Jazz cabaret pays homage to The Genius & The King

Tyrone Noonan and his band Palimpsest’s new show celebrates the legendary jazz sounds of  Nat King Cole and Ray Charles

If you love jazz there’s a treat in store. ARIA award-winning former george frontman Tyrone Noonan is about to present his latest jazz cabaret creation showcasing the incredible talents of Ray Charles and Nat King Cole.

The Genius & The King – A Tribute to Ray Charles and Nat King Cole, with band Palimpsest and the vocals of Tyrone Noonan, is on at the Doo-Bop bar in Brisbane City on Friday night, August 16.

Featuring some of Queensland’s finest musicians, the cabaret celebrates two of the most iconic and influential singers in history. From immortal classics such as Unforgettable and Smile to hits such as I’ve Got a Woman and Hit the Road Jack, this show offers a delight for all music lovers.

Having seen Noonan and his band in action on many occasions, including not so long ago at the Brisbane Jazz Club, I can tell you these shows are old-school in the best possible way.

Noonan has been making a name for himself in recent years with his jazz and soul performances. We’ve been attending his gigs at the Doo-Bop bar in the City and other venues for years. His band is just getting tighter and tighter.

There’s something relaxed but classy about Noonan’s stage presence, with nods to other jazz greats. Like them, he is not averse to sipping a whisky between songs. At least it looks like whisky.

The gig we caught at Brisbane Jazz Club included I’ve Got You Under My Skin (a Sinatra classic) along with hits including Fly Me to the Moon and The Lady is a Tramp, plus other songs by a variety of artists

Noonan says he got the jazz bug back in the days when there were regular jazz gigs at the old Travelodge on Roma Street in the City.

“It was hearing Vince Jones play there that did it,” Noonan recalls. “That initiated my passion for jazz and it kind of went from there. In the 1990s I was doing a lot of jazz and getting paid to educate myself. The thing I love about jazz is that it is timeless. It is great to see quite a few younger people in the audience.”

Everyone got to know Noonan when he and his likewise insanely talented sister Katie made a name for themselves as the creative force behind the hugely successful indie band george, whose debut album Polyserena went straight to the top of the charts in 2002.

George is reprised from time to time. Noonan also has an outstanding Marvin Gaye tribute show up his sleeve, What’s Going On, which debuted at Brisbane Festival a couple of years ago. It featured him out front, backed by Palimpsest and other local musos. That show is a classic and hopefully he will revisit it soon.

Meanwhile, there’s the jazz with Noonan and his band – John Reeves on piano, Christopher Evans on drums and Elliot Parker on double bass – and frankly, that’s enough.

The Genius & The King – A Tribute to Ray Charles and Nat King Cole with Palimpsest, featuring the vocals of Tyrone Noonan, Doo-Bop Bar Basement, Brisbane City, August 16, 7pm (doors open 6pm, no seat allocation).

Tickets available HERE:

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