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BIOGRAPHY
Hot
Club Swing performs an exciting and highly infectious style of music that
could be best described as French Gypsy Jazz. The music draws from an
exotic palate of classical, jazz and Gypsy influences, painting on a canvas
that can be eloquently French, starkly rustic or darkly and romantically
Gypsy. The group is mainly inspired by the virtuosic Django Reinhardt
and Stephane Grappelli, who originated this acoustic music in 1930’s
Paris.
As a result of many showcase performances, Hot Club Swing has built a
dedicated and diverse audience, which is always eager to return to an
evening of this captivating music accompanied by the indulgences of a
la carte dining and fine wine. The group has also been featured at many
weddings, corporate and government functions, adding that sought after
ambience.
The
current quintet features: Ben Calderazzo (leader/guitar); Phil Smurthwaite
(violin); Jeremy Bourke (rhythm guitar), Rob Gador (double bass); and
Nadine Joy (vocals).
"Hot
Club Swing capture a warm, swinging all-string sound taking audience hearts
and imaginations captive....the band's intuitive and empathic interplay
is a feature of their live set." The Age.
HISTORY
Originally
formed in the summer of 1997 in the Australian
regional town of Geelong, with guitarists
Ben Calderazzo & Ben Keon-Cohen sharing lead & rhythm guitar duties. These two classmates from the local TAFE jazz course met violinist Phil Smurthwaite at a school jam session and met up regularly for more informal jams and rehearsals. As with the
often humble beginnings of many bands, cafes, restaurants and festival spots were the
order of the day: the chance for the group to hone their skills and develop
repertoire.
A
meeting with double-bassist Rob Gador in mid-98 provided the opportunity
to add the much-needed fourth member to round out their developing sound.
An overseas trip taken by Keon-Cohen in early '99 left a gap which was filled
by local jazz stalwart Steve James, opting to play rhythm guitar exclusively.
The quartet now began to gig heavily in and around Geelong, including
Port Fairy Music Festival, the 2nd Queenscliff Music Festival and countless
other events.
A
chance meeting with chanteuse Tessa Lee in 2001 brought her French/English
vocals to the band and eventually, the studio. Musique
du Jour was
recorded Jun-Dec 2001 at Beechfront Media, engineered by Richard Beechey,
and released Mar 2002. The band embarked on a mini-tour of Geelong and
the coast, culminating in a final show featuring dancers, specials guests
and more.
Soon after this, Lee
left for Perth, W.A. to pursue jazz studies at WAPA though returned
home every six months for some showcase gigs and later, to lay vocals down for the second HCS album (see below). She is now an established, independent singer/songwriter based in Tasmania. Her replacement was long-term friend of the band, Nadine Joy.
Hot
Club Swing released their second full-length album Sacré
Cur
in Dec 2004. It featured mostly original compositions as well as some hand
picked jazz standards and even concluded with an intimate duet with Tessa singing La Vie En Rose and Steve on a vintage Gibson electric jazz guitar.
2007 was a huge year as it was time to celebrate the band's 10th birthday!
Two successful shows were staged in Torquay and Brunswick with a plethora
of guests, dancers and giveaways.
New Year's Day 2008 saw the rhythm guitar role handed over to Matt Kenneally,
as Steve James headed north to sunnier life in far north Queensland after
nearly 8 years service. In 2011 the rhythm guitar was again traded, this time to Jeremy
Bourke.
2013 was a milestone for the band with the release of their long-awaited
3rd full-length studio album 'Douce Ambiance'. Recorded over two days
at the Scarecrow Patch in Ceres, this is arguably their best work yet and the first to feature vocalist Nadine Joy and guitarist Jeremy Bourke.
2017 was another milestone: the 20th anniversary of the band! To commemorate, some intimate shows with limited tickets were held, including special guests and friends on stage to have some fun and celebrate.
Guest
musicians featured through the years have been David Lord (clarinet),
Michael Barnes (clarinet), Zac Barter (bass), Rod Gear (double bass), Rob Turner (violin), Tamil
Rogeon (violin), Josie Scott (vocals), Sean Loughran (stand-up kit).
The band continues to play jazz clubs, festivals etc as well as professional functions and private events.
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