Gail Page & the Parris Macleod Band

Pugsley Buzzard

Jack Evens

Gail Page & the Parris Macleod Band

Gail simply has one of the biggest voices in the business. Her earth shattering vocals and bubbly personality in combination with the extreme musical talents of Parris Macleod on piano and hammond organ draws immediate attention when performing live and leave the audience with the feeling they have witnessed something very special.

Gail's career started in 1993 when she first met Parris at the Beachcomber Hotel and asked if she could jump up with his band at the time ("The Mix"). Parris was so impressed that after one song he asked her to join the band as the lead singer. Gail continued on for the next two years as the lead singer for the Sunday residential band performing with many of Sydneys finest musicians that joined "The Mix" including Mal Eastick, Kirk Lorange, Gordon Rytmeister, Sunil de Silver, Garry Steel, Paul Green, Andy Atwill, Roby Seracussa, Steve Furnley and many more.

This experience gained her widespread respect as an incredibly promising and powerful blues singer and also a beautiful personality. It is no surprise that when Gail announced she had decided to put aside her music and pursue a new life west of Adalaide in South Australia, this came as a shock to fans and music industry alike.

Fifteen years later Gail visited Parris and asked if he would co-write and produce an album with her. After hearing that amazing voice again Parris agreed and soon after was on the phone gathering together a line up of some of Australia's greatest musicians for the album, some of which were the same musicians that had previously worked with her in the early days. It was to prove easy to assemble the group as they had not forgotten Gail and were excited she was back, so much so that all the musicians on the album offered to perform for her live in the future. This was followed by a recording contract seeing Gail sign with Sunball Records and Project National.

Parris migrated to Australia in 1985 and in 1987, at 19 years of age, he built his first recording studio. Over the past 20 years, and several studios later, he has developed his music and production skills. Today Parris is regarded not only as one of Australia's leading keyboard players, but also well recognised in the industry as a first class recording producer, engineer, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist. He operates his world class Cloud Studios boasting credits in many genres including albums for The Screaming Jets, Troy Cassar Dailey, Doug Parkinson, the Teletubbies, Bluezone, Joe Robinson, Phi Emmanuel, The Choirboys and many more.

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Pugsley Buzzard

Pugsley Buzzard, piano player and singer with a distinctive sound plays funky New Orleans grooves, barrelhouse blues Harlem stride and modern stylings that feature loads of  tantalising improvisations. Pugsley's shows are exciting and captivating at the centre is his huge mesmerizing voice and dazzling piano playing delivered with a vaudevillian nuance and humour.

Pugsley describes himself as "a grizzly bear in a porkpie hat rummaging through a piano." A fascinating character of imposing stature with a rich and raspy blues drenched baritone voice that can make the ladies sigh and and grown men cry. A bone shaking shaman howling the blues and an eccentric raconteur who never fails to entertain and delight his audiences.

Predominantly Pugsley writes his own tunes and interprets classic material which he describes as...'Like putting the head of Count Basie on the body of Liza Minnelli and dressing the resulting creature in a suit of armour, a tutu and a fez." Pugsley performs solo at the piano and with his band as a duo, trio, quartet to larger ensemble formats.

He has a background in avante- garde classical music having played on the new music scene as well as working as a bass player and multi - instrumentalist in rock bands in Perth and Melbourne playing accordion, keyboards, guitar, tenor banjo, trumpet, flugel horn, flute, percussion, harmonica, kazoos and whistles. Pugsley has conducted his own avante- garde chamber orchestra and composed soundtracks for film and theatre. Some years ago he started travelling around Australia and Europe singing and accompanying himself on piano. The response was hugely positive and immediate and Pugsley has been in great demand ever since.

Pugsley has become a festival favourite performing at Jazz, Blues and Roots, Folk Festivals around Australia and overseas. Earlier this year he appeared at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival with sell out performances of his cabaret show "Noir", featuring tunes about vice, gangsters, broads and bordellos. He also thrilled audiences at the Himalayan Blues festival in Kathmandu last year. 

The latest CD " Chicago Typewriter " was selected as ABC radio national album of the week by Tim Ritchie and subsequently picked up by Shock Records for distribution  in Australia and New Zealand. The album features 17 tracks of mostly solo piano and vocal treatments of stride, boogie, and r and b classics as well as a smattering of original tunes and the addition of a drummer on a few tracks.  The title track, an original 'I'm gonna write you a letter with my Chicago typewriter" is a violent and rollicking prohibition era gangster love song reminiscent of a heavily armed Jellyroll Morton. Complete with a drum solo featuring  monkeyskulls and pistol shots. Pugsley produced a video to accompany this track which can be viewed on Youtube. Chicago Typewriter features compositions by artists such as Fats Waller, Nina Simone, Louis Jordan and Mose Ellison.

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Jack Evans

Jack Evans is a Sydney based guitarist and composer. He's spent many years honing his skills and craft through constant live performance and recording projects. A trusted and much loved sideman, Jack has added his remarkable playing to many other artists' sessions and live shows. A true fixture of the Sydney scene, the mention of Jacks name among musicians always radiates a warm smile. This is due not only to his dedication to the cause, but also the lasting friendship he brings to all musical environments. The studio can be a stressful world at times, yet Jack is forever ready with lucid ideas and a serene presence.

Jack's greatest strengths are beautiful melodies and complete invention. From this basis the songs can, and do, travel far a field. In soloing terms this translates to unexpected twists and turns, reminiscent of the giants of guitar playing. Listen, enjoy and be converted.

A truly gifted musician

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