BIRDLAND is a Perth based Jazz Vocal Trio featuring Kerry Byrom-Carter, Jenny Wrenn and Sue Bluck.

Whether swinging to Big Band arrangements or singing to electrifyingLatin rhythms, the sound of Birdland is unique. Three individual voices combine to form a vocal blend that can execute complex Jazz Harmonies with a sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries.

This vocal group has enjoyed many years of professional work starting out as session singers engaged as regular backing vocalists for jingles for television and radio. They have also performed as backing vocalists on many album recordings recorded in Perth W.A. and sung on ABC broadcast. They have featured as guest vocalists on the ABC’s Television Manteca series, appeared on Telethon and Appealathon as guest artists as well as Backing Vocalists for visiting artists with the studio band. As a group they have opened as a support act for Sir Harry Secombe andJames Morrison. Birdland joined Tommy Tycho and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for a concert series as guest artists in the Big Band Swing Series, In Concert with the WASO and Swing crooner Frank Bennett.

With a sound that can capture the swing era and vocal groups in the style of The Andrew Sisters, Manhattan Transfer, The Supremes, Sergio Mendez… Birdland has sung with many Big Bands at local Festivals, Events, Concerts throughout WA with many memorable performances at the CROWN Entertainment Complex as featured artists, as well as Backing Vocalists for touring Cabaret and Tribute shows.

BIRDLAND is accompanied by the Mike Nelson Quartet. Mike Nelson helped establish Jazz Studies at WAAPA in the 1980’s and has lectured at UWA, ANU as well as performed in concert in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra. His quartet toured India for the 1988 International Jazz Yatra and in 1990 to conduct masterclasses and perform. He has toured extensively throughout Great Britain and Europe. Many of his jazz compositions and arrangements (including his CD ‘Celebration’) have been recorded and broadcast by the ABC. His commissions have been performed by WASO, the Australian String Quartet, Alice Giles (harp – ANU). He has worked with many international artists including Mark Murphy, Milt Jackson, Shirley Bassey, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Debbie Reynolds Red Rodney, and Jerry Lewis. He has published the novel “MUSO” and a jazz Piano methodology book ‘The Craft of Jazz Piano. In recent years he helped to further develop theory studies at WAAPA and continues to work as a composer/performer/arranger in Perth WA. He is now retired from teaching but continues performing, recording, arranging, and composing.