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The BLACK MARIAS’ SWING-TEASE' show is a Jive Rock n Roll and Burlesque spectacular, recalling the classic swingin cabaret era of Hollywood's Sunset Strip of the 1950's and 60's.

 

​The six piece Black Marias perform two sets of classic blues and jive tunes for your dancing pleasure,  and intersperse the set with 'Exotic Cabaret spots' featuring the combos muse Miss Peg Petite , who reinterprets the combo's original tunes with her unique pout, shimmy, strip and vavoom.

 

​SWING TEASE having enjoyed sell out shows at the VANGUARD, is now spreading its fan tails to select cabaret rooms across the country.

 

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JIMMY VARGAS (Vox)

The founding member of international cult noir combo the BLACK DAHLIAS. His credits include vocals for cocktail lounge-meisters BLACK LIST the exotica tinged multimedia combo ‘MACHINISO. JIMMY VARGAS has also scribed for Rolling Stone, Retrospect, Playboy, and Java Bachelor Pad Magazines on the Vintage culture. He lectures occasionally at the CINEMATHEQUE, being internationally regarded as an authority on Hollywood Noir and Burlesque movies.

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​MARCELLA MINX (Chanteuse)

 

Born in Scotland Marcella studied piano, oboe, guitar and vocals at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. Worked as a dancer and cabaret artiste whilst travelling Europe, USA, Australia and the UK eventually settling in Sydney, Australia. She teaches vocals and piano along with musical theory.​ Studies classical singing and musical theatre and is currently working towards her A (Mus A) Musical theatre. Recently played one of the trio in The Boy from Oz.

 

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SCOT LEISHMAN (Guitarist)

 

​One of the most sought out guitarists on the Sydney Jazz scene today. Scott Leishman is a professional guitarist,  bassist and Music educator, being a graduate of the NSW Conservatorium of Music  Scotty has performed, recorded  and toured most notably with DREY ROLLIN , ALEX LLOYD, MARCIA HINES, NIKKI COSTA and more, and now adds his signature cool sound to the BLACK MARIAS.

 

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ALEX HEWETSON (Bass)

 

​Alex is also another graduate of the NSW Conservatorium of Music. His career began as a founding member of the 90's acid jazz group DIG who enjoyed immense success both nationally & internationally. Alex is a "first call" bass player for many Australian artists including Robert Suez of the Mighty Reapers and Ian Moss.

 

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ANTERO CESCHIN (Drums)

 

​Antero is a graduate of the NSW Conservatorium of Music. After his studies, Antero began regularly playing with Sydney's most respected jazz musicians until he joined THE MIGHTY REAPERS where he found his musical "home" for the next ten years. Since then Antero has been an in demand drummer who is more than comfortable playing many musical styles, his list of credits includes Leonardo's Bride, Greedy Smith, Catherine Lambert (Lost In Translation), Robert Susz and was a founding member of the ACCA DAQUIRIS.  Antero is also Sydney's undefeated champion of the chromatic harmonica.

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NATHAN HEMSHAW (Sax)

 

Nathan’s work as Sydney's 'Mr. Sax' has seen him perform with a diverse range of outstanding performers, such as Tim Minchin, Jimmy Vargas & the Black Marias, Ben Folds, Randy Newman, Richard Gill, Eddie Perfect, Christine Anu, He has also performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Victoria, Compass, Continuum Sax, Chronology Arts, and SBS Television and Radio Orchestra, Heavy Metal Quartet, Sax Summit, Sydney Saxophone Collective and Rarefied Air. He is currently Principal tenor saxophonist with the NSW Police Band. Nathan is also a member of the Nexas Quartet: one of Australia’s leading Chamber Music Ensembles.

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MISS PEG PETITE (Exotic)

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The Burleycue 'Baby Sister' to the MARIAS, MISS PEG has a background in classical dance and ballet from a young age. She has trained up her 'Exotic' skills with renowned burlesque queen MISS KELLY ANNE DOLL and has created a tempest storm in her performances to both the mainstream and underground milieu, working venues such as LOW 302, VANGUARD and the COLOMBIAN.

