Change of date for Bennett's Lane Gig - 14-July-2010
We will now be performing on the 24th July, NOT the 17th July. See you then!
Review of "Use the Force" Julie O'Hara sextet, by Ron Jobe VJC - 29-June-2010
Late last year, through attending the VJC's Classic Jazz Party, many of our jazz friends were given the opportunity to hear Julie and her secxtet perform a variety of music that is not often heard at the jazz club. With Julie's talent and personality, coupled with the excellence of her backing musicians, all of whom have performed at different times at the VJC, the group received a very enthusiatic response from those present.
The CD is an extension of that gig.
Julie has an exceptionally clear and melodic voice which is complimented by a decided twinkle in her eye - a combination which completely captivates her audience. On this recording she displays her versatility with a wide range of numbers and styles.
With the first track - Solid by Sonny Rollins, she substitutes her own lyrics which work as if they were from the original composition. She does the same with the Randy Weston composition Hi Fly, with similarly good results.
As a further extension of her talent, she features three of her compositions - Ice Cold, Where did all the music go? and Doin' it solo, and again, there is certainly no lack of quality. Julie also adds to her repertoire a selection of standards to further showcase her versatility - such numbers as Come Rain or Come Shine, I fall in Love too Easily, Beautiful Love, Angel Eyes and Sammy Cahn's I fall in Love Too Easily.
One fascinating feature of her actual presentation is her way of taking liberties with the actual melodies as she stamps her own interpretation on them - it certainly works for me!
To elaborate on the backing musicians - I never cease to be impressed by Eamon McNelis' trumpet work. I last saw him at the VJC's Louis Armstrong night and he was certainly holding his own alongside Peter Gaudion. Having just two person front line, tenor saxophonist,Carlo Barbaro is an excellent support and team member, proving that they are familiar with each others' work and make a good double act. The "engine room" is youngish in age, but with all their experiance, manage to round out very nicely this every capable team. I have absolutely no problems with this stylish group and can confidently state that our music is in very good hands for the coming years". Ron Jobe
Welcome to the world! - 31-January-2010
To our beautiful twin boys, Eldon Raymond & Gibson Patrick Baylor, born 13th October, 2009, we love you!
B # Big Band Debut CD, 'Bounce!', now available. - 31-January-2010
After six years of performing for dancers and music lovers of the swingtime era, the B#Big Band, has recorded a CD full of swinging tunes called, 'Bounce!'.
It features a stellar line up of Melbourne musicians and vocalists, Julie O'Hara, Frank Benedetto, Fiona Thorn and trombonist, Ben Gillespie.
To purchase visit www.trybooking.com and go to the B#BigBand debutCD 'Bounce!'.
If you mention 'O'Hara',you will receive a discount.
For other ordering & payment options, visit www.bsharpbigband.com
CD review The Australian, Sept 2009 - 30-September-2009
JAZZ
Use the Force
Julie O'Hara Sextet
Newmarket
MELBOURNE vocalist Julie O'Hara has put together a diverse album including her own songs, her lyrics to a couple of jazz instrumentals, several standards and interpretations from contemporary pop. O'Hara's vocals are imbued with a strong jazz feel with eloquent phrasing, melodic variations and rhythmic expression. There's plenty of space for inventive solos from the quintet of fine Melbourne musicians, notably from Ben Winkelman on piano and Carlo Barbaro's tenor sax. O'Hara's two vocalese pieces work well: Sonny Rollins's Solid includes some tricky fast passages and Randy Weston's Hi Fly features Eamon McNelis on swinging trumpet. Of the standards, Come Rain or Come Shine stands out for its strong pulse pushed along by tenor sax and piano and underpinned by a bass and drum groove from Leigh Barker and Edward York. The Police's Walking on the Moon translates well in O'Hara's jazz arrangement, but Cold Chisel's Janelle sounds like a trad steal from St James Infirmary and Soundgarden's Blackhole Sun is a song with insufficient substance for its treatment here.
