BLUE FUSION JAZZ

Blue Fusion Jazz is a musical duo made up of Rachel Collis (keyboard, vocals) and Claudio Russino (drums/percussion) who between them have over 40 years experience as musicians and entertainers. Rachel has completed 15 years of classical piano and voice training and has spent the last few years exploring the genres of jazz and salsa music. She is a member of Latin band Salsa Viva and has performed solo and with various bands at many venues across Sydney including, The White Horse, The Lewisham Hotel, The Observatory Hotel, Vivaz, Coco Cubano and many more.

Rachel is also a seasoned veteran of many musical and theatrical productions. Claudio has performed with a number of prestigious musical institutions including the Elizabethan Trust Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia and the ABC Sinfonia. He also has over 30 years experience as a ‘popular’ musician working in Europe and the United States, including several years as a member of the house band on P&O cruise ship “The Pacific Princess” (The Love Boat) He is an expert in all styles of music, including classical, Latin, jazz, funk, soul, etc.

Over the last 20 years he has appeared as a session musician and band member in such venues across Sydney as the Menzies Hotel, The Marconi Club, The Mars Hill Cafe’, New Orleans Cafe’, the Darling Harbour Function Centre, the Novotel at Darling Harbour, the Lewisham Hotel, The Fraternity Club in Wollongong, as well as numerous restaurants and function centres. With their unique jazz fusion style, Rachel and Claudio bring you a sophisticated blend of jazz favourites in relaxing, contemporary and Latin American styles. Drawing on their extensive classical and jazz training, Rachel and Claudio fuse pop, funk and Latin rhythms with much-loved jazz standards to create an engaging listening experience. From Cole Porter to Chick Corea, their vast repertoire caters to a diverse range of tastes. If you have been looking for that “something different”, you have found it in Blue Fusion Jazz.

REPERTOIRE Bossa Nova- A day in the life of a fool Desafinado Girl from Ipanema Meditation Quiet nights So nice The way you look tonight Wave Swing- A foggy day All of me Almost like being in love Bye bye blackbird Don’t get around much anymore Embraceable you Fly me to the moon Honeysuckle rose How high the moon I’ll remember April It don’t mean a thing It’s only a paper moon My romance On the sunny side of the street Satin doll The days of wine and roses The lady is a tramp LatiN- All the things you are Beautiful love Blue Moon One note samba Oye como va Ballads- Body and soul Cry me a river Georgia God bless the child Loverman Misty Moonlight Serenade My funny valentine ‘Round midnight Someone to watch over me Stardust Stella by starlight Stormy weather Summertime The man I love When sunny gets blue Other- Armando’s Rhumba Autumn Leaves My foolish heart Nature Boy Night and Day Spain What is this thing