Members
Jason Burns – kora, kamel n’gon
About 20 years ago Jason Burns returned to Australia after a decade and a half first driving Peugeot 404s across the Sahara and selling them to become taxis, then toiling as a subsistence farmer and raising two children while studying under kora masters in West Africa. Once back in Australia, he began meeting with friends to play music and drink Palm Wine.
Phoebe Jacobs – vocals
“A genuine artist and performer. She sings beautifully and is not afraid to try things differently”
James Mangohig, Skinnyfish Productions
Known for her deep, expressive vocals and vibrant melisma, Phoebe Jacobs fuses together modern soul and melodic pop.
The Melbourne born songwriter, now located on the Gold Coast, weaves metaphors into stories of the heart. Peppered with compelling raw vocal power, her emotional presence celebrates melancholia with layered harmonies and dreamy shifting melodies.
Her independently released debut album ‘Eye Of The Storm’ is a soul/blues romp recorded with Damien Charles (the Red Eyes/Goyte). She toured the album solo around Europe playing an array of shows, from intimate concerts in bars such as The Troubadour to the wild wonder of Glastonbury Festival.
She has shared the stage and collaborated with some of the world’s finest, including Moju, Hiatus Kaiyote, Tex Perkins, Ani DiFranco and most recently Triple J unearthed winner JK47 on his single ‘I am here (trust me)’ and collaboration with world renowned dance producer Cheshire on soul anthem ‘Hope.’
Her live performances are captivating and unpredictable, involving elements of theatre and fire. She is currently working on a second solo release for 2022.
Parissa Bouas – Vocals
“Parissa … immediately engages by being blessed with a voice that has timbral overlaps with Billie Holiday’s. More significantly she shines the charm off that voice on some exceptional self-penned songs”
JOHN SHAND, SMH
Multi award winning, Greek Australian chanteuse, ex The Hottentots, PARISSA BOUAS is shut-the-front-door DYNAMITE! Like a blend of Carmen Miranda, Billy Holiday and Madeleine Peyroux but completely herself at the same time. Seduced at an early age by the passion and rhythms of Latin American and African music, these influences come through in her song writing. Her sultry, seductive vocals and moody, Gypsy Jazz originals are juxtaposed with sublime Brazilian inspired melodies and swing those hips Calypso tunes.
Parissa has won a legion of fans and respect for her performances around the world with Australia’s definitive coffee house couple, The Hottentots. After six internationally acclaimed albums, a swag of accolades and years of performing, writing and recording in folk /world music styles, PARISSA is now expanding into the Vintage jazz, Latin Jazz and alt Pop path.
Her debut solo CD, “The Full Force of the Wind” won the Song of the Year, Best Jazz and Best World Music @ NCEIA Awards.
James Pattugalan – Kit drum
Experienced Professional Musician with a demonstrated history of working in the music industry. Skilled in Audio Recording Sessions, Music Composition, Songwriting, Rhythm Tuition and Performing Arts.
Strong arts and music professional with a Diploma in Communication and Media from Canberra Institute of Technology and a Diploma in Jazz Studies from Canberra School of Music.
Rod Coe – Double Bass
After 28 years working with Slim Dusty as Producer, Bass Player and Bandleader Rod moved to the Northern Rivers, where he now plays with several local bands.
With a diversity of experience, including touring with “Chuck Berry’, ‘Albert Lee’, ‘Macca’, ‘Mental As Anything’, as well as working with a Who’s Who of CM artists, like Kasey Chambers, Anne Kirkpatrick, Group Casser-Daley, he also produced ‘The Saints’ legendary first album.
Ben Ganly – Keys
Ben Ganly started playing piano at the age of five, learning the “Suzuki method” which involved learning to play classical pieces of music by ear. After years of playing and developing a classical repertoire he later studied Jazz and Popular music.and then went on to play and write music with several original bands that would incorporate styles ranging from Jazz, Latin Jazz, Hip Hop, Trip Hop, Reggae and Funk.
He has performed at music festivals across Australia including Woodford Folk festival, Island Vibe Festival and Womadelaide.
Elliott Orr – djembe, calabash, hand percussion
Widely respected as the leading proponent of African drumming in Queensland, Elliott has been beating skins and encouraging others to do the same since 1991! Having moved from Adelaide to Brisbane in 1994 for the specific purpose of attaining a Griffith University Environmental Science degree, Elliott’s focus gradually shifted such that finishing the degree (with honours) became his part-time occupation while teaching, performing and making African drums became his all- consuming full-time passion.
Elliott spent 4 months in West Africa in 1997 to study under master drummers of the traditional form. This intense training in Ghana and the Ivory Coast of West Africa instilled in Elliott a deep understanding of the cultural context of African drumming, and has allowed him to bring the vibrant energy of this culture to the Australian community.
Over the last 24 years Elliott has taught somewhere in the vicinity of 30,000 people how to play African drums through regular weekly workshops with adults in the community, school groups and with corporations and numerous organisations. These classes have occurred throughout Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand.
He also performs regularly with groups Spankinhide, Ganga Giri, Yeshe, the Palm Wine Ambassadors as well as numerous project-based groups. With these groups Elliott has performed in a multitude of venues and situations including for BEMAC, at the Brisbane Powerhouse, the Judith Wright Centre and at many festivals, including Woodford, Qld Music festival, Island vibe etc.
Steve Nugent – boogarubu, cajon, guiro, bells & whistles
Steve brings over 35 years experience in African and Latin percussion. He has worked with Epizo Bangoura, John Paul Wobati, Hector de Satiago and Chris Berry to name a few.
GUEST ARTISTS OFTEN INCLUDE:
Azo Bell (former member and leader of The Old Spice Boys)
Chris Chandler (former member)