John McBeath
'Use the force', Julie O'Hara Sextet CD Available now. - 12-August-2009
'Use the Force' - New Album Release by the Julie O'Hara Sextet
To purchase a digital download of the album or to purchase a hard copy from within or outside Australia (paypal or cheque/money order AUD), please click on link on welcome page or visit www.julieohara.com.au
Julie O'Hara Sextet
Julie O'Hara on vocals
Ben Winkelman on piano
Leigh Barker on Bass
Edward York on drums
Eamon McNelis on trumpet
Carlo Barbaro on tenor Saxophone
The Julie O'Hara Sextet's new release, 'Use the force', features bebop, vocalese, standards, original compositions and some unique arrangements of contemporary tunes. The band formed in 2007 to present Julie O'Hara's vocalese project, featuring her original lyrics to instrumental compositions and solos by Jazz masters of the 30's, 40's and 50's, including Dizzie Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Randy Weston, Blue Mitchell, Lee Morgan and many more.
While waiting patiently for record companies to grant permission to record these vocalese versions, the band decided to release a CD featuring a taste of vocalese amongst other compositions that have been performed at gigs and festivals over the past few years.
The album was recorded on one fine day at Newmarket studios by engineer, Ben Hurt, who Julie worked with when recording Papermoon and Midnight Sun with Sydney violinist and vocalist, George Washingmachine.
There's a strong sense of freedom and trust within the arrangements and some interesting song choices, including Walking on the Moon by the Police, Janelle by Don Walker (as recorded by Cold Chisel) and Blackhole Sun by Chris Cornell from Soundgarden. Other more familiar and traditional standard choices include Beautiful Love, Angel Eyes and Come Rain or come shine. A prolific lyricists and composer, O'Hara includes several originals on the album which cover bebop, bossa and a Fats Waller style blues.
Julie O'Hara is a highly rhythmic singer who enjoys allowing the heart to guide her phrasing choices in the ways of old, never quite knowing how or where it will end up. There are moments on the album where you can hear her respond melodically and rhythmically to the ideas being played around her by the band, which gives the CD a very 'live' feel. Definitely not a vocalist who wants the CD to be just about the vocals, but rather regards the voice as another instrument, which in combination with the rest of the band, makes it's own contribution. This allows the very talented musicians within the ensemble the chance to express themselves and as a result, some of the soloing on this album is quite breathtaking in it's soulfulness, inventiveness and skill.
After listening to this album, certain tracks resonate within your heart and mind for some time after.
Whether you are a jazz lover or not, you should enjoy this album, featuring a stellar group led by a very experianced jazz singer.
Judging by the cover art, with O'Hara in a red kimono wielding a light saber, this is a band leader who obviously takes music seriously but wants herself and her band to enjoy themselves in the process.
The Julie O'Hara Sextet have enjoyed being well received at music and jazz festivals around the country and have been regular performers at Melbourne's premier jazz venue, Bennett's Lane Jazz Club.
Look out for their Vocalese project album, due for release in 2010. Until then, enjoy 'Use the Force'.
Copies are available for purchase and downloading at www.julieohara.com.au
contact Julie O'Hara Sextet email: info@julieohara.com
Allaboutjazz magazine, New York . Melbourne International Jazz Festival - 15-June-2009
by: Laurence Donahue-Green
Copyright: AllAboutJazz, New York 2007
Of the plethora of vocalists (from McNulty to Aussies Elana Stone and Janet Seidel), Julie O'Hara was undoubtedly the stand-out. At Bennett's, listeners waited with baited breath for each turn the vocalist spontaneously took in lyric and scat. Unlike many contemporary jazz vocalists, her scatting is an essential not novel ingredient to her style, as much as her lyrical and highly rhythmic sensibilities. An outstanding singer who brings to mind the glory days of the late Anita O'Day, her approach is as if she were an instrument herself (much like another one of today's most promising vocal stars Roberta Gambarini), frequently inserting herself into the horn section, doubling up to blow backing choruses with instrumental prowess. Not surprisingly her vocalese project's repertoire was filled with hornplayer tunes, from Dizzy Gillespie's Birk's Worksﾝ and Groovin Highﾝ to Hank Mobley's, 'Soul Station'," Gigi Gryce's, Minority," Teddy Edwards, 'Nothin' But The Truth," Sonny Rollins, 'Why Don't I?," and Cannonball Adderley's, "Spontaneous Combustion." Her original lyrics to Jimmy Giuffre's, "Four Brothers", were hysterical (basically about falling in love with four brothers!) and of course musical as ever, speeding up the tempo in the second set of lyrics and culminating with a trading of fours with drummer Edward York before culminating with an a la beyond Brady Bunch lyric:One, Two, Three, Four? Why not make make it Five?!ﾝ Given lyrics to an original instrumental composition commonly compromise the originals tempo and flow, but O'Hara's word selection and horn-like delivery easily communicates and flows a musicality so convincingly and thoroughly that it became easy to forget many of these numbers either never had lyrics or previously had others. The set closer, an of course blazing rendition of Cherokee," featured the entire band: Ben Winkelman (piano), Leigh Barker (bass), Carlo Barbaro (tenor sax) and Eamon McNalis (trumpet) as well as the demanding tempo maintenance provided by York. Everyone on and off stage had a blast that evening, with those offstage clapping and hollering for more encores deep into the night.
