THE DUMB EARTH

In 1995 The Lizard Train's David Creese and Chris Willard relocated to Melbourne from Adelaide and formed The Dumb Earth with Mark Ford on saxophone and Adam Kyle Spellicy on guitar and vocals. According to music journalist, Andy Turner, ''their sound was brain-melting amalgamation of avant-garde jazz and slide guitar". In December 1994 they had recorded their debut single, "Taxi Me Through" while still in Adelaide, at The Basement with Grant Sullivan producing – it was released the following year on Pop Gun Records. By June 1997 they had signed with Rubber Records and issued their debut album, 'Walk the Earth', which was produced by Martyn Robinson at Domestic Bliss Studios. The majority of tracks were written by Creese alone with three co-written by Creese and Willard. Willard described their "playing sort of dark jazz /blues filmic music".

By 2001 Ford had been replaced on saxophone by Simon Whithear who also provided clarinet and backing vocals; the line-up was expanded by the addition of Glendon Blazely on trombone, trumpet, tuba and backing vocals; Kiernan Box on piano and piano accordion; and Phil Kakulas on double bass. The Dumb Earth's second album, 'Blessings in Disguise', was released in September that year with David Nelson producing at the Yarn Factory for the Hour of Need label and was distributed by Sony Music. By November 2002 had Willard left the group and was replaced by Justin Avery on bass guitar. By mid-2005 The Dumb Earth had disbanded and Creese pursued a solo career, however a fifth album 'Dry Land' was released in 2006.

Members

David Creese (vocals, drums, percussion, guitar, vibraphone), Chris Willard (bass),
Martin Aujard (sax), Tristan Andrews (piano), Adam Spellicy (guitar), Matt MacDonald (sax),
Mark Ford (sax), Glendon Blazely (trumpet, trombone, tuba), Kiernan Box (keyboards, accordion), Stephen Richards (sax), Simon Whithear (sax, clarinet), Timothy Deane (keyboards),
Justin Avery (bass), Phil McLeod (cello), Jenny Dixon (viola), Jen Anderson (violin), Steph O'Hara (violin)