There are voices and there are voices...
In town today is Charmaine Jones whose vocal stylings should not be missed. Sri Lankan born and domiciled in Australia she’s described as ‘Adelaide’s Vocal Darling’. A performer, she is also a vocal educator, arranger and choral conductor and is praised for her improvisational concepts, and has collaborated with international greats including Paul Grobowsky, Paul Kelly, Michael Buble, Naturally 7, Darlene Love, James Morrison, Leo Sayer, Velanga Khoza, Lior, Mama Kin – the list is long.
Charmaine Jones will make a special guest appearance on Sunday October 7 at Jazz Unlimited’s jazz session at the CR & FC. She will be accompanied by her musical director, pianist and good friend Alex Wignall.
To most of us in Sri Lanka now, the name Charmaine Jones and her singing style may not be familiar. But in her own way she has proved that music-wise Sri Lankans are not way behind in comparison to global musicians. Two years ago Charmaine took a leading role in Adelaide Fringe Festival shows; Leading Ladies of Jazz “Raising The Standards” (4.5 stars), The Colours of Brazil featuring Eddie Gazani and Fabian Hevial and ‘Swing-The Beat That Shook The World’ (5 stars).
Undoubtedly like the saying goes, music runs in her veins. In a spool back, after 12 years as Jazz Vocal lecturer at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide University, Charmaine in 2016 joined the Monash University, Melbourne in Contemporary Vocal. This positive involvement in music spurred her to establish ‘Gospo Collective’ with the intention of teaching in various institutions and privately around Australia.
The term ‘Adelaide’s Vocal Darling’ couldn’t be truer considering her versatile wide repertoire, her voice range and timbre. She was on the panel of judges for Australia’s Channel 7 Television “All Together Now” with Ronan Keating and hosted by Julia Zemiro. She was also invited by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to headline their ‘ASO Does Disco’ program and more recently she participated in “George Michael: Listen to your Heart” with Australian icons led by John Foreman including Hugh Sheridan and Rob Mills.
Charmaine Jones will be accompanied by her musical director Alex Wignall who is an accomplished live performer, session musician, arranger, accompanist and music educator.