Their 10 piece "Little Big Band" has a style and look reminiscent of the Golden Age of Ellington, Basie and Goodman, from the "wall of horns" sound right down to the Hollywood style, luminescent clam-shell stands. They will provide your event with all the big band swing music from long ago.
The Pearly Shells play their own arrangements of the Big Band Classics. Audiences love their unique ability to leave the music behind and "riff-out" when things are really swinging.
The band has a huge repertoire, playing songs which match the mood of the audience and will often take requests from the dance floor when appropriate. Featuring a stellar line-up of Melbourne jazz players across generations, this band guarantees a night of jive, dancing and fun.
In addition to the 10 piece Swing Orchestra, the Pearly Shells perform in a variety of smaller and larger line-ups to suit your occasion.
What Size do you need?
The Pearly Shells Trio - Static or Roving:
(Piano, guitar, double bass) or roving with (guitar, double bass & horn)
Swinging, sophisticated and atmospheric, this Nat King Cole type lineup is popular at openings, cocktail parties, launches and more intimate weddings. Swap the piano for a horn and this combo can be mobile and un-plugged.
The Pearly Shells Quartet and Hot Five
(Piano, double bass, sax, drums and guitar in the Hot Five)
Add saxophone and drums to really get the party going. These are our most popular line-ups for weddings and other "dos". Go for the line-up with the guitar if you think your party may want to boogie.
The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra
(10 piece - 3 saxes, 2 trumpets, trombone, piano, guitar, double bass, drums)
Glamour from the word go. The Pearly Shells showpiece "little big band" for corporate and society functions, conferences, festivals, dinner dances and larger parties. This bands ability to "go off" has made them the band of choice among Melbourne's swing dancers.
The Pearly Shells Full Big Band
(15 piece - 5 saxes, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, piano guitar double bass and drums)
The Count and the Duke's classic size Big Band, the full catastrophe! Almost. Go on, you might as well get the girl singers along too!
Guest Vocalists
The Pearly Shells are proud to perform with some of finest female vocalists in Australia, including Swing Siren Julie O'Hara, the Queen of the Blues Kerri Simpson, R&B stylist Jody Bell and jazz divas to die for Nina Ferro, Rebecca Barnard, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, and Shelly Scown. Pending availability, we can organise one of these great singers as guest vocalist with any of the Pearly Shells line-ups.
