Music
Press
***1/2
In Short: turn down the lights, turn up the volume, roll back the carpet.
It's a solid gold tribute to this Melbourne trio that it invests warhorses such as 'Higher & Higher' with such joy and verve that it's easy to forget you've heard them a gazillion times before.
Bob Valenitne, Jake Mason and Tommy McEwan, revered stalwarts of the Melbourne Music scene, happily throw off wild sparks of funk, groove and soul on a thoroughly splendiferous party album.
Playing guitar, organ/saxophone and drums respectively, all three sing their hearts out, Valentine in particular shining, as do the harmonies. A few guest spots help to make the sound even juicier.
Here is musical alchemy of the highest order, the sum winningly greater than the parts.
Other highlights include slinky instrumentals Candy Smack and Time is Tight, Fly me to the Moon, Who were you thinking of, Cold Hard Light of the Day, a gritty ballad penned by Valentine, and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Kenny Weir - Herald Sun Melbourne, Australia
***1/2
In Short: turn down the lights, turn up the volume, roll back the carpet.
It's a solid gold tribute to this Melbourne trio that it invests warhorses such as 'Higher & Higher' with such joy and verve that it's easy to forget you've heard them a gazillion times before.
Bob Valenitne, Jake Mason and Tommy McEwan, revered stalwarts of the Melbourne Music scene, happily throw off wild sparks of funk, groove and soul on a thoroughly splendiferous party album.
Playing guitar, organ/saxophone and drums respectively, all three sing their hearts out, Valentine in particular shining, as do the harmonies. A few guest spots help to make the sound even juicier.
Here is musical alchemy of the highest order, the sum winningly greater than the parts.
Other highlights include slinky instrumentals Candy Smack and Time is Tight, Fly me to the Moon, Who were you thinking of, Cold Hard Light of the Day, a gritty ballad penned by Valentine, and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Kenny Weir - Herald Sun Melbourne, Australia
Discography
The Providers - famous 'Blue' album
Available through JB hifi in Australia & CDBaby internationally.
Photos
Bio
Combining the talents of Bobby Valentine (Lonely Boys, Sweethearts) on Guitar & Vocals, Monty Toone (Man Friday, Ross Hannaford Trio) on Drums & Vocals, with Jake Mason (Deode, Cookin' on 3 Burners) on his swirling Hammond Organ & Vocals,
The Providers got together to do a Sunday session at the Great Provider Restaurant at St.Kilda Marina. That was nearly 4 years ago. It was a bit of a one night stand gone wrong, or right.
We recorded an album in Jake's front room purely as a promo tool & it turned out so well people wanted to buy it & it got rave reviews!
Since then we've done more gigs than we can remember in the Corporate area as well as down & dirty pubs & everything in between.
Highlights are performing on a private cruise of the Italian & French Riviera - we got told by the Police in Monte Carlo, we'd have to finish as "we'd woken up an entire principality!"
Playing to 10.000 people in Melbourne's Federation Square for New Year's Eve (a DVD is available)
The key to The Provider's appeal is versatility, ranging from the Great Jazz standards to full-tilt Rock & Soul - From Sinatra & Simone to Sly & Stevie.
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