Jazz

As the collective psyche of the globe gnashes its teeth at the abyss, and your liver, kidney, and soul are sold to almighty corporations, Better Than Sex will have you gyrating and grooving like nothing else.

It’s funk for cynics, jazz for nihilists, cowboy circus cabaret chaos…… an undefinable sound that hits a spot you didn’t even know was there.

A golden voice and mighty roar, bass lines that walk the Nullarbor, guitar riffs which defy the laws of arthritis, drums executed with the precision of a US bullet going through the head of a Freedom Fighter, trombone that erupts like the trunk of an elephant, and a saxophone so smooth it has multiple undisclosed court cases.

Better Than Sex. The soundtrack to the privatisation of your nervous system.

The perfect band for the end of the world.

To quote Mexican President Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911) “Poor Espy, so far from god, so close to St Kilda”

In a flamboyant and often controversial music career Jeff Duff has released twenty-seven albums including a recent album with members of legendary British rock band Deep Purple.
When Duffo took refuge in England in the eighties, he had, as they say, worn out his welcome in Australian rock. He was simply too much of a handful, this ‘waif with a wharfie’s voice!’ camping it up out front of his trail-blazing rock ensemble ‘Kush‘. At the time, Jeff’s androgynous stage persona, dressed in leotards, garish make-up and a touch of the operatics was considered far too outrageous for many Australian audiences.

Jeff quickly established himself in the UK and became the darling of London’s new wave movement during the eighties staying one step ahead of his peers with his flamboyant performances. The exhibitionism and visual assault so integral to British punk culture could have been a sequence from Duffo’s own fertile imagination. Soon Andy Warhol was issuing forth his oft-quoted utterence: “Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, Popeye…and now Duffo” Duffo returned to Australia in the late eighties to re-introduce his powerful voice and unique style to the local scene. His recording and accompanying video of Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wildside‘ helped re-establish his career in oz and has become an Australian classic.

Multi award winner Patou swings with kings and untouchables alike.

With a career that spans over four decades and right across the globe, Pat Powell (Patou) is one of Australia’s most accomplished vocal talents. He is the artist that everyone wants to work with.

Having shared a stage with a number of musical giants over the past four decades, Patou has had time to hone the art for commanding attention. His genius as a vocalist is a unique combination of soulful understatement and compelling passion. In charismatic exchanges with his audience he appeals to young and old with his message of joy and social justice.

The empowering lyrics that fuel Patou’s songs were seeded in him as a young Jamaican man making his way in a troubled 1960s-70s Bristol. Persecuted by the cops on the streets throughout his teens, Patou would find solace in the Jamaican dance tunes played by his folks, and in the RnB clubs that he snuck out of home to DJ in.

From ska to blues. Hip-hop to soul. RnB to reggae. The extraordinary depth of Patou’s musical versatility was crafted over years of touring Europe with a variety of acts during the 70’s. His talent descended on Sydney with great force in the 80s, filling bars and clubs across Australia with his pioneering acts including Caribbe and Club Ska. Always staying true to his Caribbean roots but moving with the new wave of hip hop and electronica, Sydney - and indeed Australia’s touring circuit - didn’t know what had hit it.

By the time the 90’s rolled in, Patou was one of Australia’s most demanded studio artists, recording with the likes of James Freud, Jenny Morris, Lisa Maxwell, Max Q and Margaret Ulrich, to name a few. He continued to record and perform with his own groups Lovetown, Ten Wedge and Neptune St, laying down several singles and continuing to fill music venues across the country.

Before long, Patou was being picked up to support acts in the league of James Brown, Queen, Eurhythmics, Double O & Velour, Adeva, Sydney Youngblood, Redhead Kingpin, The Beloved, Beats International, Boy George, Crowded House, Horace Andy and Luciano, Tina Arena and George Benson. It was at this time that he joined the touring party of one of Australia’s most successful exports, Kylie Minogue. Pat toured extensively throughout Australia, Asia & Europe as Kylie Minogue’s backing vocalist, including feature solos and acapella duets.

In his own right Patou has recorded over 20 singles, one album and recorded vocals for more than 14 artists. He has been seen performing in a myriad of films from Mad Max 3 to Whipping Boy and stage productions such as Dealers Choice at the Adelaide Festival Arts Centre. He also continues his commercial voice-over recording work and mentors a vast diversity of artists at various stages in their careers, from high school students to accomplished artists.

Finally it's here, his debut album "About Time" released in June of 2018.

Patou says “It feels like everything I’ve ever performed, everyone I’ve ever worked with, mentored, looked up to, challenged and been blown away by has played a part… It’s all important. It all feeds in. It’s all culminated to this time and presentation, I’m ready to give all of it........in the studio, on stage and with a bit of luck on air.”

The band will be performance an exciting combination of original repertoire alongside unique interpretations of music from a range of genres. The instrumentation of this group, with three wind instruments alongside bass and drums provides lots of room for exploring textures and grooves. Hope to see you there for the first performance of this exciting new band.