THE FRENCH FRIES

Down South Jazz Club members and visitors are in for a rare treat on Thursday 5th September, at Club Sapphire when international band "The French Fries", led by George Washingmachine and featuring vocalist Monica Trapaga, will be visiting Merimbula as part of their 2019 tour.  Joining George and Monica will be David Blenkhorn on guitar, Raphaël Dever on double bass and  Björn Ingelstam on trumpet.

George Washingmachine is a very visual entertainer well known to Merimbula and we have had the pleasure of hearing him many times, mostly with his band "Feel the Manouche". He tours extensively throughout Australia and June and July this year saw him performing in Switzerland, England, France, Germany and Hungary. He is  now back in Australia touring with Monica and his European band from France.

Monica Trapaga is an Australian entertainment presenter, jazz singer and actress and will be remembered by many as host on the children's series Play School from 1990 to 1998; she also provided the vocals to the theme of "Bananas in Pyjamas" from 1992. In July 1988 she founded Monica and the Moochers in Sydney, a reviewer describing them as "a band that emulates the music of the late 1940s and 1950s".  Monica is one of the nation's most loved talents. She appeals to all ages, all demographics and her ability to successfully entertain the masses each and every time is truly amazing.

Guitarist David Blenkhorn was born and raised in Tamworth, Australia. With no formal musical education he learned on the bandstand with older musicians in the Sydney jazz scene, learning the extensive repertoire of early swing and traditional New Orleans., His guitar-playing career began in the 90’s in Sydney, the 2000’s in London and since then in the south of France. David is a hard swinging, blues based improviser who draws inspiration from the music of New Orleans, blues, swing and bebop . He is high in demand on the jazz scene in Europe and has recently been recording in New Orleans.

Björn Ingelstam on trumpet is a young and upcoming musician on the jazz scene. He is based in New York but works extensively in Europe. Bjorn has a bright, burnished tone and his love of the jazz tradition, ranging from Louis Armstrong to Chet Baker,
takes it into the modern day without being afraid to swing and groove along the way.
This will be his first trip to Australia.

With the little information we can glean on bassist Raphaël Dever, he is  reputably not only a tremendous bass player, but also a wonderful graphic artist. He lives in France.  We eagerly await the pleasure of hearing him.