Album Notes

Ray Pereira Leo Dale Doug DeVries

“Hypnotic Afro - Brazilian accented jazz” - Weekend Planet, Radio National
“Steeped in Brazilian rhythms with the percussion sound coming out of Africa” – The Age



What does it sound like?
Ray Pereira, Leo Dale and Doug DeVries take the passion and poetry of Brazilian guitar, add some dynamism and fire with West Africa percussion and stir in soaring and intricate melodies on saxes and flutes. The music is composed, yet improvised. It may sound like Jazz to you, but then again! Is it African? Brazilian? Spanish?

The Album
Ray, Leo and Doug came together to capture the acoustic qualities of their instruments live in a great sounding room. Ray brought along his suitcase of rhythms from around the world to lay the rhythmic bed for the magical fingers of guitar virtuoso Doug Devries and the melodic tones of Leo Dale’s alto sax to create music that will lift your spirits, make your toes tap and your heart sing.

Available from
SCAM is on the Qreleases label and is available NOW from louieprez.com and iTunes Music store. In stores the CDs are available through MGM distribution.

Production Team
This the second project from IDIOTS! - the production team of Leo Dale and Ray Pereira who brought you Zebra Crossing also out on Qreleases and available from louieprez.com – They have a close working relationship over several albums with sound engineer Richard Law who captures the sounds and tweaks them.

The Recording
The first six tracks were recorded live in The Meeting Room at The Maribyrnong City Council chambers with Ray, Leo and Doug sitting around playing in a semi circle. The last two tracks were recorded live in Leo’s home studio with guitarists Bryan Karahasan and Tim Nikolsky joining Ray, Leo and the electric bass of Zvi Belling. Peter Knight, Tony Hicks and Ben Gillespie played horns and Phillip Rex played double bass for one track. Percussion overdubs were recorded at Leo’s.

The Band
Ray Pereira is regarded as one of Australia’s leading percussionists. He has performed and recorded in Australia with everyone From Vince Jones and Kate Ceberano to Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, John Butler and film composers Paul Grabowsky and David Hirchfelder. He has performed at major festivals around the world including Montreal and is the founder and coordinator of The Kusun Cultural centre in Ghana West Africa. Ray recently won The Bell Australian Jazz award for best jazz ensemble with the group Way Out West.

Doug Devries never fails to astonish. For those who have heard him live or recorded in his many featured activities it comes as no surprise that Doug de Vries has been acclaimed as one of Australia’s leading guitarists (on both the arch top and acoustic guitar). A gifted performer to grace the guitar world, displaying sheer virtuosity and excelling in many genres spanning jazz, to tango, choro and bossa nova, Doug is also a leading exponent of the Brazilian guitar repertoire. His sophisticated and delicate accompaniments, combined with daring improvisations earned him the Australian Critics Award for best guitarist in 1991 and a Grammy award nomination for his part in the 'Live Downunder' recording by American jazz/blues artist, Barbara Morrison. His abilities as a composer and arranger have ensured him a place as one of the most revered musicians in the country. Doug has toured widely and is recognised internationally as a master musician across many musical styles.

Leo Dale’s did his first international tour with a boy’s choir to Japan in the mid 70s. He’s been making music on flutes and saxes ever since, most notably with Oxo Cubans over 20 years. This year he is working on projects as diverse as touring the east coast of Australia with The Saints horn section, working as artistic director of the Quiet Music Festival and touring to India playing jazz to promote the launch of a new brand of scotch (seriously, would he make that up). He has an ongoing study of yoga, loves coffee and will not shy away from a photo opportunity.

The Cover
Leo’s cover idea was inspired by a scene from the movie: Cincinnati Kid. ‘ Late at night, over a game of poker, long after the gig is over, is the time when schemes are plotted, when the SCAMs are hatched.’ Phil Greenwood did the photography and Richard Lewis the graphics.