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Bluez Deluxe is a group of musos/friends who are all passionate about blues and music in general.
DAN DINNEN relocated from Sydney to Melbourne at the turn of the Century to immerse himself in the thriving music scene. There have been many, many gigs and adventures along the way. Over the past couple of years, Dan has gone back to playing solo-acoustic gigs and is delving headlong into his first love (musically speaking): The Blues. He was a Finalist in the prestigious MBAS Blues Performer of the year 2007 and has supported the likes of Jaimi Faulkner, as well as Australian luminary Chris Wilson. Highlight solo blues gigs in 2009 include playing the famous Blues Train in Queenscliff. Last year, Dan played his solo-acoustic blues at the 2008 Port Fairy Folk Festival as a "Fringe" performer. Dan was also invited onstage to play Blues Harp with Kavisha Mazzella at some of her shows - including the Gospel Blues Theme concert where he had the thrill of playing Blues Harp and singing harmonies with the amazing Ruthie Foster (USA) and Melbourne's own Suzannah Espie whilst headline international bluesmen Guy Davis and Hans Theessink held court.
"You rocked it, man!" - Ruthie Foster
"He's got the heat!" - Kavisha Mazzella
Dan also plays with the Heather Stewart Trio - Heather Vocals & Fiddle and Danny McKenna Drums - who play 20s and 30s style Blues. The trio played at the 2008 Broadbeach Blues Festival and were also the backing band for Jimi Hocking's Blue Mandolin gigs. And will be doing it again in May 2009.
LYNDON CORNWILL has been playing guitar for about thirty years and has also covered many genres from blues, funk, soul, country, pop to heavy metal and has played in many bands, some successful, and some that should never have been formed.
Music is a voice, therapy, social event, and generally a passion for him.
Lyndon currently plays in Blues Deluxe, Phoenix blues and Smokin Sam & The Allstars.
GLEN SIMKIN is a naturally gifted and smooth bass guitarist who has a love for the blues that runs deep, and he has been a member of many a blues band over the years.
Whether we are playing a shuffle, swing, funk, or slow blues, Glen is there to carry the rhythm lines and add a meaty bass line to what ever we do.
Glen currently plays in Bluez Deluxe,and with Jeannie Lushes in that excellent outfit called Jeannie Lushes and The Bad Blues Boys.
ANDREW SHIELDS plays drums the same way he listens to music – with sensitivity and feeling.
He began on guitar in primary school, but the drums have been his main instrument(s) since that time (20 years plus).
He is often called upon to work with musicians 10 or 15 years older than himself, due to his tasteful playing and it has been the complimentary remarks by many of those people that keep him humble (my wife may not agree there).
He has a long history in Melbourne’s blues music scene which began at Elwood RSL’s blues jam in 1998 playing bass in the house band, moving on to drums over the last few years.
This led to an invitation to play bass in Oozin’ Blues from 1998 for a few years.
That then led to an offshoot trio with the guitarist and drummer of Oozin’ Blues, Jan and Jeff (both currently playing with Cold Snap).
Following this, it was playing bass with Screamin’ Stewie Hughes’ Blues Cruise.
He also played drums with Stewie and in the Bronnie Gordon Band.
He believes that working in a rhythm section requires two things – solid playing and the ability to listen.
His drumming style helps him to lock in with a bassist and vice versa.
Favourite styles of playing are swinging grooves (whether that is a bluesy shuffle or an accented Frank Sinatra big band type), a burning uptempo rock/funk pattern or floating rockabilly backbeat. .
He first met guitarist Lyndon at the Nighthawk Blues Bar Sunday jam session in late 2008 and the sparks flew when they first played music together – there was an unspoken understanding that musicians recognize, though it rarely comes along.
He was flattered to be asked to join Blues Deluxe.
Review by Matthew Frederick Editor The Age Gig Guide Friday August 1 2008:
When you think of the blues you normally think of the cottonfields of Mississippi or the rough side of Chicago.
But the blues has a swingin' side as well.
To prove this point Bluez Deluxe have dedicated themselves to exploring the world of jump blues with a swingin' set list that combines soul and blues classics with their own originals.
Featuring hot shot Dan Dinnen or Rob Kirk on vocals and Lyndon Cornwill on guitar with a killer rhythm section, this is a band guaranteed to get the joint jumping.