About

The Palm Wine Ambassadors

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In the tradition of cross-pollination that gave rise to Palm Wine music, The Palm Wine Ambassadors draw their musical inspiration from continents and archipelagos worldwide and bring it home. 

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 Jason Burns at home in Africa

About 20 years ago Jason Burns returned to Australia after a decade and a half first driving Peogeot 404s across the Sahara and selling them to become taxis, then toiling as a subsistence farmer and raising two children while studying under kora masters in West Africa. Once back in Australia, he began meeting with friends to play music and drink Palm Wine. 

Jason Burns at home in Byron Bay
Sharing music and palm wine

Bringing instruments and musical styles from afar and blending them with home culture is reminiscent of the cross-pollination that occurred during the slave trade and gave rise to ‘Palm Wine Music’ in West Africa many years ago. This loose knit group of Aussie musician mates became known as the Palm Wine Ambassadors. 

As Jason is quick to point out, the practise of fermenting palm sap into an alcoholic beverage within the trunk of palm plants is not unique to Africa, but is practised in tropical climates worldwide. Similarly the Palm Wine Ambassadors draw musical inspiration from personal experience in many parts of the world. Despite their broad palette of influences there is no pretence to play anything other than Australian music.

About 5 years ago The Palm Wine Ambassadors’ first album was released. 

Palm Wine Ambassadors with Afro Moses

Australian promoters, music industry media and entrepreneurs were typically slow to appreciate what was happening, but the Palm Winos continued to meet, drink and play regardless. They caught the attention of three new members: Multi-lingual vocalist, lyricist, saxophonist and stylist Chris Chandler, Guitarist, producer Azo Bell, and his son, music technologist engineer and kit drummer Josh Bell. 

In 2017 they began work on a second album, “Shady Cabal” which is about to be released. 

Shady Cabal

Shady Cabal was recorded at Shady Rest Studio in Byron Bay. The bed tracks were created playing live together. Some pieces are presented as recorded live. Others were tweaked and enhanced to varying degrees by editing and overdubbing. Shady Cabal conveys the feeling of a band of like-minded musicians playing music they love together – which is exactly what The Palm Wine Ambassadors are.