MIKE NELSON TRIO - Hear the songs in the novel!

Mon 1 Feb 2010 @ 8:00pm

Admission Members $10 Student members $5 Non members $15

Official launch of Mike's book Muso.
SUPERB jazz pianist and composer, Mike Neson has found time to write his first crime thriller, Muso, set in the jazz nightclubs of Perth. What makes this evening of jazz really special is that, as well as jazz standards, you will be hearing two of Mike's original songs which have been woven into the fabric of the book's narrative.

The first, 'Wait And See' is a ballad with a meandering melody and chords which, in the novel, brings the musician a rich learning experience. The second, 'Harlequin' was composed in 1976 and is on Mike's Celebration CD. The lyrics of this song have become the framework of a chapter in the book.

The songs will be sung by the highly versatile Jenny Wrenn who is guest singer tonight with the Mike Nelson Trio, comprised of Mike Nelson (piano), Robbie Pisano (bass) and Bruno Pizzata (drums). Timothy Nelson from the Infidels, will also sing a number. Timothy won WAM Song of the Year in 2007 & 2008. Bob Kuchera, former WA minister for Health, will officially launch the book and Mike will be available to autograph copies.

Mike
Since returning to Perth after four years teaching jazz piano and arranging and composition at the School of Music, ANU Canberra, Mike Nelson has spread his interests across a mix of part-time teaching, gigging, family life and writing. He's an avid reader who has long harboured the desire to write a novel. So for the past five years he has fitted into the daily schedule a time to reflect, type, edit, proof read and finally publish his first novel, Muso.

Jenny
Jenny Wrenn is a singer whose career has been enormously rich and diverse. Heavily influenced by blues and gospel, her repertoire includes bop, standards and originals. She is a founding member of the vocal group, Birdland which accompanied Demis Roussos on his national tour of Australia.
Jenny has been a feature vocalist in a number of Mike's groups over the years and performed two songs on his Celebration album.

She has recorded for national broadcast on Jazz Track, performed as soloist with WASO on a number of occasions, sung in the Playhouse production of Sondheim's Company and with the group Manteca when they were recorded by the ABC in a 10-part TV series.

During the 1970s Jenny returned to her native England and worked as a floor-show artist and studio session singer for several years in London. She has performed at the York Jazz Festival, Australian Jazz Festival (Canberra) accompanied by faculty musicians from the School of Music and sung in a national broadcast from Llewellyn Hall, Canberra for the `Sunday Live' programme. Since returning to Perth Jenny has divided her time between recording sessions, freelance gigs, part-time teaching and recording.

Bruno
Bruno Pizzata (drums) was the drummer on Mike's album Celebration recorded at the ABC in 1989. Bruno and Mike played together for the first time when Bruno aged just 16 jammed with Mike at the Red Garter night club in 1970. Since then he has carved an impressive performance career for himself working regularly with WASO. He has worked with Harry Secombe, Matt Munro, Shirley Bassey, Sammy Davis, Debbie Reynolds, Cilla Black, Aretha Franklin, Ronnie Corbett, Danny La Rue, Eartha Kitt, Cleo Laine, Ronnie Scott, and Ricky May among many others and made a number of international tours. Shows include Fame, Boy From Oz, Disney On Parade, Disney On Ice and many others.

Robbie
Robbie Pisano's working life as a professional muso is typically diverse. From playing regularly in Perth bands led by Paul Millard, Nunzio Mondeo, Sue Bluck or Mike Nelson to playing bass on Rolf Harris' Stairway To Heaven. He has played for many live shows such as 5 Guys Named Moe, Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Blues In The Night with Vanetta Fields. He studied for his jazz Degree at WAAPA in 1984.

The novel Muso is also available from Music Park, 341 Albany Hwy Vic Pk. Tel: 94701020 or online at: www.musicpark.com.au