Amanda and The Transformers Choir perform for the Dalai Lama during his lunch break

After the performance he came and spoke to us. He enjoyed the music and complimented us all when he said “You and me…, and me and you…, and you and me…, we are the same”. His warmth and generosity was a pleasure to be near. A very happy person reminding us happiness is in us all. To see The Dalai Lama and the transformers follow this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnxyzBJdPjE&lc=DCuFnychmmnEeoc5gDf1_M5mOcgsJNldWhqR5EG0TY8&context=C3e7f686ADOEgsToPDskLmOUabT6OLhUcK6lAju3-P

Amanda Kay and Jenny Pineapple, from the Australian punk band Painters and Docker, have been jammin and sharing music over the last year. The sounds combined to make an unusual and out their Jazz that pushes the boundaries. Jenny is playing on her new sax in this picture. The performance was at ACU in Brisbane.

Travels across Australia

Amanda Kay and The Crew have just finished a new album called Chasin’ Rainbows. Amanda wrote most of the albums songs. Kev Rice, Sandy O’Farrell and Reginald Mulva were co-writers with Amanda on 3 separate tracks. The Crews style is enticing and unique. The sound is a blend of genres including some latin, reggae and funk influences…though it mostly gets called smooth jazz. The eclectic crew Amanda brought together for this recording all come from different sections of the music industry. Amanda herself is folk jazz, Reginald (bass) from lead guitar metal band, Fiona (percussion) studied at the con in Brisbane and feels like a skiffle, zydeco, Cajun combination, Mike (Cello) is classily trained and is successful in the pop arena, Gavin (sax) is jazz, latin and funk, Richard (trombone) and Joel (trumpet) from big brass bands and broadening their styles performing originals and jazz with many musical people, Peter is a folkie and Yani is a recognised choral master.

    With this unusual group Amanda has successfully coloured her latest set of songs that have both laughter and tears. She has reached a stage in her journey where as her music reaches the audience’s ears a quiet hush descends on the crowd. People are drawn in by her sultry tone, and stimulating lyrics. She is a story teller and writes lyrics that everyone can feel. Her touch on the nylon string makes it sing sweetly, then become sharp and bright suiting the ebb and flow of the lyrics. Her journey through the world has not been an easy road and the passion she holds inside is released in her compositions.

This is her fifth album and each one has its own flavour.

In 2011 she performed with The Tranformers Choir, The Reclaimers orchestra, sat in with The Rockwiz Orchestra and played her own music with The Crew. She performed at Woodford Folk Festival, The National Folk Festival, The Queensland Festival, The Brisbane Festival and she was privileged to meet and play with Rohan Marley (Bob’s son) on his brief visit to Australia. Rohan commented “She knows her chops” and joined her on the egg in a solo performance of ‘The Election Song” (from Administer The Medicine CD by Amanda Kay).

Amanda was also interview on the George Negus show and has become a recognised visual artist, creating musical artworks. Some of her works have been used on CD covers including Peter Vance’s latest Jazz release. The highlight of the year was singing and playing guitar for the Dalai Lama at a private luncheon during the happiness conference, where he took time from his schedule to come and say hello. He said    ’you and me,   and me and you,     and you and me,  …  we are the same’.

Amanda Kay and The Crew were invited to perform a set for the Dept of public works action day. The performances were rewarding. Reginald Mulva joined me on the bass. The artwork slide show was a terrific tribute to the work Access Art does to enhance the lives of the whole community.

Amanda Kay and The Crew live at Albert Street Uniting Church supporting Art From The Margins

Had a fantastic set with Richard Ferrarri on the trombone. Amazing accoustics in the Albert st uniting church were the exhibition was held. The pipe organ behind  hummed like a big resonator every time a ‘D’ was played.

Amanda Kay with some of her supporters

Rohan Marley visits Amanda Kay in Brisbane

Rohan dropped in to Brisbane last week. He has a great attitude and I enjoyed sharing music with him. He complimented my song writing skills.
I have been performing for The Brisbane Music Festival. The Art from the Margins gigs have are going well. I’m off today to perform for Disabilities action week at the Department of Public Works with a good friend and versatile musician Reginald Mulva the bass man. In October I will be performing at the Brisbane Jazz Club. In November there are some more jazz art projects being highlighted by Peter Vances cd art exhibition, which I have been involved in.
On Wednesday I may be on Channel 10 talking about the Catalyst Clemente Uni course I’m in. All in all it’s been a busy couple of months for music. My time in Brisbane is in it’s twighlight. Last semester, then off on a new journey.

Amanda Kay writer and performer

Reginald Mulva plays

Oscar with the shades

Gavin Manikus playing sax on ‘Chasin’ Rainbows’ with Amanda Kay and The Crew

Michael Laman Thomas doin’ his thing on the cello in Amanda Kay and The Crew’s album ‘Chasin’ Rainbows’

On Friday I had the honor of playing accompaniment for the Transformers Choir. We performed for a small group dining with the Dalai Lama at the Happiness Conference in Brisbane. The Dalai Lama chose to come and addressed our group. He sat with us for a short time and offered us words of wisdom. We performed for the conference in the afternoon, including a song with Deborah Connway. We had a great positive energy and performed well. The audience were very enthusiastic and gave us a standing ovation.
The Transformers will be performing at the opening of The Queensland Music Festival accompanied by The Rockwiz Orchestra with me sitting in on guitar. We performed at the launch with them and it was well received.
On a more personal note I am adding the icing to CD ‘Chasin’ Rainbows’. I invited Mike Thomas on cello and Gav Manikus on sax into the Peters Studio this week. We caught some amazing musical moments. The CD has an organic sound, with emotional tempo coloured in with skillfully seductive solos resting on a bed of tenderly bowed strings. I have a few more musical herbs and spices to go but I’m very pleased with how things are progressing.
Rehearsals with a 5 piece are showing promise. Joel on trumpet,Richard Ferrari on trombone, OscarHurtado on conga, Reginald Mulva on bass guitar and myself. We’ll see what  happens…