Cruzy Grooves

Biography

Make your special event memorable with one of Sydney’s premier musical groups, Cruzy Moods.
Our band brings experience, professionalism, and class to every gig we play. Our core group consists of vocals, guitar, and double bass and can be expanded to a larger group by adding piano, sax, and drums – whatever you need.

We play for corporate events, weddings, opening night galas, fundraisers, and private parties with a diverse repertoire from the “Great American Song Book” which is Gershwin, Porter, Berlin etc. to straight jazz standards, to dance music, and everything in between. Let Cruzy Moods create that special ambience and make it just right for your special event from start to finish!

LENA CRUZ – VOCALS
Lena, a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, is an experienced and versatile singer, performer and actor. She started her career bringing her one- woman shows on cruise ships such as The Royal Caribbean, P&O, and Russian cruise liners with a repertoire that includes an eclectic mix of jazz, swing, pop, retro, and musicals. Professional musical highlights include The Threepenny Opera, Fame, Hair, An Officer and A Gentleman, and creating the role of Cynthia in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the musical. On film and television she has appeared in The Wannabes, The Night We Called it A Day, Upskirt, Shortland St., Bargain Coast, Dirt Game, Comedy Inc, Watch With Mother, All Saints, and The Very Trevor Ashley Show. Lena is into yoga, dancing and food.

CHARLIE MEADOWS – GUITAR
Charlie Meadows has been a professional musician and educator for over a decade. His tastes and abilities cover a wide range of styles and genres. He has performed with leading Australian jazz figures including James Morrison and vocalists such as Kristin Cornwall, Lily Dior, Darren Percival, Emma Pask, Elana Stone and Kristin Berardi. He has played with pop and world music artists such as Jai Uttal (US), Dave Stringer (US) and Afro Moses. He has performed with entertainers such as James Valentine and Monica Trapaga. In 2008 and 2009 Charlie performed in the band of the infamous Irish Art/Cabaret singer Camille O’Sullivan, during her seasons at the Sydney Opera House.
Charlie has performed at many festivals and music events held on the East Coast of Australia, including the Sydney Festival, the Manly International Jazz Festival, The Canberra Fringe Festival, the Noosa Jazz festival and the Thredbo Jazz Festival. Charlie has participated in numerous recordings including releases by international acts Esther Bertram (GER/UK) and the Dan O’Neill Band (UK). He contributed to the soundtrack of the 2009 Natalie Imbruglia film “Closed for Winter”. He is a member of Sydney based folk-rock band ‘Malone’, who released an album in 2009 entitled ‘The Nightswimmer’, distributed by MGM. Their single ‘Darlingheart’ has been played on the ABC TV music programme Rage and various radio stations including Triple J. In 2013 he co-produced and played on an Etta James tribute album- The Wallflower by Alex Hahn (UK/AUS)

Charlie has been engaged over the years to perform jazz and other music styles overseas in Thailand, Macau and Hong Kong. In 2010 he toured the UK and Europe, performing at venues in Brighton, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels as well as the Appelpop festival in Holland, and as a featured artist at the Ferrara Street Music festival In Italy. These performances were featured on Dutch and Italian television.

Double Bassist Peter Kohlhoff loves to hold down the bottom end with a soulful strength that can propel an ensemble to groove all night long.
He has toured and recorded for many artists in Australia and internationally, and presently collaborates with local artist such as James Valentine, Barney Wakeford’s New Roses, bluesman Mal Eastick and post rockers Palaces. His passion for music extends to recording and producing albums, as well as sharing the joy of playing in educational settings. But for Pete, nothing beats the buzz of playing live and improvising with an audience that’s ready to party!

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