Jono McNeil

Jono hails from Perth, Western Australia where he has cultivated a healthy position in the music scene for almost 10 years. His experiences in a variety of styles including jazz, funk, soul, R&B, music theatre, gospel and dance music have allowed him a distinct versatility and which has offered him a range unique opportunities throughout his career.

Jono made his first appearance in Australian music scene as the vocal front man of the funk/acid jazz band, The Jive Express.. The group featured some of Australia’s best jazz musicians and the band played regularly in the some of the country’s most reputable venues on a rigorous touring schedule throughout Australia and New ZealandNew Zealand. Jono also recorded two albums with the group that both went on to achieve international acclaim. In more recent times, he has featured as a vocalist for the award winning jazz big band, the Mace Francis Orchestra and as the front man of the 8 piece soul/funk band, The Roast, who have recently been touring their album, On a Sunday Night which has achieved large success nationally.

Jono also performed as a vocalist for drum ‘n’ bass group The Resonance, where he featured on a variety of their released tracks. He has continued in his love for electronic music with recent feature collaborations with several European-based house music producers on various releases. Drawing from his diverse range of musical influences and experiences, Jono released through Hit Town Records in March 2008, his debut solo album, which has created a dynamic and fresh new sound that hails him as a considerable force in the world of nu-soul music. The album, Places features 10 original tracks that not only showcase Jono’s unique vocal prowess and distinct sensitivity to style but also his ability to communicate the secrets of the soul with the craftsmanship of a true songwriter. Jono was joined by an exceptional fleet of internationally acclaimed musicians who also featured with him on his ‘Places’ Australian tour.

As well as running a thriving teaching studio in Perth, Western Australia, Jono has been a jazz/contemporary vocal lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) from which he also graduated with a Bachelor of Jazz and an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music. Jono has now moved abroad to pursue new performance opportunities throughout Europe and the UK including the release of his album as well as a series of house music tracks. He is now a vocal lecturer at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford where he teaches the bachelor vocal students in improvisation, technique and sight-reading. Passionate about education, musicianship and musicality, Jono has been an inspirational teacher for all his students.