“Poetic storytelling rides the back of infectiously bent rhythms, mangling folk,
tango,blues, pop, ambience and jazz in the process.
Unusual, otherworldly instruments intermittently crash the party…”

Jamie has worked as a musician and community artist for many years. Along the way he has played multi‑instrumental and vocal roles in a broad variety of genres in bands, duos and as a solo performer. He has also worked in theatre, circus and community arts projects around the country. He spent seven months in West Africa in -1996 and 2001- studying Kora, balafon and percussion. Although his main focus is songwriting and composing for MBX, he also works in 'Ngewell Kora Group 'playing traditional West African instruments as well as having a solo/small ensemble instrumental act 'Electrickoraland'. 

Jamie is a versatile musician and is available for solo gigs and in the following formats:

• Guitar and vocals featuring Jamie's well crafted songs
• Beatboxing and vocal percussion
• Kora ambient instrumental set
• MBX (see below)

M B X  -  T h e   B a n d

MBX began originally as a vehicle for the idiosyncratic song/stories of vocalist/multi instrumentalist Jamie David. Engaging the talents of some of Western Australia's finest acoustic/electric musicians, it has evolved into much, much more!  The act has been brewing for a while now; the first "official" gig the band played was in September 2003. 

Though the band has performed as up to a six piece with various combinations of instrumentalists, this hasn't always proved easy to co-ordinate with everyone's busy schedules! The band now more frequently performs as a three piece - double bass, kit/percussion, guitar and vocals, with Jamie David providing the occasional cameo on kora (west african harp), mbira (shona thumb piano), balafon (wooden xylophone), hang drum (melodic gong-like instrument) or shakuhatchi (Japanese flute).

The music draws influences from a diverse range of sources causing headaches for anyone who needs to find a label to describe what the band does. A distinguishing feature of the repertoire is the liberal use of the asymmetric rhythms beloved in much Eastern European music. This underlies more familiar folky, jazzy, poppy or bluesy progressions, ever so slightly mangled.

Much of the repertoire is built around well-crafted songs with strong storylines. Words and imagery jump out at the listener, in turns poetic, comic, surreal and poignant. Delicately textured and lightly rhythmical ambient instrumentals provide a “breathing space” between vocal pieces. Many of these incorporate unusual instruments such as Kora  and Balafon (West African harp and xylophone), Guida (Maceadonian bagpipe), Gralia (Catelonian Oboe),  Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) and Mbira (Zimbabwean thumb piano). Finally, to round off the package, the band has composed a number of pieces whose only purpose is to make you want to dance…

T h e  M u s i c i a n s  of  M B X

The core musicians of MBX are Jamie David (songwriter, vox, guitar, kora, mbira, bala), Manoli Vayoucoulos (double bass) and Vincent Parvit (kit/percussion).

Other guest musicians include Mark Cain (saxes, clarinets, wind instruments), Greg Brenton (kit), Lee Buddle (reeds and flute) Mel Robinson (cello) and Tony Lane (violin).

Manoli Vayoucoulos- double bass, backing vocals

Manoli is an in-demand bassist and arranger in the Perth Jazz scene.  He has worked with the Zydecats, Band of Angels gospel choir, Jamie Oehlers and Helen Mathews, among others. He currently works with the Brett Hardwick Trio and Lindsay Timms’ Jazz quintet “Mayas Well”.  On occasion, he leads “Come and Get it” performing his own original material, an act well worth catching.

Mark Cain - Soprano and alto saxophones, bass clarinet and various weird and wonderful woodwinds

Mark's unique genius is best heard (apart from live!) on his solo album "Reeds" on which he plays over 20 different instruments.

He is best known for his work with the Nova Ensemble, AC/PVC and Ozmosis. See www.markcain.com.au

Greg Brenton – Drumkit

Greg combines a playful and experimental approach to kit with a broad knowledge of grooves from many different genres. He has worked in various Funk, Latin, Jazz and pop/contemporary groups over the past fifteen years. Currently, he is in the process of completing a Batchelor of Music Performance in Jazz at the WA conservatorium, while maintaining an insanely busy schedule playing and teaching.

Melanie Robinson – cello, vocals

Melanie is nothing short of extraordinary! In addition to working with some of leading edge contemporary classical ensembles (Wood, Pi, Ipkendanz/Travers/Robinson) and electronic/acoustic crossover acts (Myrtle, Ether, Squint) her solo vocal/cello act is a killer! Her newly released solo album "After the Storm" is stunning.

Tony Lane- violin, vocals

In addition to being a fine musician, Tony is also a natural and highly entertaining performer. For a number of years he played and performed with “Green Jacket”, doing a combination of his own original songs and traditional Celtic folk music. Others acts he has worked with include  Tears to Picketty, Gadzooks, Cianan and Beltane fire. He’s also been involved in plenty of theatre. His solo performance “The One-stringed Kayak”, toured to Adelaide and Melbourne.