- THE BIG EASY and
- AL HENSLEY'S BANANA REPUBLIC
ABOUT THE BIG EASY The band derives its name from an affectionate nickname for New Orleans, like "The Big Apple" refers to New York City. Long acknowledged as the home of funk, the cradle of blues and the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is the centre of a range of music styles that often blend together. These also include Cajun music, zydeco, swamp pop, brass band and Mardi Gras Indian parade music, rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, Caribbean and Latin music. The band draws on the vibrant rhythms of New Orleans music for inspiration because of its influence on the popular music of today, particularly the band's specialties - blues, jazz and R&B. Founding members of The Big Easy, Al Hensley and Tad Graham, through numerous visits to New Orleans and rural Louisiana, as well as Texas, Memphis and the Mississippi Delta, have formed a close affiliation with the roots music of the American South and have made many friends there, particularly among the Cajun people of South Louisiana.HISTORY The Big Easy was formed in 1996 when Al Hensley on piano, Tad Graham on bass and Rick Lloyd on drums got together to back Noosa singer-songwriter Barry Charles. Al, Tad and Barry met as members of the fledgling Noosa Community Radio. A couple of months down the track Rick was replaced on drums by another NCR founding member, Jim Toomey, an ex-pat Londoner whose CV included a long stint with Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox's pre-Eurythmics band, The Tourists. Having played a couple of early gigs with Al, Tad and Barry, Jim ideally suited the combo, sharing with Al and Tad a common background in the unique New Orleans style of rhythm and blues.
When Barry departed for the UK in 1998 the boys teamed up with lead singer Michelle Brown who encouraged Al and Tad to utilise their formidable vocal strengths more and more. With Michelle forging a parallel career in her own duo, the boys too branched out on their own as The Big Easy Trio. As it had done earlier with Barry, The Big Easy, playing both with Michelle and as a trio, continued to earn its reputation as a class act, in-demand all over the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland. Without compromising its blues-based repertoire, the band's widespread appeal enabled its establishment as a major drawcard at top venues.
Voted Best Blues Band at the 2000 Sunshine Coast Entertainer of the Year Awards and Best Soul / Gospel group in 2001, the band made numerous appearances at major blues and roots music festivals. Playing the Gympie Muster, the Woodford Folk Festival, Broadbeach Blues Festival, Brisbane Blues Festival, Riverfest and the Brisbane Jazz and Blues Festival, they appeared alongside nationally famous performers such as James Morrison, The Bondi Cigars and Psycho Zydeco. Although The Big Easy recorded a limited edition now-deleted album with Barry Charles live at The Healer in Brisbane in 1998, their "I Put a Spell On You" CD, recorded with Michelle also in 1998, received widespread acclaim and contained Al and Tad's national song writing award-winning composition, "Mother Funk".  THE BIG EASY TODAY After 8 years ongoing success without a line up change and 6 years with Michelle Brown, from 1 July 2004, Al and Tad have joined forces with 2 founding members of another legendary Sunshine Coast band, Soulfish. They are singer-guitarist Gerry O'Brien and drummer Bob Ward. With Al and Tad's best wishes, Jim and Michelle will pursue their own musical interests while the refreshed 4-piece Big Easy continues to churn out barrelhouse blues, smoky jazz, funky juke-joint R&B and roots rock'n'roll. Blending gritty, soulful vocals with distinctive Bluesiana backbeats, the format and sound of the band remain much the same, allowing it as always to adapt to a range of different venues. No longer a trio, it now boasts 3 lead singers, more varied musical arrangements and a wider variety of original material.
 AL HENSLEY'S BANANA REPUBLIC This house-party Caribbean-style band evolved rapidly in 2003 when Al was joined by musician friends at what was originally intended to be a solo gig. A flexible alternative musical pursuit, Al's Banana Republic comprises Al on piano and vocals, Aaron Giffin (from Triple Shot) on guitar and vocals, West Indian-born Kenny G (from Pantastic Steel Band) on congas and vocals, Kath Williams (from Blues Martini) on sax, guitar, percussion and vocals and Wayne "Duke" Carlson (from Barry Charles' band) on drums. They are often joined by Paul Martin or Tim Finnegan on bass. The band's vast combined experience permits them to include everything from reggae, swing and blues to rockabilly, gospel, soul, country, folk, calypso, and ska versions of all-time pop hits.
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