MZAZA

This year the Brisbane Festival has showcased a brilliant range of musical acts – none so eclectic as Mzaza, whose individual band members have cultural heritage that mirrors Australia’s waves of settlers from Greece, Latvia, Bosnia and France. This band of free-spirited World musicians have a playlist that mixes their original jazzy and internationally inspired compositions with covers from writers as discombobulating as Serge Gainsbourg. The result is a blend as refreshing as a Bobo Parisian spiked with a cool shot of Ouzo.

Mzaza’s original songs are mainly in French, with a smattering of English. Some are historically inspired; others echo the mournful love tradition of melancholic Fado. This rousing montage is all underlined with superb musicianship – Mzaza are Queensland Music Award winners, and band members have been students of Middle-Eastern music in Greece, Iran, Turkey and Australia. 

Starting with the powerful tones of lead vocalist and songwriter, Pauline Maudy – who wears her French/Sephardi heritage proudly and sings in her first and second languages – French and English. She explains that her songs are sparked by a range of inspirations – from her elderly grandmother to the swirling stardust that makes us all. Maudy has a sturdy presence that secures the spotlight. She is ably supported by the energetic violinist Greta Kelly, who also plays the enigmatic kamanche tarhu (the Iranian spike fiddle). The band shows they are a tight unit, keeping strict pace with the tantalizing folk music tempos: Spanish guitar courtesy of John Robertson, Goran Gajic on Double Bass and Percussionist Jordan Stamos, tackling the Darabuka and a huge Davul (barrel drum). And it is brilliant to see the piano accordion back where it belongs as a front-row instrument, showing off its tenacity with melody, sweetly coaxed by Ance Deksne.

When you see Mzaza, you will definitely want to get up and groove. Their take on ‘Le poinconneur des Lilas’ (Gainsbourg’s hilarious song featuring the crazed repetitive beats of a Metro worker in Paris who makes glorious confetti from the remnants of his boring hole-punched tickets) captures the band’s humour. Their ‘Enfants du Chemin’ (Children of the Road) sums up their style – with rhythms that connect with something deep inside – no matter what your cultural heritage. The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent is a somewhat limited venue –but, as a taster, this was a great opportunity to introduce a wider audience to the Mzaza beat. Fresh from a studio session in Greece, the band are unleashing their unique blend of musical influences with a new recording launching in 2020. Watch out for their energetic performances as Mzaza bring their fairytale European musical mix to a summer festival near you. (Find dates at www.mzaza.com)

Beth Keehn

Photographer: Garen Krumins