Fun Facts about Shannon: When I was in my early 20s, I really wanted to study at a university in Lucerne in Switzerland with Nils Wogram and couldn’t because I didn’t know any German. Next year I will teach a workshop there, in (broken) German.
An interview with Shannon Barnett for Jazz Australia.
JK: What made you decide to move overseas?
SB: I first wanted to move overseas after attending a utopian jazz workshop in Banff, Canada. I met many musicians who lived or wanted to live in New York City. They were all really inspired and motivated. It was contagious. It sounds cliché, but I really felt like anything was possible, at least musically.
I was also looking for something to push me. I was getting a bit lazy in Melbourne. That’s wasn’t Melbourne’s fault of course.
JK: You were originally in New York, what drew you to Germany?
SB: I moved to Germany after being offered a position in the WDR Big Band. I had always wanted to live somewhere in Europe and to learn another language. People told me that everyone there speaks English and that with my complete lack of German language skills I would still be fine. That wasn’t necessarily true, but it’s been a great experience so far.
JK: Some pros and cons of both locations?
SB: For me, living in Germany has been great. It’s easy to travel to other European countries and the standard of living is very high. The musicians in the Cologne scene are really incredible. And the WDR job means I get to meet and play with a lot of international guests too.
Sometimes I miss the energy and pace of New York. I miss having the option of going out every night to hear some unbelievable music (funds permitting, which they often weren’t). I miss the diversity of the culture there, for example, eating amazing mexican food in the Bronx or playing netball against women from the Carribean.
JK: What do you miss about Australia?
SB: I miss my family and my friends first and foremost. I have a little nephew now and it hurts sometimes to be so far away from him. Another thing I really miss is superficial interaction, like walking in the park, saying hi as you pass people and patting their dogs. Especially patting their dogs. That is not so popular here.
We Australians are really open and unreserved. I love that. It extends to the music scene. So many big personalities. So many bands that are enthusiastic about whatever style they are into. Or their own style.
JK: What don’t you miss about Australia?
SB: I think most of the whole world has some pretty extreme political problems and/or potential candidates right now and Australia is no exception to that. I read the news with disgust, especially in regards to the way asylum seekers are treated when trying to come to Australia. We are such a rich country. I know there has to be some order when welcoming a large amount of people to our shores and I of course don’t know how to manage that, but it’s pretty clear that torturing people shouldn’t be a part of the equation.
I also don’t miss the price of beer.
Shannon is doing the following gigs while she is in Australia and is kicking off her tour with a gig at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
1st November: COMA @ the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
3rd November: Wollongong Conservatorium, Wollongong
4th November: Jazz Music Institute, Brisbane
5th November: Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne
6th November: Foundry 616 @ Sydney Women’s International Jazz Festival
I’m also doing a workshop with YoWo Music on the 5th. It’s a great initiative.
For more info on Shannon visit her website
