Brisbane's Valtozash Bigband mix two genres to create their unique jazz-metal ensemble.
With all 11 members graduates of the Queensland Conservatorium, Valtozash use their knowledge of jazz and put a brutal twist on it. Composer and electronic vibraphonist Andre Bonetti shares what it's like being a part of the band. “I felt like jazz was getting a bit stale,” Andre says.
“I found this Spanish big band that made me realise you can do cool things with a jazz education, so it got me thinking about making jazz that's more interesting for punters.”
Valtozash have been commonly described as 'innovative but kind of messed up' due to the classical jazz that is combined with various styles of metal: thrash, grindcore and ambience. “Some of our tracks are good, old-fashion jazz standards; stuff that was being written in the 1940s and I've rearranged them to make them completely different, so yeah pretty messed up!”
Always aiming to be a jazz-metal band, Andre's fast paced and experimental music is getting many positive reviews within the jazz scene. “My process is to more or less write everything as I go, harmonising every individual line.
“That can sometimes be a little complicated because you've got so many voices to work with and it kind of conjugates things, but also makes it easier because sometimes you feel like you need a billion notes playing at the same time and if you've got enough horns you can do what you want.”
Not only being a part of Valtozash, Andre has also been managing roots band Greshka for the past eight years. “I've always been like 'five people that’s enough', so I made a pact with myself that I’d never try and organise more than five people and promptly went and tried to organise eleven. It’s just like herding cats!” he laughs.
Valtozash will be gracing the stage with their upcoming gig at Brisbane Jazz Club. The BJC is known for hosting traditional jazz musicians in its intimate venue. “I always thought that the Jazz Club wouldn't like us because it is a traditional jazz club.
“The stuff that they book is anywhere from traditional jazz from the 1910s era right up to new music and ambient music, the kind of stuff that’s harder to listen to shall we say,” Andre says.
“I thought we were taking it one step to far by trying to play metal in a jazz venue. Every gig we've played there [sort of a small handful] the Jazz Club staff have come back to me and said it was a really ripper gig.”
Punters can expect to hear new tracks and “jazz players, playing really heavy” along with Andre's favourite track to perform, 'Fighting The Wizard Bird'. “[The bird is] atop ancient ruins on fire, which is kind of like an epic, stadium-rock metal kind of ending.
“It’s just really epic, everybody's blaring we've got three baritone sax's playing at the same time and they're all circular breathing and it’s just a really hectic bit. I really love it.”
Valtozash have hopes to play their music interstate, sharing with music lovers how technically-different music can be. “I hope people will realise the importance of making music that is different and interesting.”
Valtozash Bigband play the Brisbane Jazz Club 8 April.
