THE BAND
JUD FIELD – Lead Vocals (Guys Sebastian, Marina Prior, Marcia Hines)
Jud, quite simply, has a resume that any 1st call, professional vocalist would love to have. Not only is he one of the lead vocalists for the highly acclaimed Melbourne Gospel Choir (MGC), he is also their Musical Director. You would have probably seen Jud on TV leading the MGC whilst singing with Guy Sebastian, Natalie Bassingthwaighte or Marina Prior at one of the many Carols by Candelight on Channel 9. Or was it on Dancing with the stars that you saw him? Maybe it was ‘It Takes Two’ perhaps? Actually it could have been at one of the AFL Grandfinal performances?
Jud is also the lead vocalist for the house band on Channel Nines ‘The Singing Bee’. In this time he has twice opened for the show. The first was performing a John Farnham track. The second, he performed the legendary Skyhooks hit “Living in the 70’s”. This had Ross Wilson claiming it was the best version he had heard since the original. His performance of the Queen song “We are the Champions” was also used as the weekly promo clip for the show. In addition to these credits he is also the lead vocalist for the ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ band and regularly performs on Channel 9’s ‘The Footy Show’.
Only just recently, he helped to arrange and performed the backing vocals for Marcia Hines’ latest album ‘LIFE’. There is no doubt that is Jud a world class performer.
Gina Hogan – Lead Vocals (‘Cats’, ‘Witches of Eastwick’, Australian POPS orchestra)
Gina Hogan has a list of credentials that reads like a Katherine Hepburn autobiography. With performance genres ranging from musicals and cabaret, to contemporary and jazz, (without forgetting the regular TV appearances as an actress and vocalist), it is hard to know where to begin when trying to fit all this experience into one blurb. To give you an idea of the sort of calibre we are talking about when we speak of Gina, below is just a peak of what can only be described as an amazing, international career -
* CATS – Played the lead roles of Jellylorum/Griddlebone (Athens and South Korea)
* Witches of Eastwick – played the role of Greta (Melbourne)
* Mamma Mia – performed the roles of Donna and Tanya (Melbourne)
* ‘Back to Bacharach’ – Cabaret Show (Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne)
* The ‘Gina Hogan-Jones Jazz trio’ (Melbourne and Sydney)
* ‘At this evenings performance’ - written and produced by Gina Hogan (Melbourne, Sydney)
* The ‘John Field Band (Sydney)
* Australian POPS orchestra (MSO) – soloist.
* TV roles such as ‘Fiona’ on the critically acclaimed ABC drama ‘The Damnation of Harvey McCugh’.
* Was a regular performer on ‘Good morning Australia’
With a style and song repertoire to match, Gina is a seasoned, 1st class performer whose energy and vibrance on stage, sets her apart from the rest.
Antoniette Iesue – Lead Vocals (The Footy Show, Jamie Redfern)
Well if there was a roster that was titled ‘Australia’s hottest up and coming artists for 2009’, then Antoniette would be at the top of that list. Not only an amazing vocalist, who has been taught by Australian singing royalty (the Paladino’s school of Performing Arts), but she is also quite an accomplished dancer. In fact, this saw her dance for the ‘Footy Show’ AFL grand-final show at Rod Laver Arena in 2008. With vocal performances in venues ranging from the world famous ‘Bennettes Lane’ jazz bar to large-scale international events, such as the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington as a regular-featured artist, Antoniette has already had a stellar start to what can only be anticipated as a long and successful career. Boasting television performances with Jamie Redfern (Young Talent Time) and is currently a featured vocalist in the SMITH Theatre production ‘An Evening of Inspiration’, hosted by Tracey Bartram, all one could say is - watch this space. You will be seeing and hearing a lot more of Antoniette in times to come and it is a great pleasure to have her on board with Platinum.
Will Musig – Musical Director/Guitar (Rove, Marcus Knight, MD – Sony Records)
Yes, his last name really is Musig. Irony you ask?? Or maybe destiny?? What ever you put it down to, no-one can deny William Musig of having the enviable reputation for being one of the most sort after guitarists and Musical Directors in Australia today. William has worked with, and for, some of Melbourne’s leading, world-class musicians such as Roger McLachlan (LRB), Marcel Yammouni (Vanessa Amorossi, Delta Goodrem), Jeremy Diffey (the 'Singing Bee and Australia's Got Talent' bands), Kim May – (Hey Hey It's Saturday), Hayden Meggitt (Ross Wilson), Marcus Knight (Renowned Australian DJ/Musician/Producer & Songwriter). Will has also written, and played guitar on many TV jingles – some of which include the jingles from the early years of Rove. As a Musical Director, Will has been commissioned by numerous record labels over the years, such as Festival- Mushroom and Sony, to direct and put together a number of bands for various artists. Will’s guitar licks are lighting fast and will leave you screaming for more. Enzo Failla – Drums (Xavier Rudd, Grand Wazoo)
Enzo can be summed up in one word ‘WOW!’. Being taught by two of Australia’s drumming heavyweights, Peter Blick and Darren Farrugia, it is not hard to understand why Enzo has become a ‘1st call’ musician. From playing in ‘the pit’ for many musical productions to drumming for legendary Melbourne bands such as ‘SCAT’ and soul sensation ‘Grand Wazoo’, Enzo brings a depth of experience that only others can envy. After touring with Xavier Rudd as his drummer for two years, Enzo became one of the founding members of the renowned Blues Brothers Tribute show – ‘Briefcase Full of Blues’. Enzo is always in high demand and it is a great privilege to have him drum for Platinum.
Pete Mollica – Bass (Dale Ryder, Brian Cadd, Matt Hetherington)
Pete is also an accomplished pianist, which has seen him write for numerous TV shows. But for Platinum he is the resident bass player, actually an un-believable bass player – the quickest fingers in all the west. Petes bass credentials include Daryl Cotton (LRB), Jim Keays (The Masters Apprentices), Russell Morris ,Brian Cadd, Dale Ryder (Boom Crash Opera), Matt Hetherington, Andrew DeSilva (CDB), and famous cover band – Crazy House.
Clear the fire exits folks, this boy is hot!!
Simon Lewis – Keys (Amanska, Music for Dreaming)
Simon Lewis is a Melbourne-based musician and composer with an eclectic musical background who majored in Jazz at Melbourne University. So eclectic in fact, it has seen him perform a vast array of styles such as jazz big bands and small jazz ensembles, various choirs, African drum and dance, Balinese gamelan, South American music, experimental and electronic ensembles, funk and rock bands, and wind symphony.
Simon has released various albums throughout his career that are marketed nationally by ABC & EMI. One of which, ‘Southern Mystique’, received the Herald-Sun Benchmark Award for the year's most outstanding ambient CD. Qantas regularly uses his tracks for their ambient music channel on domestic and international flights.
In addtion to his albums, he has also composed music for ABC-TV 'Wildscreen' programs.
After a hectic schedule of touring around Europe with Amanska for the past 3 years, he has returned to Melbourne to continue his compositions in addition to his heavy freelance schedule.
Ben Cant – Founder/Band Leader
Being a full-time professional drummer, Ben is certainly no stranger to performing. When Ben isn’t on tour with James Blundell or touring internationally across Europe, USA and Canada with the twin sister singing sensation - Lee and Paula Bowman, Ben is working with the very talented members of Platinum to help keep the band’s shows fresh and exciting. In addition to this he keeps himself busy freelancing for other bands/artists in and around his full schedule. The amazing thing is, he still manages to find time to make his signature pea and ham soup! WOW! Ben’s brimming diary is a testament to his exemplary professionalism and musicianship.
