Parnazz
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A world jazz ensemble performing styles of music united by creative improvisation.
Ragtime, Bebop, Blues, Bossa Nova, Cuban, Funk, Jazz Rock, Bembe, Samba, Calypso, and Gypsy the key is originality.
The band combines groove compositions with improvised solo spots for each musician and genuine music making.
"We are focused on the music, to make harmonious music that is creative and interesting in the now."
"Parnazz - Real Music for Real People"
Interview:
Stephen Galvin
What is Parnazz and what do you play?
The band varies in size depending on the music, and who is available on certain dates. We play what we call world jazz, that is many of the cover tunes we started with were originally played by North and South-American or European musicians. For example Summertime, that we are told has been recorded thousands of times in many different versions. So some of the music we play would be quite familiar. Some of the music sounds like something you might have heard before. Over time we started to play our own music in a similar styles.
Is it loud?
No! Well actually sometimes we do play quite loud, if there are people dancing or going crazy, as they do in a bar, or café. Most of the time we are quite happy playing ambient music, listening to the room. In the seventies they call it ‘cocktail’ music. Really it depends on the vibe, you know a festival audience like at the Waiheke Festival expects the band to stretch out and feature the musicians while a late-night bar like Caretaker wants a vibe where people can tune in or chat with their friends.
Your publicity material mentions improvisation. How does that work?
Well you know Parnazz we do improvise and we make it a point to play every song on our list a little differently every time because that is how the music moves forward, you know, so you do not get all robotic and fake. Parnazz is not really a ‘free jazz’ outfit like the late Coltrane quartets or Don Cherry’s stuff, cool as that is. We like chord progressions and regular meters. As long as the music does not get stale. You know that song Summertme was written in 1934, yet somehow we manage to make it sound fresh every time.
What is Parnazz doing now?
Right now in January 2026 I am writing and arranging some new material parts and workshopping with some younger guys who you know have their own thing going. Often I like to just sit back and see what happens. Sometimes I step and say ‘Let’s do such-and-such a thing’, or I put some sheet music on the stand. Whatever we do I just say to people we need to share the joy of making music.
Parnazz