Accompanying Artists and Friends
 Leigh
Carriage - vocalist
Leigh is one of Australia's leading contemporary jazz vocalists.
Leigh’s singing is both masterful and passionate. Her repertoire,
including many of her own compositions, is always musically and
lyrically profound, and the transparency and honesty of her communication
ranges from engaging to devastating. She currently holds the position
as head of vocal studies at Southern Cross University, Lismore
Australia, where her expertise in vocal science and music has
gained her an international reputation. Other festival performances
include the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival as well as Brisbane
Jazz Festival 2008, Byron Bay Blues and Roots, Woodford Folk Festival,
Melbourne International Women’s Jazz Festival and Sydney’s
Newport and Manly Festivals and more recently the North Coast
Bangalow Jazz Festival. Leigh's first critically acclaimed CD,
'Until', was released in 2004. In 2006 she released a dynamic
live recording, 'On Impulse', featuring her original compositions
Treading Water, (Baby) I Don't Want You To Go and Going Home. |
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 Greg
Lyon - electric bassist
Greg Lyon is one of Australia’s finest electric bassists,
and in a professional career spanning more than 30 years he has
performed and recorded with a wide range of top artists. Originally
from melbourne, he has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and the
USA. For ten years Greg was one of Sydney's 'first call' basists
and was well known for his work with leading Australian fusion
band "Crossfire". Now living in the Byron Bay area,
he lectures in Bass Studies at Southern Cross University in Lismore.
He continues to perform write and record with a vaiety of artists
in the r&b, jazz and contemporary fields. A fluent reader
and improviser, Greg also sings and plays keyboards and acts as
Musical Director in various situations. Greg's bases include fretted
4 and 5 strings, fretless and acoustic bass guitars.
Some of the artists Greg Lyon has performed and/or recorded with
include:International Artists - Georgie Fame, Ben Sidran, Maria
Muldaur, Elvin Bishop, Norton Buffalo, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’
Brown, Earl King, Jimmy Witherspoon, Jon Cleary, Randy Brecker,
Olivia Newton-John, John Denver
Australian Artists - Crossfire, Renee Geyer, Jim Kelly, John
Farnham, Tommy Emmanuel, Ricky May, Glen Shorrock, Andrew Oh,
Graeme Conners, Marc Hunter, Dale Barlow, Brian Cadd, Doug Parkingson,
Dave McRae and Joy Yates, Jonny Nichol, Kirk Lorange, Elizabeth
Lord and Leigh James, Jo Jo Smith, David Bentley, Dennis Wilson,
John Sangster, Steve Russell.
http://greglyon.com.au |
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 Steve
Russel - pianist, bassist, composer, conductor and educator
Steve Russell is the son of journalist musician Noel Russell
and extraordinary jazz and classical pianist Peg Russell. He has
been playing the piano since he was 4 years old.
In addition to leading his own quintet, Steve is presently a
member of the Jack Thorncroft trio, Jim Kelly's Thrill-seekers,
Sambamenco and Sharny Russell Band. He has performed with a huge
list of Australian and international jazz artists such as: Chrissy
Amphlet, Richie Cole, Georgie Fame, Chuck Findlay, Gerry Mulligan
and Nancy Wilson.
Dale Barlow, Don Burrows, Leigh Carriage, Deborah Conway, Elizabeth
Lord, Phil Emmanuel, Tommy Emmanuel, Roger Frampton, Bob Gebert,
George Grolla, John Hoffman, Jim Kelly, Grace Knight, Joe Lane,
Berne McGann, James Morrison, James Sherlock and Mark Simmonds.
Steve is accompanist of choice for several noted vocalists including
Grace Knight, Jo Jo Smith, Leigh Carriage and Elizabeth Ford.
Steve lives in Byron Bay at the eastern tip of Australia, where
he is Head of Keyboard in Contemporary Music at the School of
Arts at Southern Cross University. |
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 Dave
Sanders - drummer
Dave has performed in many and varied situations across Australia
and internationally. David's ability to cross the boundaries of
genre and style has made him a much sought after drummer and an
asset to many acts within the music industry.
