Big Jay McNeely
He may have turned 81 in April, but there is no hint of stopping US born Big Jay McNeeley from touring Australia and bringing audiences to their feet the whole time he is on stage.
Touted as a mentor to members of the VPs - Big Jay McNeeley has featured on the bands first CD (I’ve Got News for You) which features a track dedicated to the maestro of jazz written by the band leader Adam Hall, The Day Big Jay Came to Town.
For 50 years the famous Californian tenor saxophonist Cecil "Big Jay" McNeely has been heralded as the king of the honkers and he’s still going strong.
The combination of one of WA’s top bands and Big Jay will set New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia rocking as the group tours the three centres for their first interstate tour season in October and November.
“The VPs are looking forward to touring with Big Jay and taking our music to Melbourne,” Adam Hall said.
Adam Hall and the Velvet Playboys are a six piece Perth band dedicated to the performance of exciting live shows.
“Our mix of Jazz, Blues, Jump and old time Rock’n’Roll should appeal to a wide audience and the added sparkle of Big Jay will add an extra element of the 50s and 60s,” Adam said.
Adam Hall went to the United States last year and met up with his mentor in July – the two played a few gigs together in local jazz clubs.
“To have the opportunity to play and hear Big Jay is something that all jazz blues followers should experience – he’s a sensational entertainer and is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down,” Adam said.
The Velvet Playboys feature six of Western Australia’s finest musicians Adam Hall/Trumpet, Vocal, Tim Forster/Tenor Sax, Mike Cartwright/Trombone, Len Whittle/Piano, Ben Franz/Bass and Joe Whittle/Drums.