For the entire article by Laurence Donahue-Green, please follow this link:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=26209
Review of Julie O'Hara sextet - vocalese project Castlemaine State Festival - 25-April-2009
"Jazz worth every penny"
Review of The Vocalese Project by Ken Turnbull. April 2009
How many jazz fans does it take to make a memorable Maldon moment? Easy a Penny School full.
Last Sunday a capacity audience jumped, bopped and swung to The Vocalese Project presented by the Julie OHara Sextet.
With her perfect pitch, skilful improvising and ego-free style, OHara has carved out a reputation on the Australian and international music scene for high-quality performances that are accessible to everyone.
Her specialty is vocalese, a technique of putting lyrics to well-known compositions and instrumental solos so that they capitalise on the rhythmic and tonal subtlety that emerged in a golden period for jazz particularly after the Second World War.
OHara draws on compositions by jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery and many others.
Vocalese was developed by the American trio of Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross in the 1950s and 1960s.
On Sunday OHara was lifted and transported by her band: Leigh Barker (bass), Edward York (drums), Eamon McNelis (trumpet), Carlo Barbaro (tenor sax) and Chris Sommervelle (piano).
She swapped improvisations with the horn players, teasing them into following her lines. At other times they used harmony or counterpoint in a way that in jazz lingo really cooked.
Barbaro is a big man with a big, swinging sound and an innate feel for the emotional power of the saxophone. McNelis on trumpet well it must be quite something to have so much talent and musical maturity at his relatively young age.
Yorks drumming was complex, subtle and swinging, in sync with Barkers groovy bass lines. Sommervelle laid down staccato bebop chords then took the lead with flowing and melodic right-hand inventions, occasionally employing exciting octave phrases.
The musicians were thrilled by the turnout. Theres nothing like a full house to get the creative juices flowing and encourage a bit of risk-taking, which in this case paid off handsomely.
This event was part of the Castlemaine State Festival, and the Penny School proved to be an excellent venue for jazz of this quality. The enthusiastic audience response certainly indicated a desire for more.
Recordings available soon - 04-December-2008
'All in the one room', all original compositions, performed recently at Queenscliffe Festival and the Spiegeltent, featuring Ben Winkelman on piano, Leigh Barker on bass, Eamon McNelis on trumpet and Kelsey James and Julie O'Hara on vocals with some special guests. A dash of latin, laced with pop and infused with jazz...
Julie O'Hara sextet - 'vocalese project'
O'Hara has written original lyrics to instrumental tunes and horn solos, in the spirit of vocalese. Featured composers include: Lee Morgan, Dizzie Gillespie, Hank Mobley, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Blue Mitchell, Cannonball Adderley. Recent performances at the Wagarratta Jazz Festival 2008 and Bennett's Lane Jazz Club.
Band line up: Ben Winkelman on piano, Leigh Barker on bass, Eamon McNelis on trumpet, Carlo Barbaro on tenor saxophone, Edward York on drums, Julie O'Hara on vocals.
Touring Denmark Jazz Festivals, 2009 - 22-September-2008
We are very happy to announce our plans to travel to Denmark in 2009 to perform at the Riverboat Jazz Festival in Silkeborg and Femu jazz festival, with other festivals and dates to be revealed over the coming months.
