Julie O'Hara

Biography

"An outstanding singer".....Laurence Donahue-Green (All about Jazz Magazine, New York)

"O'Hara's vocals are imbued with a strong jazz feel with eloquent phrasing, melodic variations and rhythmic expression " John McBeath (The Australian)

"With her perfect pitch, skillful improvising and ego-free style, O'Hara has carved out a reputation on the Australian and international music scene for high-quality performances that are accessible to everyone".Ken Turnball (Castlemaine State Festival review - vocalese project)


Vocalist, improvisor and songwriter, Julie O'Hara has been active in jazz for almost twenty years, growing up in Melbourne, Australia, performing with Big Bands, gypsy swing, traditional jazz, R&B swing, bebop and vocalese.

Julie has earned a reputation for her prodigious activity in Melbourne's jazz and music clubs, national and international music and jazz festivals as a versatile and committed vocalist and songwriter.

Currently performing with the Julie O'Hara sextet, heptet and quartets, Peter Baylor's jazz manouche group, 'Ultrafox', B#Big Band, The Pearly Shells Big Band, Society Syncopators and The Shuffle Club. Recently reunited in harmony with Felix Reibel (The Cat Empire) for his solo debut CD launch at the Toff in town.

Julie O'Hara sextet - vocalese project.
In the spirit of vocalese, O'Hara has written original lyrics to songs composed by jazz horn masters from the 40's and 50s's including; Cannonball Adderley, Hank Mobley, Blue Mitchell, Dexter Gordon, Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker and more.
The sextet features some of Australia's finest musicians and improvisors, all band leaders and composers of their own projects. Please visit their websites to learn more about them.
Ben Winkelman on piano, Leigh Barker on bass, Edward York on drums, Eamon Mcnelis on trumpet, Carlo Barbaro on tenor.
Recent performance at Bennet's Lane Jazz Club and Pais Cat Jazz Club (2011),Wangaratta jazz festival, Castlemaine Music Festival, Melbourne International Jazz festival.
Their new release CD 'Use the Force', is now available for purchase and/or download at http://www.julieohara.com/au
Go direct or follow the prompts on the welcome page of this site.The CD has been reviewed by various jazz magazines and newspapers, please go to news to read on.

The Concadanauts are a stellar Melbourne line up of improvising musicians, performing all original compositions, with recent performances at Queenscliffe Music Festival 2008 and at the Spiegeltent for the Melbourne International Music Festival 2008.
The band features Julie O'Hara - vocals, Kelsey James - Vocals, Eamon McNelis - trumpet, Ben Winkelman - piano, Edward York on drums and Leigh Barker - double bass.
Songs explore love,loss, madness and celebrate life, music and the absurd. A jazz inspired, popish, latin infused, ensemble with rich harmonies and uplifting rhythms.


Also working in R&B swing and jump blues outfit, Bopkick. The band originally formed for dancers at the Bendigo Hotel, Fitzroy. That gig is now long gone, but the band continues, with a mix of original tunes and great songs by the likes of Buddy Johnson, Ella Mae Morse, T Bone Walker and Joe Turner. The band features three vocalists, lots of riffing, often using the voice as another instrument, sublime drumming from jazz and R&B veteren, Lin Wallis (Virus, Tom Baker's Swing Street Orchestra, Yarra Yarras), and high energy sparing between guitarist, Peter Baylor (Stringbusters, Flatfoot Shakers, Road House Romeos) and Tenor saxophonist, Dean Hilson (The Pearly Shells, Swingin' Sidewalks). Bassist, Dale Lindrea (Vanguards, The Future Duo)plays electric bass, which is unusual for this genre, but works perfectly.Julie O'Hara plays piano and sings.
Bopkick perform regularly at Transit Lounge, Federation Square, City and various jazz and music festivals.

Also performing with:
The B# Big Band (www.bsharpbigband.com)
Blue Drag (www.filmharmonix.com)
The Pearly Shell's Big Band (ww.thepearlyshells.com), Society Syncopators
Gil Askey
The Shuffle Club (www.theshuffleclub.com),
Bob Sedergreen
Virus
George Washingmachine (www.georgewashingmachine.com)