Our Resident Jazz Band: the red gum ramblers
The Red Gum Ramblers rehearse in the church at 6:45pm each Tuesday evening, and performs for the Parish twice a year, either as part of a service or as a fundraiser for one of the good causes supported by the Parish. The band plays "trad" (traditional) jazz, also known as Dixieland, New Orleans and hot jazz.
We are always looking for back-up jazz musicians to sit-in with our jazz band when one of our members has to work or is on holiday. If you are interested, please contact the Parish office via email.
We are always looking for back-up jazz musicians to sit-in with our jazz band when one of our members has to work or is on holiday. If you are interested, please contact the Parish office via email.
St Silas Church has a proud jazz tradition and our own jazz song, St Silas Shuffle. The former St Silas church hall (now the site of a petrol station next door) was the home of the Melbourne Jazz Club. Willie McIntyre's Jazz Band, along with many others, regularly played there. The St Silas Shuffle was written by Tony Newstead (Willie McIntyre's Jazz Band trumpeter) and recorded by them in 1946. Members of the Dirty Dozen Jazz Band and their friends at the Australian Jazz Museum uncovered a copy of the St Silas Shuffle's chords and original recording. The Dirty Dozen Jazz Band brought it back to life by playing it during morning tea after our first Jazz Eucharist in November 2014 - a 78 year old comeback! St Silas Shuffle has become a congregation favorite.
