Donut with Julie O’Hara in Melbourne, 29th July 2017

Donut was formed in the late nineties to perform at Bennetts Lane, back when the club presented a second band from midnight into the early hours.

The younger sextet of Eugene Ball (trumpet), Ian Whitehurst (tenor sax), Jordan Murray (trombone), Colin Hopkins (piano), Matt Clohesy (acoustic bass) and Dave Beck (drums) were together for several years, developing into a popular group.

The band’s teeth were cut on the iconic repertoire of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, but over almost ten years grew to include a strong book of originals and new arrangements by all members (particularly Ball and Murray).

Nearly two decades on, they reconvene for a new run of shows at the Jazzlab featuring existing members Eugene Ball (trumpet), Ian Whitehurst (saxophone), and Jordan Murray (trombone), and special guests over the four shows: Ben Harrison (trumpet), James Macaulay (trombone), Sam Keevers (piano), Darrin Archer (piano), Tamara Murphy (bass), Sam Anning (bass), Marty Holoubek (bass), Sam Bates (drums), Hugh Harvey (drums), Maddison Carter (drums), Georgie Darvidis (vocals), and Julie O’Hara (vocals).