In July 1988 Monica Trapaga (ex-Pardon Me Boys) formed Monica and the Moochers in Sydney. The Canberra Times reviewer described them as "a band that emulates the music of the late 1940s and 1950s" ahead of a gig in Canberra, which was to be followed by a tour itinerary including Perth. By November 1989 the line-up was Trápaga on lead vocals, Andrew Dickenson on drums, Julian Gough on tenor saxophone, Bernie McGann on alto saxophone, Adrian Mears on trombone, Alister Spence on piano and Jonathon Zwartz on bass guitar.
Monica and the Moochers' first studio album, 'Too Darn Hot', was released by August 1990 on rooArt Jazz/PolyGram. Michael Foster of The Canberra Times declared her voice "always amazes me... through the years, with the volume and range of sound generated from such a small, fine frame" while she "has a very strong and very accomplished and versatile backing group". For the album, the Moochers were Dickenson, Gough, McGann, Mears, Spence, now including Mike Bukovsky on trumpet and Dave Ellis on bass guitar.
In November 1991 their second studio album, 'Cotton on the Breeze', included tracks co-written by Trapaga, with her then-husband, Gough. The Canberra Times' Brad Turner caught a performance which provided "some powerful and tightly-played jazz, swing and Latin standards, and of course a selection from Cotton on the Breeze, most of which Monica wrote". At the ARIA Music Awards of 1992 the group was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album. The lineup for the recording of the album was Monica Trápaga (vocals), Julian Gough (sax), Bernie McGann (sax), Alister Spence (piano), Mike Bukovsky (trumpet), Dave Ellis (bass), Martin Highland (drums), Adam Armstrong (bass), Phillipe Lincey (percussion), Greg Sheehan (percussion) and James Greening (trombone). The group performed at Sydney's inaugural International Jazz Festival in January 1992.
Members
Monica Trápaga (vocals), Andrew Dickenson (drums), Julian Gough (sax), Bernie McGann (sax), Adrian Mears (trombone), Alister Spence (piano), Jonathon Zwartz (bass), Mike Bukovsky (trumpet), Dave Ellis (bass), Martin Highland (drums), Adam Armstrong (bass), Phillipe Lincey (percussion), Greg Sheehan (percussion), James Greening (trombone)
''Hearts Delight / Black Coffee'' 1990 rooArt
'Too Darn Hot' 1990 rooArt
'Cotton On The Breeze' 1991 rooArt
Black Coffee ... a fabulous performance in all respects
ReplyDeleteToo darn hot remains one of the albums I have played the most - first on a take deck in my car in the 90s and 2000s and also asa CD. TODAY - 19.9.2026 I had the pleasure of seeing her in Sydney at the manly jazz festival and she is impeccable and as fine and vibrant and entertaining with a strong voice as ever. It's just like seeing her for the first time again. The only thing that bothers me is I can't remember when I first saw her concert. Was it festival of Perth 1989. Or Sydney in the 90s? Who knows.
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