The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra

Formed around the turn of the century by double bassist Steve Purcell as a Count Basie style dance band, The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra has evolved over more than 15 years to become a unique Melbourne musical institution with an enormous repertoire of original charts and ties through out Melbourne's musical universe.

The Pearly Shells mix their own arrangements of 40's and 50's big band music with Jump Blues, Swing Jazz, RnB, Boogie Woogie and Latin styles and play it all with the drive and enthusiasm the music demands and deserves.

For this performance at Jazz Lab the 10 piece band is joined by long time collaborator and superb vocalist Julie O'Hara as well as modern day Vaudevillian Hayley Hoopla and her Hoola hoops!

The programme will include music by Ellington, Basie ,Goodman, Ray Charles, Louie Jordan, Billy Holiday, Ella Johnson, Xavier Cugat as well as Pearly's songs from their 7 studio albums.

Dave Allardice - piano
Dai Jones - guitar
Gavin Gray - drums
Steve Purcell - double bass
Dean Hilson - tenor sax
Rob Glaesemann - tenor sax
Adam Simmons - baritone sax
Paul Coyle - trumpet
Wes Mowson - trombone
Eamon McNelis - trumpet
Julie O'Hara - vocals
and Hayley hoopla - Hoola hoops