The band line up will feature a blend of Australian and Danish musicians. The Australian musicians confirmed are: Vocalist, Julie O'Hara
Clarinetist/vocalist, Chris Tanner
Guitarist/vocalist, Peter Baylor.
Stay tuned for more information.
Bring on the Danish summer and Danish audiences!! Tak!
All About Jazz Magazine, New York. CD Review of Smoke Rings (2007) & Papermoon (2004), by Suzanne Lorge 2007 - 02-April-2007
Julie O'Hara: ...Paper Moon & Smoke Rings
Published: March 3, 2007
By Suzanne Lorge
To read the article and check out the All About Jazz Magazine web site and other articles, visit http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=24780
George Washingmachine/Julie O'Hara
'Paper Moon' New Market Music
Julie O'Hara 'Smoke Rings'
JOH
2006
On Australia-based singer Julie OHaras two recent releases, ...Paper Moon and Smoke Rings, she and her cohorts present themselves as a convivial bunch and their varied output suffers not a bit for the whimsy.
Maintaining composure might have proved difficult beside a fellow with the name George Washingmachine, but O'Hara is always well-modulated and in control, even when she and Washingmachine go head to head on their solos. Washingmachine is hardly mere comic relief; he plays a mean violin and applies his smokey baritone dextrously as both a backup and lead singer. Their precise, laid-back rhythmic understanding is accentuated by Andy Ross driving basslines, Ben Johnsons graceful piano and Lyn Wallis responsive drumming, giving the disc a retrobut very hipfeel.
Besides some classics like Anything Goes and a moderate Everything Happens To Me - there are some surprises, like If I Only Had A Brain from The Wizard Of Oz. OHara and Washingmachine each contribute an original: The latters clever Pretty As A Picture and the formers bright uptempo Jump Up Swing It . Washingmachine also created the CDs cover art: a group of six musicians cutting up beneath an oversized yellow moon, clearly having a good time.
On Smoke Rings, a casual read of the song titles incorrectly suggests a more traditional vocal jazz CD. The treatment of these standard tunes is anything but predictable: OHara and her polished rifftet move adroitly among so many different styles that its a challenge to categorize the tunes. On the title cut, for instance, OHara breaks the country blues feel with a sophisticated scat, Chris Tanner adds rococo, prebop clarinet and guitarist Peter Baylor (also on ...Paper Moon) interjects some hearty blues licks.
Baylor and Tanner lock harmonies with OHara on Squeeze Me , whoop the chorus in Nat King Coles Lets Make More Love and Tanners clarinet leads on two instrumental cuts, Clarinet Marmalade and Lester Youngs Tickle-Toe . OHaras rhythm section - Mark Elton (bass) and Raj Jayaweera (drums) - also deserves as much credit for the discs success.
Paper moons and smoke rings, like whimsy, are ephemera that soon evaporate. OHara and her bands musical savvy is anything but illusory, however.
Tracks and Personnel
...Paper Moon
Tracks: It's Only A Paper Moon; Indian Summer; You Always Hurt The One You love; Lover Come Back To Me; If I Only Had A Brain; Lazy Bones; Anything Goes; Pretty As A Picture; If I could Be With You; Three Bears; I'll Get By; Moon Glow; Jump Up swing It; Little White Lies; Everything Happens To Me; Just You, Just Me.
Personnel: Julie O'Hara: vocals; George Washingmachine: violin, vocals; Ben Johnson: piano; Peter Baylor: guitar; Lyn Wallis: drums; Andy Ross: bass..
Smoke Rings
Tracks: I Hear Music; Body & Soul; On The Bumpy Road To Love; Living In A Dream; Clarinet Marmalade; Let's Make More Love; Smoke Rings; Stardust; Blues Stay Away; From This Moment On; Lullaby in Rhythm; Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me); Tickle-Toe.
Personnel: Julie O'Hara: vocals; Peter Baylor: guitar, vocals; Chris Tanner: clarinet, vocals; Mark Elton: acoustic bass; Raj Jayaweera: drums.
Suzanne Lorge is a singer and writer/editor living in Manhattan.
This article first appeared in All About Jazz: New York.
