Tasmania. Their music features tight, punchy and inventive horn arrangements, six-part harmony vocals and fiery soloing – all channelled through very catchy original tunes and hilarious lyrics. The Roosters’ music runs the spectrum from smooth jazz through pop to rockabilly and zydeco. Featuring Hobart’s finest musicians, The Roosters have been together for over three years and have played at numerous festivals, private functions, ABC radio, swing dance events and other live venues. |  |
Eddie Tuleja
| Well-known in the North of the State, Eddie lives in Deloraine and is a professional musician, teaching and playing in the north of the State. He sings and plays guitar in several bands, mostly blues and rock and sings in the Meander Men’s Choir. Originally from New Jersey, in another life back in the USA, he worked with such greats as The Beach Boys, Seals & Crofts, and Gary Puckett. For several years he has also been launching out into classical guitar. |
 |
Billy Whitton
| This year Devonport Jazz features the golden voice and guitar stylings of Hobart's jazz and blues institution, Billy Whitton. Billy is the consummate lounge performer. He will ease you back into last century with his smooth vocal stylings and vast repertoire of Jazz and Blues standards. A performer with over 25 years experience he has performed extensively in Hobart and on the Mainland. He is a popular solo artist who is equally comfortable teaming up with fellow jazz and blues musicians in various bands like the Organ Doctors and the Swinging Hepcats. |
 |
Click Here for Page 2 of 2008 Artists
Advertisement:
