So then, w hat’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band?
We’re Shirazz, and we play traditional and New Orleans jazz, or at least we try to. I’m the trombonist, the singer, and the leader, which means I get to wave my hands in the air in some misguided attempt to control the band although probably the only result is that I look like a fool.
W hat do you reckon people will say you sound like?
Probably like we need some lessons, or like we shouldn’t quit our day jobs. If they’re particularly astute, they might reckon we sound like a New Orleans speakeasy where the bartender is drunk, the crowd is drunker and the band is blind. And deaf. But most likely it’ll be one of the first two.
What do you love about making music?
It’s gotta be the groupies! We’ve got a number of groupies who follow us around to most of our gigs, whether they be at RSLs, country clubs, retirement villages, aged care facilities. Luckily none of them have asked us to sign their chest yet.
What do you hate about the music industry?
I could rant about how it’s unfair that no-talent wannabees get all the fame and fortune despite having less musical talent than a percussionist, but actually that’s kinda good news. It means we’ve got a chance.
If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why?
Although it would be awesome to visit King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, etc Showing them our stuff would be kind of like bringing coal to Newcastle. Brown, damp, inferior coal. It would be more awesome to visit someone like Bach or Haydn, and give jazz a couple of hundred years’ head start.
What can a punter expect from your live show?
Probably some jazz. Apart from that, everything is a gamble. There might be a lot of New Oleans-style street beats, some hot solos, some Dixieland renditions of popular folk tunes, good straight-ahead swing tunes (great for dancing), some interesting arrangements (intended and unintended) and a great deal of unpredictability. And there might not. Who knows.
What ‘ve you got to sell CD-wise?
Our newest CD is called The Window (2010) and you can hear tracks from it on our website shirazz.com.au. You can buy it at any of our gigs. It makes a great Christmas gift for loved ones. And an even better gift for non-loved ones. Also, our next CD will be released very soon, so like us on Facebook and you’ll get first news of that.
When’s the gig and with who?
Friday December 2, at Red Bennies, with The Woohoo Revue.
Anything else to add?
Fans of our Facebook page (facebook.com/ShirazzJazz) get special deals and first news on Shirazz gigs and stuff.
