Formed around the turn of the century by double bassist Steve Purcell as a Count Basie style dance band, The Pearly Shells have evolved over more than 15 years to become a unique Melbourne musical institution with an enormous repertoire of original charts and ties throughout Melbourne's musical universe.
The Pearly Shells mix their own arrangements of 40's and 50's big band music with Jump Blues, Swing Jazz, RnB, Boogie Woogie and Latin styles and play it all with the drive and enthusiasm the music demands and deserves.
For their first post-Covid performance at Jazz Lab and in line with restrictions the band is performing as a 6 piece featuring long time collaborator and superb vocalist Julie O'Hara and a special appearence from modern day Vaudevillian Hayley Hoopla and her Hoola hoops! ...
