DEEP SOUTH BRASS 8

DSB8 are a high energy, New Orleans influenced band and play a mix of jazz/funk/blues originals and popular covers. Inspired by the contemporary brass bands of New Orleans, DSB8 plays an infectious mix of originals and popular charts. With nods to The Big Easy’s luminaries of Trombone Shorty, Jon Cleary, Dr John, and the Rebirth Brass Band, DSB8’s big bold brass also brings a few surprise interpretations of some old favourites. With a fast growing following and recent rave reviews from their performances in and around Melbourne, DSB8’s focus since its inception has been on fun, energy and providing entertainment value in every show.

THE BAND MAN

Neil Gracey: trumpet/trombone/band leader

DSB8’s band leader & brass doubler has been playing in bands, pit orchestras and ensembles of all types, in and around Melbourne for some 30 years, including Doug Parkinson and Mike Brady, and has a passion for the unique music of the New Orleans brass bands. A member of the famous ‘Cairo Club Orchestra’ for the last 25 years, Neil regularly tours nationally with ‘The Australian Van Morrison Show’ playing to sell-out venues in Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Brisbane.

Matthew Dixon: trombone/lead vocals

The guy in the top hat and tails brings his unmistakable style to DSB8 with his long beard, blazing slide trombone solos and character-drenched voice. A veteran of the Melbourne music scene, Matt is best known as the frontman of the high-energy trad jazz band ‘Shirazz’, but his versatility has seen him perform with everything from heavy-hitting funk outfits to small jazz combos and everything in between. He boasts an extensive discography and a long history of touring, including across Australia, New Zealand, and even above Antarctica!

Mark Sylvio: trumpet/vocals

Mark’s soaring high notes are a DSB8 signature, not to mention his energy and vitality that the rest of the band feeds off. Mark’s history began in Melbourne’s Latin scene being a long-time member of the sensational merengue band, Furia, an institution in Melbourne’s Latin music scene. After many years performing in and around Melbourne at corporate and exclusive private functions and touring nationally, Mark now tears up the stage with ‘Deep South Brass 8’.

Sean Nihill: trumpet/composer

Sean has performed on television backing Kate Ceberano and Marcia Hines and has toured and recorded extensively. Career highlights include performing with headlining acts for festivals in Noumea, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and in 2017 he performed as the jazz trumpet soloist in New York performance-artist Taylor Mac’s Melbourne Festival performance of ‘A 24-Decade History of Popular Music’.

A commissioned composer and arranger, Sean is a thirty-year member and featured soloist of the famous ‘Cairo Club Orchestra’, a Melbourne institution, that continues to thrill audiences with their dazzling and authentic recreations of pieces from the 1920s and 30s. He regularly fronts his own ensembles such as ‘The Blue Two Few’ and ‘The Cellar Dwellers’ that feature his original compositions and arrangements. 

Justin Abicare: alto sax/flute

Justin’s energy is infectious. Dubbed the ‘Smiling Assassin’ by the band, Justin brings his fun and vitality to the stage via his beautiful alto sax and flute tones and is without a doubt, the band’s most likeable guy. Having spent a career educating South Gippsland’s younger generations on the finer points of music as a respected and recognised teacher in the South Gippsland Schools Music Program, Justin’s love of anything music and New Orleans knows no bounds.

Joel Plymin: tenor & baritone sax

Joel Plymin has toured extensively in Australia, Canada, USA and Europe with various artists including: ‘Frankie Wants Out’, ‘Toby’, Ras Jahknow and ‘The War and Treaty’ (US). He has shared the stage with Lee 'Scratch' Perry, ‘Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’, Cheryl Crow, ‘Ice House’, ‘Dub FX’, Marvin Priest and even ‘Coolio’! One of Melbourne’s most in demand saxophonists, Joel now brings his amazing talents to ‘Deep South Brass 8’.

Andrew Murray: keyboard

After graduating in composition from WAAPA in 2006, Andrew moved to Graz, Austria to study with Bob Brookmeyer, Ed Partyka and Ed Neumeister. On returning to Australia and settling in Melbourne, Murray formed his big band ATM15, and funk ensemble The Randy Anderson. ATM15 have released four albums over the last decade while being nominated for Music Victoria and Jazz Bell Awards. During this time Murray has won Sweden’s International Composition Contest, and Australia's National Big Band Composing Competition featuring the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra. Andrew’s recent collaboration with creative vocalist Josh Kyle produced ‘Trombone Song Cycle’, an album of obscure love songs that received the 2019 APRA Art Music Award, and the Jazz Bell Award for Vocal Album of the Year.

Roy John: drums

With an extensive portfolio of drumming in bands spanning a wide variety of genres including trip-hop, reggae, Irish music, jazz, funk, soul and rock in his background, Roy brings an original flavour to DSB8’s New Orleans grooves. A well-respected and longtime music educator in the region for the past 17 years, Roy drives the bus of DSB8 with his passion and energy that is the heartbeat of ‘Deep South Brass 8’.

Genre - Jazz/Funk/Blues/New Orleans Grooves

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