Description
Chasing the Moon performing live in Sydney
by Franny Cowap
TN154 Feb 23
Chasing the Moon returns to the stage at Foundry616 in Ultimo, NSW, on Saturday, February 25 https://foundry616.com.au and at Leichhardt Bowlo (leichhardtbowlingclub.com.au) on Saturday, April 1.(2023)
Inspired by the romantic and exuberant sounds of Gypsy Swing and European jazz, the band will be cooking up a feast of heart thumping swing, Latin, soulful blues and modern sounds.
With a rich palette of instruments to draw on, the solos pass from one player to another allowing each member a chance to shine.
Chasing the Moon is led by vocalist and violinist Kathy Bluff, along with saxophone and flute player, Paul Burjan.
The two musicians have a rapport informed by many years of playing music together.
Kathy Bluff delivers her distinctive style of soulful vocals and swinging jazz violin, balancing melody and harmony with Burjan’s saxophone and flute.
Well respected Sydney guitarist, John Blenkhorn provides the rhythmic pulse as well as beautiful solos played with flair and detail.
That essential Parisian ambience comes with the piano accordion of Garry Steel, an engaging and gifted musician.
The rhythmic groove is provided by Merv Sequiera on double bass and the versatile and creative drummer, Mike Quigley.
This is a band of high calibre musicians playing with passion.
There is a magic that happens with a group like this, who play together regularly and develop that intuitive sense of each other’s approach, the ability to follow whatever musical thread is offered up, add to it and then take it somewhere else.
The group becomes an organic whole, the sum of the parts and all the diverse musical experiences that each player brings to the mix.
The shows will include songs and tunes from the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Rheinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, as well original numbers, referencing European, Latin music and swing sounds.
The repertoire includes Latin style Milongas and French Musettes, soulful ballads, and perhaps a Leonard Cohen song or two.
Chasing the Moon has released 2 CD’s, ‘Nuages’ and ‘Ooh La La’ which have both received airplay on ABC Jazz, ABC Radio Sydney, 2MBSFM, Eastside Radio and a number of regional stations.
They have also performed at Illawarra, Newcastle, Dubbo, Moruya and Wagga Jazz festivals and perform regularly in the Sydney region.
The CD ‘Ooh La La’ was recently reviewed by Tony Smith in Trad and Now Magazine where he said, “Their evocation of gypsy swing, cool blues, and continental jazz styles is peerless among Australian groups.
“The quality of the arrangements, the virtuosity of the instrumentalists, and Kathy Bluff’s vocals are simply outstanding.”
