Since coming to Western Australia from Scotland over 10 years ago MO Award Nominee James Flynn hasn’t stopped singing and entertaining audiences both here and all over the world.
But it all started much earlier than that. After growing up in Scotland with a family who he said can only be described as the Von Trapps of Glasgow, his love of music grew.
“I grew up listening to all the greats: Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett. My Mum is a beautiful singer, she sang with a big band back in the UK, so did her Mum and most of her family were entertainers. My Dad too, he sings a bit and my sisters and brother all sing.”
Being a musician, an actor, owning a theatre company and touring around the world, it is a wonder that James has spare time for anything, but somehow he has managed to find the time to put together his latest tribute show “That’s Amore”, which is being premiered to Perth Audiences at the Subiaco Theatre Centre on the Fri 8th and Sat 9th April. Anyone who has seen James in action will know that it is an all-too-rare opportunity to see this master entertainer ply his craft.
“That’s Amore”, James’ tribute to the legendary singer Dean Martin, is described as fun and entertaining, which it surely is, but underlying all of his shows is a desire to make jazz more accessible to the general public, showcasing our considerable Western Australian jazz talent in the process.
James’ tribute shows are always fun, they involve a bit of theatre and give a snapshot of the artist’s life. Combined with his unique humour and quality music (always from the top drawer), it presents the audience with a whole story and a journey through which he hopes to stimulate a complete range of emotions. And most of all, as anyone who has been to James’ shows knows, it is always about entertainment.
James hits the stage with his new Highball Heptet featuring some of Perth’s finest jazz musicians; Tom O’Halloran piano, Des White bass, Mike Pigneguy drums, Carl Mackey saxes, Simon Styles saxes, Mat Jodrell trumpet and Jeremy Greig trombone in what promises to be a truly memorable (OK _Unforgettable_…) night.
And, after wowing audiences on the 8th and 9th of April with “That’s Amore”, it will be off to Romania to represent Australia in the three-day Jeunesses Musicales Festival where he will be singing along side 300 musicians from 40 different countries. At the festival James will be working with leading Australian pianist from Sydney, Mark Isaacs. In his two weeks in Europe he will also perform in Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Germany and Switzerland.
There are many other new projects coming up later this year with CD number six and another show with his theatre company, Pickles Productions, which coincidentally will also be his sixth since moving to WA.
Another exciting venture is his new Supper Club:
“We’re going to present an evening with me and a quartet, and present it like a Supper Club. Round tables, candles, people bring their own booze, we give them a plate of food and we put on a show. It’s a concept we’re trying to develop. It’s going to be called the Fly Supper Club and if it works we will try and do it every couple of months”.
The opening is in Floreat on June 19th (check JAZZWA website for more details).
With many, many more gigs and activities coming up it looks like James is going to be a very busy man, but as he says “at the end of the day, it’s all about entertainment.” And entertain he certainly does.
James would like to make special mention to ArtsWA who have funded his return trip to Romania and to JAZZWA for their support with advertising for ”That’s Amore”.
For ticketing information for “That’s Amore” call BOCS on 9484 1133
Interview and article by Gemma Laidler