 

MISS PEG’'s unique sizzle and sass, meta-fleshes the Vargas-Leishmann original songs into an unique exoticarama. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHISKY & SMACK ((Burlesque Strip)

LAST YEARS BLONDE ( Glamour Burlesque) 
CATWALKIN BABY (Burlesque)
ZOETIKA BLUES (Latin Burlesque)

FATAL NEON (Rumba Burlesque)

MACUMBAH NIGHTMARE (Cancan Mambo)

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SUZIE Q...(DALE HAWKINS)...(Jive Blues)

​​​NIGHT TRAIN... (Jimmy Forrest) (Blues)

HOLLYWOOD BED... (Big Joe Turner) ()Blues)

LAWDY MISS CLAWDY... (Lloyd Price) (Blues)

DO RIGHT... (Peggy Lee) (Swing Noir)

JUST A GIGOLO... (Louis Prima) (Swing)

FRAMED... (Coasters) (Blues Jive)

MARY ANNE... (Ray Charles) (Blues Rumba)

AIN'T GOT YOU... (Andrew Dice Clay) (Jump)

MINNIE THE MOOCHER... (Cab Calloway) (Swing)

HEART BREAK HOTEL... (Elvis) (Rumba)

JUST LIKE A WOMAN... (Louis Jordan) (Jive)

BLOOD SHOT EYES... (Wynonie Harris) (Jive)

RIOT IN CELL BLOCK #9... (The Robins) (Blues)

MONEY... (Barrett Strong) (Blues R’N’R)

JUMP JIVE & WAIL (Louis Prima) (Swing)

SEE YOU LATER ALLIGATOR (Bill Haley) (Jive)

SHAKE RATTLE N ROLL (Bill Haley) (Jive)
WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN (Big Joe T) (Jive)

DIZZY MISS LIZZY (Larry Williams) (R'n'R)

MONEY (Barrett Strong)

WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT (Patsy Cline) (Jive)

HOY HOY SKIP (Roy Brown) (Jump Jive)

ROCK N ROLL (Led Zep) (R'n'R)

ATOMIC COCKTAIL (Slim Gaillard) (Swing Jive)

STORMY WEATHER (Arlen) (Fast Jive)

MY BABE (Little Walter) (Jive)

TEQUILA (The Champs) (Mex R n R)

MAMBO ITALIANO (Dino) (Mambo Jive)
AMERICANO (Bryan Setzer) (Swing Jive)

STRAY CAT STRUT (Stray Cats) (Slow Jive)
LADY IS A TRAMP (Rogers-Hart)  (Swing)

BOULEVARD BROKEN DREAMS (Slow Swing)

BLUES IN THE NIGHT (Arlen) (Blues Swing)
HARLEM NOCTURNE (Viscounts) (Slow Swing)

SWAY (Dino) (Rumba)

​JAMES DEAN (Vargas-Stone) (Mambo Blues)

LITTLE MOHAWK (Vargas-Leishman) (Jive)
DREAMING HER SMOKING YOU (Vargas) (Jive)

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NICHOLAS DIAK ... MODERN EXOTIC (US)

 

​​Simultaneously suave and seductive for both performers. Jimmy Vargas always has the crooning vibe down and the music proper is old school awesome. Miss Aurora has a glamorous dance, and her super seamed stockings divinely punctuates her routine. The music video itself is light on editing, which allows for many long takes, which greatly underscores all the performances. Bookending the music video with the same shot is a nice touch: it really invites the listener/watcher to repeat the experience.

 

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KOOP KOOPER...COCKTAIL NATION RADIO (US)

 

​"Jimmy Vargas and the Black Marias are one of those rare bands that don’t do what you expect they will do. Not only do you get a band that recreates a song in their own signature sound but you get a band that challenges with lyrics that confront today with the past and then the past becomes today.”

 

 

 

 WILL VIHARO...RETROSPECTIVE MAGAZINE (US)

 

​"Vargas and his combo jazz up the notion of nostalgia with sensuous sax and ballsy blues."

 

 

 

 GREG POPPELTON (PHANTOM DANCER RADIO)

 

​"Groovy, funky, dark and classy, the Black Marias are a force of nature. Their jive noir originals mix it down and dirty with the roots of 50's rock 'n' roll with a blistering interpretation, which could only come from real jazz jive cats who've hustled the streets. Witness the Black Mariah's version of Heartbreak Hotel  - No one gets the heartache like Vargas and his combo."