Meet the members of the very righteous Gospel Band:
Steve Marskell (Drums)
Born in the Atherton Tablelands North Queensland, Steve started learning drums at eight years of age in Cairns. After a family move to Holland Park in Brisbane, he continued learning drums from Harry Lebler at his drum school. Steve’s schooling was at Brisbane State High and from there he continued his studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Classical Percussion and Drum Kit. Steve’s work has included backing for performers such as Jane Scali and Tony Pantano in the club circuit, Don Burrows and Tom Baker in the Jazz idiom, Tim Piper, Mark Punch, Jimmy Doyle and Tim Shaw in the Rock Blues idiom and Jo Jo Smith, Maria Lurighi and Michael Spiby in the Funk R&B idiom.
Bob Tolputt (Bass Guitar)
Bob Tolputt currently plays with Hobart coverband The Big Swifty, The Southern Gospel Choir, British Psychedelia group 4 Letter Fish, original hard rock/metal outfit Ten Foot Tall and he was a founding member of Hobart covers sensation Yoda. Bob draws inspiration for his unique style from an exhaustive list of musicians, but is most influenced by groove and ambience players such as Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Jungle Funk), Dave Morris (pre.shrunK, Hans Dirty), Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones) and Larry Graham (Sly & The Family Stone, Graham Central Station). Bob has developed a uncanny understanding of how to make a groove 'sit in the pocket' and also how to apply effects units to create unique sounds that are often not associated with the bass.
Paul Calverly (Bass)
Paul Graduated from the Conservatorium of Music Tasmania and has been playing in Blues, Jazz & Rock bands ever since.
Matt Boden (Keyboards)
Matt Boden, pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator and producer, is originally from Hobart, Australia. Prior to his current appointments at the University of Tasmania, Matt was living and working around Europe, based in Paris, France. After completing a Masters in Music Performance in 2003, Matt moved to Melbourne, then Berlin and finally settled in Paris, rapidly establishing himself as a much sought after pianist and educator, forging relationships that continue to this day.
Matt is currently undertaking a PhD in musicology at the Conservatorium.
In addition, he is lecturing and tutoring in classical and contemporary streams in units covering jazz theory and aural skills, classical theory and aural skills, jazz history, and ensembles. Matt is also Assistant Musical Director of The Southern Gospel Choir, the Conservatorium’s flagship ensemble.
Randal Muir (Hammond Organ)
Randal Muir has been playing keyboard professionally since the early 90's starting out with the Hobart jazz group South St. He has since played in many and varied groups since; most notably Express Train, Rektango, and the John Wayne instruction manual. He has played live on National radio with the latter and recorded on many locally produced CD's. Whilst starting out as a pianist and dabbling in piano accordion, Randal has found his primary voice on the Hammond Organ.
Alistair Dobson (Saxophone)
In 2001 Alistair was awarded his Masters degree where he focused on improvisation – an area he is now a leading exponent of as both a practitioner and educator. He is currently employed at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music as a lecturer in Contemporary Saxophone, Improvisation, Big Band, and Jazz Theory. His performances have been captured on numerous recordings and national live to air broadcasts for ABC Classic FM. He has an international performance history and at home performs with some of Australia’s finest musicians. He is currently developing new Melbourne based trio “The Nod” in collaboration with ex pat Tasmania Karl Willebrant.
