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Canberra Today 18°/23° | Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Arts / Bunch of crooners, a lot of laughs

Cathy, Lou, and Ben
Jazz sensations Bernie and the Mere Cats return to Smith’s Alternative this weekend for the first in a series of Saturday sessions of jazz featuring a bunch of crooners.

After its premiere in 2016 as part of the “3, 2, 1 Impro Showcase”, this comedic improvised jazz show returns for a stand-alone season. Drawing on song titles suggested by the audience, the band create an entire set of original jazz songs in the style of 1950s-60s era crooners.

Benjamin Crowley (as Bernie), Catherine Crowley (as Peggy), Helen Way (as Trixie), Louise Maconachie (as Bobbi) and Reid Workman (as Donnie)  will sing all their greatest original jazz hits, with Trixie at the ivories and Donnie at the double bass.

“It is a really fun show for an audience because they get to enjoy an evening of jazz and also laugh at the internal bickering of a fictitious band that is trying to appear professional,” says Crooners creator, Benjamin Crowley.

“The premise is that it’s the early 1960s, when the era of crooning was starting to dwindle, except for Sinatra, and the jazz singers Bernie, Bobbi and Peggy are touring their ‘greatest hits’, but alas, the trio is yet to achieve its first real ‘hit’.”

The trio are performing this particular set of show with session musicians, Donnie and Trixie.

Although the basic idea is to have fun, Crowley says: “Cathy and Lou both have a beautiful vocal tone for jazz and a wonderful ability to weave lyrics on the spot, while Helen and Reid are both accomplished musicians on the piano and double bass respectively. As a result, what an audience sees and hears is a tight, fun, dysfunctional jazz band and a really good time.”

“Crooners”, Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic, 5.30pm Saturdays June 3, 10 and 17. Bookings to smithsalternative.com or tickets at the door.  

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Helen Musa

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