Duck Duck Duck Goose makes its debut in the Wagga music scene

Newly formed jazz band Duck Duck Duck Goose made its debut in a sold-out performance during Wagga’s jazz festival weekend at the Civic Theatre.

The band features musicians Louise Baker on flute, Brianna Seary on bass, Jess Parker on guitar and Maria Tynan on clarinet.

Band leader Lousie said the band had a great night performing for the first time in a sold-out venue.

“The crowd was really supportive and all the performers played amazingly,” Lousie said.

“It was great to have a whole night full of jazz which doesn’t happen too often, but it was wonderful to see other musicians learn from other performances … and also show what we’ve been working on as a band.”

Louise said she was extremely proud of her band members.

“Everyone played their parts to the standard we practised and it was just electric being on stage,” she said.

“Everyone gelled really well together.”

Duck Duck Duck Goose’s debut performance was a five-minute rendition of Bouree by Jethro Tull, which showcased a flute solo and a bass solo.

After heeding the advice from The Curious Rabbit owner Vickie Burkinshaw to start a band for the jazz festival, Lousie gathered her band members for Duck Duck Duck Goose.

“All of us are teachers at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and studying Bachelor of Music through Central Queensland University,” she said.

“I found the song and the members and we formed a band for students who are studying through Central Queensland University.”

When asked how the band came up with the name Duck Duck Duck Goose, Louise shared a short anecdote.

“We were walking down from the conservatorium to The Curious Rabbit and Maria had a jumper that said, ‘Silly Goose University’,” Louise said.

“As we were walking down, a duck walked in front of us, and I said, ‘Duck Duck Duck Goose’ and that was our band name.”

Bass player Brianna said she had always wanted to play music with Louise as they had started their degrees together.

“I’m contemporary and with classical flute, it’s a niche mix, so jazz is a good mix we can both play,” she said.

Maria doesn’t get the opportunity to play with other musicians as much since her main instrument for her degree is the piano.

“Playing the clarinet in the band gives the opportunity to work with not only other students but other teachers at the conservatorium,” she said.

Jess said it was a great opportunity to join the band and get to make music with fellow university students.

“I was very excited to get to perform for international jazz week as it was a genre I had never really explored much before and it was a really enjoyable, positive experience,” she said.

The band leader said the Wagga music scene could expect to see the band perform again as they were already looking into potential gigs in the next couple of months.

“We’re going to start building up our repertoire as an ensemble and see what we can come up with,” she said.

“Jazz is a way to express yourselves without the pressure of exams.

“But this is just a way for us to play music in the community and bring people together, which is something that I think all of us would love to continue doing.”

Follow Duck Duck Duck Goose on Facebook for their musical journey.