Take Five With Dan Barnett

Meet Dan Barnett:

Dan has worked and recorded with some of the greats in Australian and world music such as James Morrison, Will Calhoun, Tom Burlinson, Barbara Morrison, Mark Murphy, Bob Barnard, Dan Barrett, Tom Baker, Bob Montgomery, George Washingmachine, Emma Pask, Judy Carmichael, Janet Seidel, Don Burrows, George Golla, Evan Christopher, David Paquette, Judy Bailey, Rhonda Birchmore, Kevin Hunt and "The Australian Art Orchestra" production "Testimony," the Legend of Charlie Parker and is a permanent member of The Legendary Unity Hall Jazz band, Blues Point Jazz vocal group as well as being a renowned bandleader of both big band and small groups.



Dan is a regular on the Australian and European festival Circuit, having played at Waiheke JVC Jazz New Zealand, Thredbo, Manly, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals, Wangarratta, River Festival (Brisbane), Jazz in The Domain, Darling Harbour Jazz fest, Wyndham Estate, Lleuwin Estate, Ascona Jazz Switzerland, Sildajazz Norway and on tours of Thailand, Europe, Taiwan and the U.S.A. Dan was a finalist in the prestigious 2006 London International Jazz Competition for singers and in 2007 and 2008 toured Brazil three times as part of "Jazz Festival Brazil" to rave reviews. On the strength of this, he toured his 14 piece big band to Brazil in late 2008 for "Banco do Brazil."

He also has four CD's under his own name. The Right Track Point of No Return featuring his big band on the La Brava label and Little Green Men with his group Barnett 5 on the Vitamin Label. Dan released CD number four One for C a tribute to his late father in May 2009 is currently working on CD number five which will be out later this year.

Instrument(s):

Voice, trombone, shells.

Teachers and/or influences?

Mark Murphy, Patricia Oertel, Don Burrows, George Golla, Harry Berry, James Morrison, Steve Turre, Dan Barrett.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I heard my dad play the bass!

Your sound and approach to music:

Listen to everything and get something out of it. Try and bring something fresh to the table when you play and enjoy yourself.

Your teaching approach:

Sound, time and swingin.'

Your dream band:

The Basie band, Duke Ellington, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendriks.

Favorite venue:

Probably the Melbourne Concert Hall or the festival theatre in Adelaide.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

It's gotta be Mark Murphy "Once to every heart" man that guy is the best ballad singer ever.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

Four Trombones double album with J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Bennie Green and Willie Dennis.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

I try to have fun and not take myself too seriously!

Did you know...

I love to cook and make a mean Tajine.

CDs you are listening to now:

Mark Murphy - Love is What Stays

Nils Wogram - Fahrvergnugen

Louis Armstrong meets Oscar Peterson

Fire and Ice - Steve Turre

Band of 5 names.

Desert Island picks:

Cannonball Adderley with Nancy Wilson

Steve Turre - Sanctified Shells

Mark Murphy - Once to Every Heart

Joao Gilberto - O Mito

Bob Marley Songs Of Freedom box set.

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

There are some great players out there more than ever before but we need to market ourselves so that people want to come and hear gigs

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Get the music to the younger generations and bring the people back to excellence and stop feeding the world mediocrity!

What is in the near future?

DVD filming for my big band new cd being mixed at the moment to be released in the next few months. Heading to EU in 10 for some gigs!

By Day:

Home Dad.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Chef or radio broadcaster.

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