Chameleon are the only large piece band in Perth that can perform on any street corner, with no PA and no Stage, anytime! Chameleon was developed and based on the New Orleans re-birth of Jazz mixed with Funk and Hip Hop and includes some of Perth's top jazz/funk horns.
The Chameleon Brass Band is the brainchild of Manager Ken Allen and has been funking up the festival scene since 1999. Music you can bump 'n' grind to, Chameleon incorporates 2nd line drum rhythms with Funk Horn lines and 'All-in' vocals. Nothing can beat the sound of the Big Boss Brass Bass - and who needs any electricity?!! Araluen Festival - 12 February 2006
Stage Performance
As well as roving street performances, the Chameleon Brass Band is also available as a spectacular stage performance which takes the funky music to a whole new level. The band moves out of the realm of street performance into a high energy Jazz-Funk presentation of classic and contemporary music that is an awesome pleasure to both the eye and the ear. For stage gigs Chameleon add their hip-hop MC – 2006 WAMI Freestyle champion Ryan “the Apprentice?? Crothers. The audience will be left with no option but to get up on their feet and shake their thang!
Leederville Funk Club - New Years Eve 2005
Band Lineup
Chameleon Band instruments include Trumpets, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Sousaphone (Tuba), Snare Drum, Bass Drum and percussion. All musicians of the Chameleon Brass Band are professional and experienced performers:
Marty Pervan - Legendary Perth Trumpeter/Trombonist - P-Family, Sabroson, Sub-Ukrainium
Damien Denyer - Bari-sax phenomenon (the Sh#t) - the Crux, Vibrolators, Jus' Jump
Allistair "Tobasco Al" McEvoy - Tenor Sax - Runner up for the James Morrison Scholarship 2005
Ryan "the Apprentice" Crothers - MC, Freestayle rap, percussion - winner of this year's WAMI MC Freestyle competition. Former MC for the VOID.
Jimmy 'the Lips' Murphy - Funk Club Legend, Trumpet - Funk Club House Band, Sunshine Brothers, Lysistrata
Tilman Robinson - Trombone - The Roast
Tim Hepburn - Trombone
Claire McGowan - Sousaphone - Hawaii Not
Matt Wright - Snare
Benna Coyne - Vocal MC & percussion
Ken Allen - Bass Drum - Junkadelic, Funk Junktion, Sambanistas
Chameleon's Musical Director and trumpet player Adrian Hicks ( Funkaleros, Acapulco Bros) is also an accomplished composer with the Chameleon Brass Band original ‘We Don’t Worry’ making the finals in the “Urban section of the 2006 WAMI songwriter’s awards and one of his pieces ‘Minor Altercation’ released on the WAAPA Big Band début album Random Musings.
Chameleon Brass Band are perfect for all functions and including festivals, corporate events, private parties and street parties.
