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 Jazzlab the 10 piece band is joined by long time collaborator and superb vocalist Julie O’Hara.

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.

The Pearly Shells are (with occasional variation, depending on the night):

Monique diMattina – piano/vocals

Dai Jones – guitar

Steve Purcell – double bass

Dean Hilson – tenor sax

Rob Glaesemann – tenor sax

Aaron Searle – baritone sax

Paul Coyle – trumpet

Wes Mowson – trombone

Eamon McNelis – trumpet

Gavin Gray – drums