Spirituals with Lucky Oceans and Allira Wilson

Together with drummer Ben Vanderwal, bassist Karl Florisson and pianist Tom O’Halloran they explore the sacred ground where Spirituals, Folk and Jazz come together. Performing such songs as ‘Hallelujah,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘I Wish I Knew What it Meant to be Free’ are just a just a few of the songs this powerful lineup brings to life. A musical delight and a tonic for the soul in these unusual times. The artists Lucky Oceans was born into a music loving family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 1951. He married Australian Christine Haddow in 1979 and settled in Fremantle, Western Australia a few years later. He co-founded and named the group Asleep at the Wheel, playing pedal steel guitar with the group for most of the 70s, and winning two Grammy Awards (1978 and 1993) for Best Country Instrumental with them. He is listed in Hugh Gregory’s book, 1000 Great Guitarists and has been called ‘one of the most influential steel guitarists of his generation.’ He has a broad knowledge of music and is a fluent player of jazz, folk, blues and country styles. Allira Wilson is one of Australia’s most exciting and sought after vocalists. An Australian Jazz Bell Award winner, she has worked with notable artists and ensembles such as Jamie Oehlers, Kate Ceberano, Jim McNeely, Gian Slater, Guy Sebastian, Barney McAll, Invenio and WASO. She is featured on records such as Alice Humphries' ‘ECILA’, the Rick Webster Project, Freddie Grigsons ‘Duos’ and Barney McAll and Gian Slater’s Collobaration ‘Global Intimacy’. Wilson released her album ‘Rise and Fall’ in 2014 and recently released ‘I Am Like The Rain- The Music of Paul Simon’ on ABC Music in July 2020. ‘Wilson took out best Australian jazz vocal award at the 2014 Bell Awards and this debut-album signals the arrival of an important new voice’ (John McBeath, The Weekend Australian, 4 stars).