For some twenty three years, Steve Waddell's Creole Bells from Australia's East Coast, have been our best-known exponents of relaxed, two-beat jazz, commonly known as West Coast Style. Launched at San Francisco's Sonoma Dixie Festival, this CD marks the occasion of the bands fourth visit to the USA, and has been recorded with a carefree and happy sing-a-long approach. In fact there are ten vocal tracks. Having previously recorded many of the jazz classics, the band has, this time, put down some recent compositions such as the catchy melody of 'Down Waterloo Road' and Robin Wetterall's 'Chelsea On Down'. There are four Australian tunes, including 'Tessa's Blues' by Roger Bell, which was one of the tracks on my first recording for Regal Zonophone in 1947.

It's an affectionate remembrance of a brief love affair my brother had with an evacuee from Singapore during the Japanese invasion. 'South', also on this recording, had this distinction of launching the Bell band into early prominence. Slim Dusty, Australia's icon of Country Music and his composer, Gordon Parsons, made a fortune many years ago with 'A Pub With No Beer'. A tearful situation at the best of times, the lads add to the problem here by rendering it in a minor key! The best of Aussie tunes, �I Still Call Australia Home', is handsomely sung by clarinet player, Mike Edwards. Composed and performed by one of Australia's most famous cabaret artists, Peter Allen, (who was briefly married to Liza Minelli) this song is still performed at big sporting events and national functions in Australia. Once again, all the musicians turn in highly proficient performances and Bob Franklin does a nice job on 'Black & White Rag'. The most welcome addition to the personnel is singer, Nyn Hamilton, from Wagga Wagga. Her melodious voice presented with such professionalism is a joy to hear on 'A Cousin Of Mine', 'Messin' Around' and 'Oh Daddy'.

In 1999, jazz entrepreneur, Diana Allen, put on a tribute concert in Melbourne celebrating my 85th birthday. I was provided with the luxury of Steve Waddell's Creole Bells to re-create the music of my old band. Greame Bell AO, MBE, Sydney.

Album Tracks

1. A Pub With No Beer (G Parsons) Vocal Steve Waddell
2. Chelsea On Down (R Wetterau)
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band (I Berlin) Vocal Steve Waddell
4. A Cousin Of Mine (Mack Smith Silvo Hein) Vocal Nyn Hamilton
5. Swipesy Cakewalk (S Joplin E Russell)
6. Duncan (P Alexandeer) Vocal Steve & Mike New Lyrics - Fred Clark
7. Messin' Around (Cooke Stcyr) Vocal Nyn Hamilton
8. Sweet Patootie (Bogan Williams Alexander) Vocal Steve Waddell
9. Dardanella (Bernard Bblack Fisher ) Vocal Mike Edwards
10. Oh Daddy (Wrussell & Eherbert) Vocal Nyn Hamilton
11. Black & White Rag (G Botsford) Piano Solo - Bob Franklin
12. Down Waterloo Road (W Deigham) Vocal Steve Waddell
13. I Still Call Australia Home (P Allen) Vocal Mike Edwards
14. Tessa's Blues (R Bell)
15. South (B Moten & T Hayes)