Michelle first performed live in Sydney in 1989 as "Running Late" withMichael J Kenny on piano at The Harbour Zone nightclub, Bathurst Street. She formed her soul band "The Quiet Storm" in 1992 with Ara Nessasian (keys), Victor Rounds (bass) and Con Settineri (drums) playing a three month residency at The York Tavern, Sussex Street. All these gigs were soul/Latin. She was also working as female vocalist for "Satumbainda" (Latin) and lead vocalist for 3-piece "Hot Tamales" (Mississippi Delta Blues).
In March 1993 she was taken by Ken Jansen Ho (Golden Dragon) to sing in Suva,Fiji for the country's first televised music concert held at Lucky Eddies and performed with Manoa Tuisti (vocals), Tui Ravai (piano), Tom Mawi (guitar), Niko Bulai (bass), Paul Steven (drums). She returned to Fiji a couple of months later and lived there for 3ฝ years until she won the prestigious Vakalutuivoce Awards for Best Female Vocalist and Best Album. Two weeks later she left for Auckland, New Zealand - it was October 1996.
In Taamaki-Makau-Rau (Auckland) she was priviledged to work with some of Aotearoa's finest musicians including a one and a half year residency at the Sheraton Hotel with John Stowers (piano). She was first hired by "Cat's n' Jammers" Ray Gunter (guitar), Trevor Marks (saxophones), Wally Hart (drums) and they played a three month residency at TriBeCa. These gentlemen were, each of them, highly instrumental in furthering Michelle's career through their great kindness, caring, extensive knowledge in the art of Jazz which they shared, encouragement and true professionalism.
She created her soul band "Michelle Rounds and Get Funked" with Ernie Semu (keys), Robbie Karena (guitar), Daryn Karaitiana (bass) and Haydn Wharewaka (drums) and her jazz band "Michelle Rounds and The Souljazz" with Mike (piano), Denny Boreham (bass) and Frank Gibson Jnr (drums). Her guide and mentor was superlative bassist, musician and arranger, Denny Boreham.
Sounds Like
Pasifikan Diva Michelle Rounds, Cleve Douglass of New York, and a rhythm section comprised of top-notch Japanese players, Kazuhiko Okumura(piano), Kiyoshi Ikeda (bass) and Eiichiro Touyama(drums) bring you a new look at seven jazz standards and a jazz interpretation of "Amazing Grace" Prepare to be swept away.
Currently signed to Spectra Records, Michelle is releasing a brand new album which will be out soon.
EGYPT 01 November – 30 April Hilton Resort and Spa, Luxor
FIJI 19-30 November 2008
NEW CALEDONIA 9 – 18 October JAZZ TOUR of MICHEL BENEBIG
FIJI 9 September – 9 October
BALI, INDONESIA 27July – 2 September 2008 Westin Nusa Dua
AUSTRALIA 01 Jan – 27 July 2008
FIJI 2007 9-17 December 2007
JAPAN 24 Nov 2006 - 20 November 2007
AUSTRALIA 24 June - 07 November 2006
HAWAI'I 1- 17 June
JAPAN 5 March – 16 May 2006
JAPAN January 14 – February 19 2006
THAILAND 01 September 2005 - 07 January 2006 …… Sirocco (The Dome) Bangkok
9th December …… Sanamlaung Park, Bangkok - Jazz Concert for HRH BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ King of Thailand's 78th Birthday - opened the nationally televised jazz concert in his honour with "A Night In Tunisia".
