Album Notes

THE PEARLY SHELLS SWING ORCHESTRA emerges from Melbourne's musical soup with a modern twist on a classic sound. This Ten Piece "Little big band"(comprising 3 saxes, 2 trumpets, trombone, piano, double bass, guitar and drums) has a style and look remminesent of the Golden Age of Ellington, Basie and Goodman from the 'wall of horns"sound right down to the Hollywood style, luminesent clam-shell stands. Playing their own arrangements of the Big Band classics and Pearly Shell origionals, the band is famous with dancers for its ability to leave the written music behind "Riffout" when things are really swinging!

The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra features a stellar lineup of Melbourne Jazz players from across the generations, including in the horn section Adam Simmons, baritone; Dean Hilson, tenor sax;Bruce Sandell Tenor/alto Vinnie Bourke and Amon McNelis trumpets; Shannon Barnett trombone; Dai Jones guitar; Dave Allardice,piano; Rory McDougal drums and Steve Purcell double bass and vocals.

Influences include:
Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Louis jordan, Louis prima, Louis Armstrong, The Duke, Lionel Hampton , Ella,Willie Dixion, Bob Wills, Professor Longhair, Big Joe Turner, Nellie Lutcher, Nat king Cole, James Booker,Cats and the Fiddle, Moon Mullican, T-Bone Walker, Charlie Christian ......