Hi... welcome and thank you for joining me on this new project. I am a jazz composer and arranger based in Perth, West Australia and I am launching a new 12-piece band with a recording project happening in May 2021.

This new 12-piece band (Mace Francis Plus 11) has been put together to play fun swinging jazz tunes that I have composed and arranged over the last year while in lock down and with limited performance opportunites. These tunes don't really fit in with the modern big band aesthetic of my 14-piece Mace Francis Orchestra (MFO) so I decided to start this new project. I love all styles of big band music from Count Basie and Bill Holman through to modern composers like Ed Partyka and Brian Krock. My tastes vary and this is something different to what I normally do and I hope you will dig it.

The idea for this project came from a Japanese friend, who asked me "Why do you only write sad songs? Are you sad?" Good question (thank you Yoko)... I do love the sound of dark rich harmony and sad melodies: they make me happy... but so do fun swingin' tunes with great soloists, like the musicians on this album! Check out this line up:

Vocals: Lucy Iffla

Saxes: Gemma Farrell, Jayden Blockley, Jemima Mills

Trumpets: Marty Pervan, Ricki Malet

French Horn: Tahlia Denn

Trombones: Steve Bickley, Mace Francis

Piano: Harry Mitchell

Bass: Alistair Peel

Drums: Bronton Ainsworth

The music is heavily influenced by albums such as Art Pepper +11 and the Marty Paich with Ella Fitzgerald albums. If you love them, then you will love this! ...I hope :)

Recording large ensemble albums is always expensive... but there are much worse ways to spend money right?

Your support in this this campiagn will go directly into the studio recording sessions and mixing & editing expences. There are also other associted costs like artist fees, mastering, CD pressing, marketing, postage and artwork design so every bit of support helps to bring this project to life and means I can still have a smashed avo on toast breakfast a couple times a year.