Mzaza

Mzaza explores the cross roads between ancient and contemporary melodies from France, Spain, the Balkans and the Middle East.  Their sensual stage show, eclectic instruments and unique way of expressing their influences have captivated audiences and earned them airplay around Australia.

Born in France to French and Moroccan parents, Pauline Maudy sings in French, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic, combining traditional and contemporary vocal styles and captivating audiences with her on-stage presence. The enchanting Greta Kelly plays violin and kamanche tarhu (a spikefiddle of Persian ancestry). Highly accomplished Andrew Veivers plays Flamenco and classical guitar.  On accordion, kaval and ney (Balkan and Turkish end blown flutes) is the talented Stephen Cuttriss. Tim Johannessen plays ud, guitar, and banjo, and percussionist Jordan Stamos drives the show’s stormy beats on darabuka (Turkish hand percussion), tombak (or 'zarb'; Persian goblet-shaped drum) and bendir (frame drum).

This Brisbane-based group combines sounds from East and West with ease and sensuality, creating music that captures diverse audiences. Since their Parliament Of The Birds release in April 2009 Mzaza has performed at local major music festivals including Woodford and Brisbane Festival. 

    ACHIEVEMENTS

• EP Launch (Parliament Of The Birds, 2009) to a full venue

• Rave reviews (see below)

• Sold out Brisbane Festival shows in 2009

• High profile performances including The Brisbane Powerhouse (supporting Band Of Brothers), Brisbane Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Q150 Shed (supporting Katy Steele), Greenfest, Woodford Planting, Valley Fiesta, Queensland Performing Arts Centre

• National and local airplay (Triple J, ABC, SBS, 4ZZZ, 4EB)

  TESTIMONIALS

"Brisbane based Pauline Maudy, an expatriate French singer, heartbreakingly channelled Edith Piaf […]More, please." 

Ken Lord, The Sunday Mail, 2008

"Mzaza are one of the day’s most intriguing acts. The locals perform with traditional percussion and wind instruments as well as acoustic guitar and accordion, as singer Pauline Maudy sings multi-lingual ballads that transport the listener to Parisian alleyways one minute, then Eastern European gypsy campfires and dramatic Spanish landscapes the next.”

Matt Thrower, Rave Magazine, 10th of June 2009

“This EP release, Parliament of the Birds, from Mzaza is my case in point. […] Each track displays such a high level of musicianship  […] I was particularly impressed by Pauline's easy vocal style which belies her level of skill and technique and astounded by her capability to sing in such a range of languages. I have rarely heard such diversity and versatility in a World "Fusion" band. Mzaza's driving rhythms and haunting melodic lines made me yearn for exotic places and adventures.”  

Lonnie Martin, The Folk Rag 2009

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