Ruby Page

A Life in Music

New Zealand

Music has been the constant thread throughout Ruby Page’s life. Growing up in New Zealand in a musical Polynesian family, singing was simply part of life: at home, in church and wherever family and friends gathered.

In her early performing years, Ruby was known as Sue Murphy. Years later, when she legally changed her name, she chose one carrying a very special meaning.

Ruby Page was her beloved Nana’s full name.

Her Nana was one of the most important women in Ruby’s life, a loving mentor who played piano at parties while everyone gathered around and sang. Ruby’s father grew up loving those songs and, in turn, introduced them to his daughter. Taking her Nana’s whole name was a privilege, an expression of love and another way of carrying the music forward.

Early portrait of Ruby Page — An early portrait from Ruby’s New Zealand years.

1990 Listener and TV Times clipping featuring Sue Murphy — *The Country Touch*, New Zealand, 1990.

Discovering Jazz

Then came Mood Indigo

While living in Blenheim, Ruby was invited to sing with the 18-piece Marlborough Sounds Big Band. She knew little about jazz. One of the first pieces the band gave her was Duke Ellington’s Mood Indigo.

The musicians told her that her sound reminded them of Ella Fitzgerald. Ruby’s response was wonderfully simple:

“Who? I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is.”

They introduced her to Ella, to swing, and to a musical language that would become an enormous part of her life.

Jazz had found her.

Melbourne

A band, a sound, a musical family

After settling in Melbourne, Ruby became part of a rich community of jazz musicians. She performed in duos, trios, quartets and quintets, gradually building a larger ensemble with the warmth, swing and audience connection that came to define her live work.

Ruby Page with the Ruby Page and Joe Ruberto Jazztet — The Ruby Page & Joe Ruberto Jazztet.

Ruby Page with pianist Joe Ruberto at the piano

Ruby & Joe

More than two decades of music

Pianist Joe Ruberto has been at the heart of Ruby’s musical world for more than twenty years: pianist, musical director, arranger, chart writer, collaborator and dear friend.

Their partnership grew through countless performances and arrangements, with Joe helping shape the sound of Ruby’s band and the music that would eventually become Dream Serenades.

Joe Ruberto, Ruby Page and Bob Venier gathered around a microphone — Joe Ruberto, Ruby Page and Bob Venier.

The Three Voices

Harmony became part of the band’s signature

As the ensemble grew, pianist Joe Ruberto and trumpeter Bob Venier began singing around Ruby’s lead voice. Close three-part vocal harmonies became part of the live sound, giving the Jazztet something distinctively its own.

2015

Dream Serenades

Some recordings document a collection of songs. Others capture a moment when a band has found its sound.

For Ruby, Dream Serenades was the latter. The 13-track recording brought together Ruby’s lead vocal, Joe Ruberto’s arrangements, the colours of an expanded horn section, and the distinctive three-part harmonies of Ruby, Joe and Bob Venier.

Ruby Page singing during the Dream Serenades recording period — Ruby singing during the *Dream Serenades* recording period.

Ruby Page and the Jazztet performing live at the Dream Serenades CD launch — The sound of the working band, live.

“Ruby at her best — vibrant, sensitive and sincere.”

John Crichton
Jazz Presenter, 96.5 INNER FM

Watch & Listen

Ruby Page & Joe Ruberto Jazztet

This Time the Dream’s on Me

It Don’t Mean a Thing

Another musical door

And then came the Wurlitzer…

In 2017 Ruby met theatre organist Scott Harrison. For a singer accustomed to rhythm sections, horns and larger jazz ensembles, the theatre organ was something altogether different.

Under Scott’s hands, one instrument could become an orchestra: strings, brass, percussion, colour, drama and power. Under a singer’s voice, it could also be extraordinarily lush.

Ruby had found her orchestra. It just happened to have one man sitting at the console.

Ruby Page and Scott Harrison playfully posed behind the Wurlitzer console

Ruby Page laughing beside Scott Harrison as he plays the Wurlitzer

Ruby Page and Scott Harrison with the theatre Wurlitzer — Ruby Page & Scott Harrison

WHERE MUSIC LIVES

The Songs. The Stories. The Wurlitzer.

Where Music Lives brings together the threads that have always mattered most to Ruby: songs with stories, musicians who listen to one another, an audience welcomed into the experience, and one magnificent instrument capable of filling a theatre with the sound of an orchestra.

With Ruby as vocalist and storyteller and Scott Harrison at the Wurlitzer, the production celebrates great songs from jazz, the Great American Songbook, stage and screen while introducing new audiences to the remarkable world of the theatre organ.

There is always another musical door to open.

What They’ve Said

In their words

“Ruby Page and Joe Ruberto together create a type of indescribable magic for their audience.”

Marg Hendrie · Victorian Jazz Club

“Ruby at her best — vibrant, sensitive and sincere.”

John Crichton · Jazz Presenter, 96.5 INNER FM

“If you get the chance to catch the Ruby Page and Joe Ruberto Jazztet, don’t miss it.”

Ken Gordon · Down South Jazz Club

Ruby Page in a reflective full-length portrait

Ruby Today

The songs continue

Music has taken Ruby from New Zealand to Australia, from big bands to intimate jazz rooms, from recording studios to concert stages, and eventually to the sound of the mighty theatre Wurlitzer.

The settings have changed. The musicians have changed. The songs continue.

But the reason for singing hasn’t changed very much at all.

Say Hello

Vocalist • Storyteller • Entertainer
Melbourne, Australia

ruby@rubypage.com

Performance, concert and media enquiries

RUBY PAGE