Live performance credits include - pop/rock/R&B: Pete Murray,
The Eurogliders, Thelma Houston, Vanetta Fields, Jo Jo Smith,
Grace Knight, Lisa Hunt, Kirk Lorange, Little Patti, Leonardos
Bride, Acre, The Lovers, Margaret Ulrich, The Drifters and Petula
Clark to name a few.
Jazz/Contemporary jazz/fusion: Don Burrows, George Golla, Jim
Kelly, Jack Thorncroft Trio, Baartz/Freeman Sextet, Steve Russell
Trio, Yates & Dave McRae, Sharny Russell and many others.
He has recorded with Grace Knight, indi country rock band Acre,
Pete Murray and Jo Jo Smith. |
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 Geoff
Wright - guitarist
New North Coast resident Geoff Wright is a guitarist who has
played with some very well known performers - Max Merritt and
the Meteors, Robben Ford, Procul Harem, JJ Cale, Tina Turner,
Joe Calillieri, Ross Wilson, Doug Parkinson, John Farnham, Tina
Arena, Jo Jo Smith and many others.
He is with the Northern Rivers Conservatorium as Head of Guitar
studies passing on the secrets of hte six stringer in full time
courses and community studies lessons.
In 2000 Geoff founded Red Planet Records & Studios. In 2001
he joined Maz Merritt and the Meteors and enjoys stints with Mondo
Rock adn Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. |
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 Tony
Buchanan - saxophone & woodwinds
Tony studied saxophone with Frank Smith in Melbourne, Graham
Lyall in Sydney, Joe Allard, Eddie Daniels and David Leibman in
New York.
His musical career spans more than 35 years. He is a long time
member of Australian fusion band 'Crossfire'. Tony has played
in countless bands and ensembles during his career and is known
to many of his peers as 'The God Father of Sax'
Tony has performed and recorded with musical greats such as:
Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Lee Ritnour, Michael Franks, Ronny
Scott, Maynard Ferguson, Mel Torme, Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Maclaine,
Tubby Hayes, Jo Jo Smith and many others.
Tony has taught saxophone at: Sydney Grammar, Southern Cross
University in Lismore, Conservation of Music in Brisbane, Melbourne
Grammar (boys), Melbourne Grammar (girls), Box Hill Tafe and Victorian
College of the Arts. |
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Dave Ades - alto saxophone |
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 Monica
Weightman
guitarist / singer / songwriter
Monica Weightman is a singer/songwriter from North Queensland
now based in Melbourne.
The combination of Monica's unique husky vocal with her highly
accomplished guitar skills immediately impresses all audiences.
She is highly recommended by such artists as "Nick Charles",
"Totally Gourdgeous" and "Jo Jo Smith" to
name a few. Her versatility and natural soul sees Monica with
a future of great heights in the Music Industry. In the past Monica
has toured with such artists as "Brian Cadd", performed
with "The Seekers", and supported "Lee Kernighan".
Monica's independent debut CD, 'Calm Before The Storm' and her
second album 'Lost Generaion' continues to gain recognition for
its lyrical strengths and her musicianship. It is a melting pot
of interesting acoustic Pop, Folk, Country Blues and Soul, all
of which are masterfully done in Monica's own style.
Monica is a regular performer at the Mansfield Mt-Buller High
County Spring Arts Festival.
See
Monica perform 'Broken Angel' at the World Aids Day at Federation
Square, Melbourne 2006. |
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 Carl
Pannuzzo
A self-taught multi-instrumentalist (voice, piano, drums, guitar,
bass, ukelele, tuned-/percussion and harp), Carl has had twenty
years performance experience in a plethora of guises and styles.
Conversant with many forms of music, he has also tutors in singing,
piano, drums, songwriting and improvisation..
www.carlpannuzzo.com
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 Penny
Larkins
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South of the River love to go out
into the community, and as special guests at Jo Jo Smith’s
CD launch at the Corner Hotel on the 6th of December, audiences
were treated to spine tingling and toe curling renditions of some
of the choirs’ favourite songs from their self titled debut
album, featuring spirited soloists and the amazing harmonies and
rhythms of Africa, Afro-American & traditional gospel, and
original Australian compositions. www.southoftheriverchoir.com |
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 David
Jones - Drummer
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South
of the River Choir - Word Gospel