JAPAN 21 August 2005 )
Miyazaki 26 June … Cucina d'Oliva premiere of 'LET ME SEE NOW' music DVD
Miyazaki 29 May …. CD Release !! (www.cdbaby.com/michellerounds)
• 'A Matcha Chocolate Love Adventure' cd : 1 x original rap track 'Let Me See Now', featuring STEAL and SHORTY (Miyazaki rap artists) and music by Caprice and 14 x jazz standards with Miyazaki musicians : Ohnishi Yosuke - Piano and Takeshita Nobuyuki - Bass
• The music video 'Let Me See Now' was shot in Miyazaki 10-23 April 2005
JAPAN Miyazaki ……. 29 April 2005 CD Release (www.cdbaby.com/michellerounds2)
• "Coffee Time Jazz" jazz duets with Cleve Douglass, Okumura Kazuhiko – Piano, Ikeda Kiyoshi - Bass, ET Touyama - Drums
4 Dec 2004 - 21 April 2005 …………. Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort
21 November 2004 - 19 February 2005 Honey Pot Live Jazz Bar
FIJI 27 October - 04 November
THAILAND Bangkok 28 July - 16 October 2004 Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel
JAPAN Miyazaki Kyushu 23 April - 19 July 2004 …… Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort
FIJI 30 March - 14 April 2004
JAPAN Miyazaki Kyushu 01 October 2003 - 27 March 2004 …… Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort NEW ZEALAND Auckland 23 - 26 September 2003 Tabac (Pre-album release “How Deep Is My Love”)
JAPAN Miyazaki Kyushu 11 March - 05 September 2003 ….. Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort
AUSTRALIA Sydney 01 August 1999 - 10 March 2003 ..…
NEW ZEALAND Auckland 05-09 March 2003 ..... completion of video shoot for "The Way That I Feel" music clip / Pasifika Festival 2003
FIJI Suva/Deuba 24-28 Feb 2003 ..... commencement of video shoot for "The Way That I Feel" music clip (NzOnAir/franklyspeaking productions)
NOUVELLE CALEDONIE Noumea 07-10 November 2002
NEW ZEALAND Auckland 17-29 September 2002 ..... "Good Morning" program TV2 / Westfield Style Pasifika 2002 / East Tamaki Tavern / PIMA Conference
NEW ZEALAND Auckland 03-10 March 2002 ....."Good Morning" program TV2 / "Tangata Pasifika" program TV2 / Radio 531pi /Pasifika Festival 2002 Opening Night/Pasifika Festival 2002
NOUVELLE CALEDONIE 03 September-16 September 2001 ..... "Tom Mawi & Friends" jazz tour of New Caledonia
NEW ZEALAND Auckland 02/03 March 2001 ..... "Good Morning" program TV2/Alto Bar, Sky City Casino/Pasifika Festival 2001
AUSTRALIA Broome 18 July - 25 August 2000 ..... Cable Beach Inter-Continental Resort
NEW ZEALAND Auckland July 1999 ….. Aotea Centre “AFA Show”
AUSTRALIA Sydney July 1999 ….. Manly Jazz Festival with Tui Ravai and the Freelancers
NEW ZEALAND Auckland October 1996-July 1999
FIJI Suva March 1993 - September 1996
• Suva Travelodge - resident vocalist for weekly “Jazz in the Gallery” March 1993-September 1996 (with internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Tom Mawi)
• Presented and compiled weekly commercial-free reggae program “Roots Riddim” on 104FM for 2 years
• Winner of the 1995 Vakalutuivoce Awards for “Best Female Artist” and “Best Album”
TONGA Nuku’alofa ..... 80th Birthday Celebrations of HRH King Taufa'ahau Tupou II - 1998 / Miss South Pacific Pageant 1995
AUSTRALIA Sydney 1989 - March 1993
View my page on smoothjazzspace
hey aunty, yeh i was playing rugby and had my front tooth knocked out a few weeks back but its ok now coz i have a fake tooth in and im back playing rugby, how r u?
Thanks so much for the Add.. I surely hope there was some music on my page that you enjoyed. I hope you have a Wonderful and Positive week! New Albums on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, eMusic, & My Snocap Store. Check them out! Download NoW! Tell A Friend! And Feel Free to Choose One for Profile Song ;) Take Care and Stay Positive :)
Bonsoir Michelle, Thanks for your 'MySpace' message... Hope you had a good trip back to Fiji.. A warm hello to everybody in Suva... Love to Tom from Fabie & i... Amitiés, Michel. http://www.michelbenebig.com
