Cope Street Parade bound for Everglades

Cope Street Parade will make their Central Coast debut at Troubadour Folk Club on Saturday, September 27, bringing songs from their expansive collection of eight studio albums.

Spokesperson Justin Fermino said the performance was both a chance to share old and new works, as well as to reconnect as a band.

“We sing about local things, and it’s different to what you’d expect of jazz music because we stick to storytelling and blur genres,” he said, describing the songs as “original compositions played traditionally”.

Formed in 2009, Cope Street Parade has become one of Australia’s most established creative ensembles, touring nationally and internationally.

Their sound blends jazz, folk, and pop in a way that sees early music styles merge with contemporary.

Gypsy swing and New Orleans jazz sit alongside tender ballads and rollicking dance numbers, drawing on influences from Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima to Father John Misty and Leadbelly.

Their latest release, Caffè Corretto, took shape during a tour in Italy, with five songs written abroad.

Fermino said the band absorbed local culture into the writing.

“We got into inserting Italian lyrics, and the songs became about our experiences,” he said.

He said band members tried not to force anything that they wrote.

“Inspiration can come from something as simple as a turn of phrase or the sensation of missing home,” he said.

The title track takes its name from the Italian custom of adding Grappa or Sambucca to coffee.

“It was a tradition we respectfully acknowledged daily while on tour,” Fermino said.

The group features four seasoned players: Sydney Conservatorium graduates Justin Fermino (saxophone); Ben Panucci (guitar); National Jazz Award winner Aaron Flower (guitar); and Sam Dobson (double bass) – and all members contribute vocals.

While improvisation is part of their process, Fermino said the focus remained on the song.

“There are solos, but we make sure everything has purpose,” he said.

After 16 years together, he said the band valued virtuosity as much as creativity.

“We’ve been playing together for so long, we have so many songs, we don’t stretch anything out, we’re trying to fit it all in,” he said.

Although now spread between the Blue Mountains, Sydney, Melbourne and the Central Coast, they continue to tour and record.

“It’s a very democratic process,” Fermino said.

“Normally, someone presents the chords and melody, then it’s bounced around until it’s ready.”

The new material, he said, explores themes including politics and climate change.

Cope Street Parade performs on Saturday, September 27 at Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy.

Support act Martin & Mearns, known for their sweet harmonies backed by bass and acoustic guitar, open the night at 7 pm.

Tickets: trybooking.com/events/landing/1455564

Ivona Rose