Music / Blamey Swings Rock, Blamey Street Big Band. At The B, Queanbeyan, May 16. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS.

Featuring a line-up of the cream of Canberra’s jazz musicians and now based in the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Blamey Street Big Band continues to build a formidable following for its classy performances of classic swing band music. 

The band’s point of difference is that rather than confining itself to classic big-band repertoire, Blamey Street specialises in re-inventing popular music genres by applying a swing beat.

Within its number is master music arranger Andrew Hackwill, who exercises his considerable skills by providing the band with testing, if fascinating, musical subversions of familiar hit songs. 

For this concert Blamey Street featured four excellent guest vocalists in Leisa Keen, Jared Newall, Steve Amosa and Ashleigh Harris, each an experienced singer and all obviously relishing a unique opportunity to perform with this polished outfit. 

Newall had the privilege of opening the show with a driving arrangement by Ed Wilson of the John Paul Young classic Love is in the Air. 

Followed by the first Hackwill arrangement of the program, a jaunty version of Joe Jackson’s Stepping Out.

Harris demonstrated her versatility with three Hackwill arrangements commencing with an upbeat version of The Little River Band’s Reminiscing. A playful introduction heralded Lionel Ritchie’s Hello, rounded out with a fascinating swing arrangement of The Rolling Stones hit, Paint It Black.

In devising his arrangements Hackwill makes opportunities to feature solos by particularly gifted instrumental soloists from within the band. Among them Mark Du Rieu and Peter Levan on trumpets, trombonist Bronwen Mackenzie, saxophonists Andrew Hackwill and Joshua Hackwill and guitarist Col Bernau. 

Making his first appearance with Blamey Street was Amosa, well known in Canberra with his own bands TuchaSoul and the Steve Amosa Band. Amosa demonstrated his versatility introducing himself with Nirvana’s grunge rock classic, Smells Like Teen Spirit, followed by a smooth version of Spandau Ballet’s True. He rounded out his set with another Hackwill re-invention, Sherbert’s Howzat. 

Keen could best be described as a staple of the Blamey Street Band. She began her first set with a stunning rendition of Elton John’s Bennie and The Jets, followed by Pink Floyd’s Money and a red-hot version of Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke in which she demonstrated her impressive mastery of vocal scatting.

In the second half she really pulled out the stops with an up-tempo version of the Steve Miller Band’s Abracadabra, Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind, and Hackwill’s sublime arrangement of George Harrison’s Something.

This remarkable ensemble will return to the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre in October when it turns its attention to the music of The Rat Pack.