Wendy Murray - vocals
Wendy Murray
Wendy Murray - singer, songwriter, dancer and instrumentalist - dedicated her life to music many years ago, and has made her career in Brisbane as both performing artist and teacher. Currently the lead singer and driving force behind Latin jazz band Hot Mambo and jazz/funk/blues outfit The Wendy Murray Quintet, she has also performed around Brisbane in a variety of settings. Her voice is deep, warm and rich as honey, adapting effortlessly to the mood of the moment – from the sultry soulfulness of the torch song to the sizzling energy of Cuban salsa. She graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2000 and in 2001 she undertook a study tour of Cuba to learn traditional song, dance and culture. Ever broadening her horizons, she is currently studying Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) and traditional Japanese music. She has been dancing since childhood, mastering a variety of styles including regional and classical Spanish, modern, jazz and dance drama. Wendy’s natural rhythm adds a dynamic stage presence to her performances in Hot Mambo’s live shows.
Louise Denson - piano, MD, back vocals.
Louise Denson
Louise has been active on the music scene in Brisbane and surrounds since her arrival in 1999 to teach at the Queensland Conservatorium Jazz Department. She holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied with such greats as Paul Bley and George Russell. Louise has performed at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Valley Jazz Festival and Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival with her own group. Louise’s playing and compositional style has been heavily influenced by Latin music, and has contributed several original tunes to Hot Mambo's repertoire. For more information about Louise, visit her personal website at: www.louisedenson.com
Jeremy O'Connor - bass
Jeremy O'Connor
With a Bachelor in jazz bass, Jeremy studied with heavy-weights, Helen Russell and Jon Diamond at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. He has been playing on the Brisbane scene for over 10 years with bands such as Hot Mambo, Scat and Honey and has toured the world extensively with these groups. His jazz band, Scat, won an American Gospel Music Award for their album 'Live at The Healer' and they completed a tour of the USA and UK in 2005. More recently, Jeremy was involved with the 2005 'Ten Tenors' tours around Australia and Germany. Jeremy sites Marcus Miller, Victor Wooden and John Patitucci as his main bass-playing influences.
Clint Allen - trumpet
Clint Allen
Clint holds a Masters of Music (trumpet performance) degree from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and performs regularly in a variety of classical, jazz, chamber and experimental music settings. He has led a varied musical life performing hundreds of concerts with Buzz (Musica Viva) around Australia, performing at major music festivals with hip-hop outfit Resin Dogs (Big Day Out, Splendour In The Grass), recording television commercials and Sony PlayStation soundtracks, directing the Zappa/Bjork Big Band, experimental electro-acoustic music recitals (Sympatico), contemporary operas (NORPA and Barry Conyham) and numerous other orchestral and contemporary music projects. Clint also is a regular recording artist in Brisbane appearing on various projects including the Resin Dog’s album's 'More' (2007) and ' Hi-Fidelity Dirt' (2003) and the acclaimed Butterfingers album 'The Deeper You Dig' (2006). He has received numerous Australian Arts Council and Queensland Arts grants to implement contemporary music programs, and was awarded a 2011 Churchill Fellowship to travel to Europe to work with leading practitioners specifically involved in the creation of confluent/crossover music.
Scott Griffiths - sax/flute
Scott Griffiths
Scott holds a Masters in Music from the University of Adelaide, where he was named as the most outstanding postgraduate student. He also received a Helpmann Academy Award (1997) to study in the USA. Whilst overseas, Scott performed various in shows in Las Vegas and L.A working with such acts as Wayne Newton, Frankie Avalon, Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Joe Williams. More recently, he has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Kenny Rogers, James Morrison and David Campbell. He has been a lecturer in saxophone at the Queensland Conservatorium, University of Adelaide and the University of Nevada, and is currently the Director of Woodwind at Brisbane Grammar School.
Trent Bryson-Dean - drums
Trent Bryson-Dean
"I will be ever grateful for a mum who saw my incessant tapping as my wanting to play drums and not violin!" remarks Trent. Never having studied formally, Trent has always considered himself a student of music. His influences are as diverse as Chick Corea, John Scofiled and Keith Jarrett all the way through to Led Zeppelin, Living Colour and the Dave Matthews Band, Trent loves it all. "My favourite drummers are Vinnie Colaiuta, Jack Dejohnette, Bill Stewart, Zach Danziger and Dennis Chambers to name but a few!" Trent has performed as a subbing drummer throughout the Brisbane music scene for the last six years, and performs regularly with Hot Mambo and the Chris Poulsen Trio.
Yenni Barnes - percussion
Yenni is a Latin percussionist currently studying at Qld Conservatorium, Brisbane who is well versed in rhythms of Latin and South America. Based on the Gold Coast, Qld, Yenni has backed Vanetta Fields, Debbie Burns, Vince Maloney, Peter Allen, Danny La Rue and Normie Rowe in such venues as Seagulls (Gold Coast), Twin Towns (Tweed Heads), Jupiters Casino (Gold Coast) and the Treasury Casino (Brisbane). Performance highlights include the Opening concert for Brisbane EXPO, Opening concert for QPAC (Brisbane), Opening concert for Gold Coast Convention Centre and the Closing concert for Cloudland (Brisbane).
Carlos & Ellie - dancers
Carlos and Ellie
Hot Mambo collaborates with professional Latin dancers from Latin Steps Dance, Carlos Galiano and Ellie Torres, who provide stunning floor shows as well as group dance lessons (salsa, mambo shines, Brazilian samba-reggae, axe, cha cha cha, bachata, merengue, meneitos and reggaeton) that really get the crowd moving!
For more information, see their website at www.latinsteps.com