All music is derivative - we all have our roots - but my early years of listening exposed me to a kaleidoscope of musical influences, and over the years I've made a specialty of diversity - with a mantra of re-invent or die,... but I do admit to liking :
...gnarly, swampy, jazz-tinged rhythm and blues ...like Dr. John, early Tom Waits, Tony Joe White. The tracks I've posted here recently are a testament, going way back to a smoky night at the Julian Rocks in Byron Bay, 1981, with the one-and-only Fred Cole on Wurlitzer and mini-moog bass - about the only recording of my good old '61 L Series Strat, now just ashes...
My heroes are the great guitar improvisers Django Rheinhardt, Paco de Lucia, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Beck.
About My Songwriting
Genre - that unspoken agreement between the writer and listener - offers musical sign-posts that define a recognisable song style ... the challenge of getting right inside a genre yet making it something new is my songwriting thing ...
My Current Music Acts
I'm playing rootsy, old-timey, upbeat cajun cowboy blues as 'Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz'. Check out "Man of His Times' under "My Videos"!
...I tickle the ivories with some tongue-in-cheek 50s thrash rockabilly in 'the Purple Drippers'. Slim Pickens on double bass, Rex on Stix and Ralph Launcher on Vox . Here's one of the videos I made of a Drips live show :,
I teamed up with Brian Watt over ten years ago now to form Snapshot and we've clocked up 1000 gigs since then. Snapshot offers an acoustic tribute to an electic bunch of free range pop classics. Brian has a great pop voice and a prodigious memory for hit songs. Here's a video we made when we first started out. We've aged a little since then, but we've seasoned like a good wine - it just keeps getting better! We're joined in the video by David Lamers on bass and Peter Jaggle on drums. That's my green aussie Kinman stratocaster in the lead break - still love it!
...and in my solo show I get into a funked up acoustic feel, with yet a different eclectic mix of my favourite songs from all over the place, and my lazy latin originals and novelty songs - 50/50 acoustic guitar & piano.
New CDs
My first new recordings since my studio caught fire are the recent 2008 album "Next Time" (with Slim Pickens) - a jumped-up, country-flavoured blues and roots album featuring ten of my new songs. (Check out the link to the Slim & BazMySpace just to the right on this page, to hear some tracks).
I've got two new albums in the can and plan to have them out in 2009 : "The Big One"- a warm, smooth latin groove, while "Road to Paradise"is dark funky soul.
Don't miss my archive of old animations including "Two Headz are Better Than One" starring Boof & Dick Head, under "My Videos" !
Show me the fine print that says it has to make sense?
Dr. Baz (aka Barry Ferrier) is a musician, song-writer and multimedia artist.
He is currently based near Byron Bay Australia, where he performs solo and in a number of music groups.
For a bio and overview of his work as an entertainer/musician/songwriter visit barryferrier.com
To find out about his work with finger-pickin' cajun cowboy blues duo "Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz" visit slimpickens-n-doctorbaz.com. You can hear and download tracks and see lots of cool pix of our adventures. (That's Slim & Dr. Baz in the first video on the left of this page & there's another fun clip here under "My Videos". ) Our CD "Next Time" is also available at the iTunes store.
Dr. Baz does his bit for saving the world from the climate change crisis by maintaining the web-site at Rainmakers Ozeania
There are a number of animated music video clips and experimental animations posted here under the "My Videos" link - to view more of his online animations and some general weirdness visit Bently Strange.
doctorbaz.com is a site dedicated to his rants, creative writing and research.
The Black Pearls Project is a site dedicated to developing his original songs in a fusion of latin/jazz blues/R & B and funk styles. Check out the music video "The City" under "My Videos"
Free Radicals is a site dedicated to his fun covers band in collaboration with Brian Watt. (You can also see the boys in action here under the 'My Videos' link.)
Alternating frustration and joy as always!.. It looks like its taking shape but we're under pressure with time now... What will be the final song is called "We'll Get There Before it Closes" Lets hope it's prophetic! Cheers from your ardent fans in Ireland!
the hughes clan, i assure you with all my heart, is as nutty as ever :) dad keeps telling me about your computer. you made him like macs! i owe you a hug! see ya round the funky traps!
Hey old friend!!! Honoured to be included in your 'Rogues Gallery'! Good to see you're staying busy... it might... just might... keep you out of trouble for a bit! Working on my new CD.... should be finished May/June... Keep well and I hope we meet again in the flesh... in a manly kind of way of course!!... i.e. face to face! Susan sends her love xxx
Hi Dr, Thanks for the ad... been enjoying your sounds.. I loved the blues... Jimmy Reed, Lightnin' Hopkins... blow a little harp (very little) but when life sucks more than it blows, that's the blues! Take care, Helen