Julie O'Hara Rifftet - 'Smoke Rings' CD review , The Age - 05-July-2006
Smoke Rings
Ken Williams, Reviewer
June 30, 2006
rating: ***/4
Jazz quintet Julie O'Hara Rifftet deliver scintillating interplay between members.
Smoke Rings: scintillating.
Artist: Julie O'Hara Rifftet
Genre: Jazz/Blues
Label: independent
As you read this, the Julie O'Hara Rifftet will be making fun in the midnight sun. This swinging set by the Melbourne jazz quintet was recorded to accompany a tour to Denmark.
O'Hara's vocals, at once cool and sultry, focus the ensemble of Peter Baylor (guitar, vocals), Chris Tanner (clarinet, vocals), Mark Elton (bass) and Raj Jayaweera (drums). The interplay is scintillating, O'Hara, Baylor and Tanner sparring and dancing around the rhythm section. As Tanner soars, Baylor dips and O'Hara answers with inventive scatting.
A snapshot? Perhaps Anita O'Day in consort with Oscar Moore. The album opens on a high note - I Hear Music, from a long-forgotten 1940 musical, Dancing on a Dime. Then follow standards such as Body and Soul, Stardust (Tanner takes a charming vocal lead) and From This Moment On, with an edge-of-the-seat scat vocal-drum dialogue.
Blues Stay Away From Me, the Delmore Brothers' bluesy country croon, fits beautifully into Rifftet's evocation of 1940s nightclub ambience. O'Hara's original, Living in a Dream, passes muster amid the work of Porter, Carmichael and Ellington.
NY Cadence Magazine Review of "Papermoon", March 2005 p.122 - 23-February-2006
GEORGE WASHINGMACHINE & JULIE O'HARA, PAPERMOON, NEWMARKET 3158
Washingmachine, vcl, vin;O'Hara, vcl; Peter baylor, g;Ben Johnson, p; andy Ross, b; Lyn Wallis, d; Melbourne, Australia
"Features lovely vocal duets and solo Trad Jazz interpretations by George Washingmachine and Julie O'Hara. Backed by rhythm guitar, walking bass, a sparkling piano and a swinging drummer, the duo relaxes in a session filled with fun. He lends an expressive male voice to the program, as she provides complementary harmony; they share lead vocal roles. Together, both singers have fun in a reserved manner, while bringing back memories of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Jack Teagarden, and more. Washingmachine also lends his violin solos and fills to the performance, giving it a picturesque lift. Both singers fit wordless vocal choruses in comfortably. From New Orleans, on up to the Mississippi and halfway around the world, this veteren vocal pair takes it all in stride. They're at ease with their roles. In several places, Washingmachine sings wordless vocals an octave below his violin melody in a manner recalling Slam Stewart, providing a unique thrill. O'Hara swings hard on "Three Bears" with vocalese banter and poignant lyrics. Her original with guitarist Peter Baylor, "Jump Up, Swing It", captures an even Jump Blues rhythmic atmosphere that never quits. The mood remains leisurely and relaxed through-out.
"Moonglow" summarizes the duo's consonant vocal charm to a tee, with it's flowing melody and pleasant aura......
The program stars two perfectly matched and lovable singers, and comes highly recommended for lovers of Trad Jazz and Swing."
Julie O'Hara Rifftet to tour Denmark Festivals, 2006 - 07-February-2006
Julie O'Hara Rifftet will be performing at various clubs and festivals around Denmark from June 16th - July 12th, 2006. The band features an all star Melbourne Line up including Peter Baylor (guitar), Chris Tanner (clarinet), Mark Elton (double bass) & Raj Jayaweera (drums). The band will also feature Danish and Australian guests.
The band plays original arrangements of trad & swing jazz tunes and will feature some original material. As Tanner & Baylor both sing with their own bands, Julie features them as solo singers and also as partners in harmony, performing vocal arrangements reminiscent of the Mills Brothers. Plenty of spontaneous riffing - they like to riff.
The band's CD, "Smoke Rings", will be available at festivals, via this website and from some music stores in Copenhagen.
The band are looking forward to returning to this jazz friendly country, where music is a perfect accompaniment to the summer weather and fine tasting Tuborg beer!
Check this website for further details on performance venues, dates & times.
