FRESH from a successful tour of New Zealand headlining the Bay of Islands Jazz Festival, Newcastle jazz favourites The Funky Do-Da's are preparing for the launch of a brand new CD.
Back In 5 will be the fifth album release from the band since it formed in 1992.
It will be unleashed during a series of shows stretching from Port Stephens and Newcastle through to Sydney, along with appearances at the Newcastle and Morpeth jazz festivals this month.
Back In 5 marks a shift in direction for the quartet, where they move away from the typical jazz standards project to adopt a more adult, contemporary style.
Tunes by Stevie Wonder, Sting, Miles Davis, The Beatles and U2 have all gone through the mincer and come out the other side with a distinct Funky Do-Da's touch.
The album was recorded over three months in Newcastle with local producer Mark Tinson. Funky Do-Da's drummer Terry Morton said the band was hoping for an ARIA award nomination in 2006.
On the international stage, the band has changed its name to The Do-Da's. The decision to shorten its name was made in the hope of removing any notion of funk or dance.
``We learnt this one the hard way after being booked into a dance nightclub venue on our first visit to Birmingham,'' bassist Peter Gray said.
The Funky Do-Da's will launch Back In 5 at The Dungeon at Adamstown on Friday night and at the Royal Hotel at Morpeth as part of the town's jazz festival on Saturday and Sunday.
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