Formed over 20 years ago by double bassist Steve Purcell as a Count Basie-style dance band, The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra has evolved to become a unique Melbourne musical institution. The Pearly Shells mix their own arrangements of 40’s and 50’s big band music with Jump Blues, Swing Jazz, RnB, Boogie Woogie and Latin styles, and play it all with the drive and enthusiasm the music demands and deserves. Expect music by Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Ray Charles, Louie Jordan, Billie Holiday, Ella Johnson, Xavier Cugat as well as Pearly’s songs from their seven studio albums.
Appearing with The Pearly Shells: Michelle Nicolle. Bell Award, Mo Award, National Jazz Award, Music Victoria Winner, and 3 x ARIA nominee, jazz singer and improviser extraordinaire Michelle Nicolle proved herself many years ago as one of Australia’s most gifted and expressive jazz vocalists. Having released 9 albums since 1998 and constantly touring Australia and Internationally to critical acclaim – performances including Tokyo Jazz Festival, Jarasum Jazz Festival (South Korea), North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Asia Pacific Festival (Russia), Prague Jazz Festival (Cz Republic), University of North Texas, Kulak’s Woodshed (LA) The Blue Building (NYC).
For this show, we will be clearing some space in the club to dance, so get your glad rags on!
Make a meal of it! The music gets underway at 7.30pm, but arrive a bit earlier if you can. From 6.30pm, enjoy pre-show dinner and drinks at The Count’s Italian-style kitchen and bar.
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