Sydney's new Jump Blues sensations, the Hollywood Hombres, have burst onto the Australian music scene with a dynamite blast of brass and a swingin’ dose of hot grooves. Of course, one would expect nothing less from a band that has been formed by some of the harbour city’s premier jazz and roots music luminaries. In looking to create an exciting hybrid of swing, blues and rhythmic proto-rock, acclaimed guitarist, Robert Taylor and dynamic vocalist and songwriter Wes Pudsey formed the groups nucleus with young bass maestro David Bean in late 2001.

The trio was shortly joined by renowned saxophonist, Tim Stocker and Simon Firenci and the talented Tim Firth on drums. The chemistry between the sextet’s members was immediate and electric. The youthfully vicarious yet experienced and disciplined team of David and Tim quickly locked into a tight swinging rhythm unit. Their solid foundation forms the core of the Hollywood Hombres natural energy, and infectious base groove upon which the group’s soloists can build and expand. Drawing on rich backgrounds encompassing hundreds of performances each, Wes, Robert, Tim Stocker and Simon have progressed far beyond forming just another jazz-roots outfit, however, theirs is a fresh and energetic, whether they are breathing life into an original composition, or recreating a Rhythm and Blues, or Blues cover.

Combine their musical skills with a vibrant and dynamic stage presence, the Hollywood Hombres create a music and style that is new and exhilarating, while still drawing inspiration and feeling from songs considered to be classic R ‘n’ B. They are bringing roots music to the contemporary stage by performing it with relevance and modernity, without losing any of the inherent vitality or feeling that is so much a hallmark of rhythm music.With a huge amount of interest in the band being generated by their live appearances, it is only a matter of time before the Hombres will be headed into the recording studio to commit some of their popular original numbers to CD. In the meantime, they continue to expand their growing fan base with performances throughout Sydney and, in the near future, in Melbourne and Canberra as well.

Hollywood Hombres:

Robert Taylor – guitarist and composer Robert Taylor first picked up the guitar at the age of eight, and was performing at venues across Sydney from the age of thirteen onwards. The six-string virtuoso made a name for himself soon after leaving high school as one of Australia’s most capable finger-picking stylists, and he has made some fine recordings in the vein of Merle Travis (Runaway Guitar, 1998) and Chet Atkins (Winter Sands, 2000).  Robert’s reputation as a wild man on stage began with performances with Dixie Rumble in 1997 and were consolidated by his three-year run as lead guitarist with Australia’s most acclaimed Rockabilly outfit the Sonic Aces, with whom he toured Europe in September and October of 2000.

Wes Pudsey – Singer/songwriter Wes Pudsey first came to prominence in 1991 with country rock group Tennessee thunder, whose single “C’mon everybody” was a country hit in early 1992. Possessing an amazing multi-octave vocal range and a dynamic stage presence, Wes went on to hone his craft with the now legendary Atomic Creepers during the 1990’s. In 1995, he formed the original Radium Club Hepsters, a Swing/Jump Blues combo that pre-empted the current interest in Swing music by five years. Renowned for his electric performances both live and recorded, he has recently been performing in Europe.

David Bean – At the age of fourteen, David swapped the drum kit he had been playing for two years to take up the bass, an instrument which has taken him from high school bands to popular acts including Attach of the 30-Foot she Monster and 8 Ball Baby. Most recently a Sonic Aces alumnus, David’s technical propensity is matched by his ability to lock into a strong swing feel with drummer Tim Firth, providing the Hollywood Hombres with one of the tightest rhythm sections in the business.

Tim Firth – Nineteen-year-old Tim Firth may be the youngest member of the Hollywood Hombres, but his credentials are impressive indeed. A versatile drummer who has played rock, jazz and blues since his childhood, Tim is a drum teacher who is furthering his own studies at the University of NSW. He is a member of the UNSW Jazz Group, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Music majoring in live performance. His work with bands including Areal, Backy Skank and Crimson has taken him all over NSW and throughout Queensland.