The Flirting Mazurkas is a versatile trio based on the skills and charms of three of Melbourne’s busiest musicians. They play their favorite and most requested songs and tunes, from years of experience playing at weddings, parties and restaurants. The gorgeous Jennifer Hawley sings and plays guitar, the debonnaire Phil Carroll plays accordion and sings backing vocals, and the passionate Ernie Gruner fiddles and percusses.
They feature favourites and oddities in the style of European café music including Jazz, Gypsy, Klezmer, French, Latin, Italian, Tango and more. If you ask for it nicely you can even have a Polish Mazurka. These songs and tunes are all cleverly arranged to produce an atmosphere for flirting and dancing, if it is legal. The band holds no responsibility for who flirts with who!
Everyone I have spoken to thought you were fantastic and perfect for the event. The range of instruments was great and having the voilin and accordian was particularly evocative and really created the mood we wanted . As the organizer I found the bands professionalism and incredibly cooperative spirit an enormous advantage. Suzanne Heywood, Telstra Function, Melbourne University
Past performances:
Z-Bar South Yarra residency,Tunstall Square roving performances , Cockatoo Cafe, Melbourne Casino, Italian Festival, Ruckers Cafe, Katcouta Cafe, Murtoa Festival, private parties and corporate functions.
Quotes
Just a short note to thank you all for the super music at our Party on the 2nd May at the West Brighton Club. Everything on the day was just perfect for what was one of the happiest days of our lives. Everyone has commented on the excellence and appropriateness of your music, and its contribution in making it a celebration of family joy and warmth. Tony Avery
A special thanks to you and all of the other Flirting Mazurkas for the fantastic music at Stephen and Francesca’s wedding last night! Sarah Berg
I just wanted to say thanks again for your great music on Saturday. The day was a great success and your music was an integral part of it with many guests commenting on how great it was. Once again many thanks.Anna & John
Thank you so very much to you, Ernie and Jo for a wonderful evening of music for my birthday. European Café music is a favourite of ours and the vitality and warmth of you rendition made the evening very special. Hopefully one day we’ll hear you perform again. Best wishes in all you endeavours. Lana Malakunas.
Thank you and congratulations on your great performance at the Champagne Breakfast and on the Cottage Stage at Moonee Valley Festivals’ Queens Park Sunday. The style of music you played really suited the audience and venue, creating a very sunny outdoor café atmosphere!Please pass on my well wishes to the other members of the Flirting Mazurkas. I look forward to working with you again in the future. Patricia Keeenan (co-ordinator) 2004 Moonee Valley Festival
I and a whole host of people would be delighted to act as referres for the band. Everyone I have spoken to thought you were fantastic and perfect for the event. The range of instruments was great and having the voilin and accordian was particularly evocative and really created the mood we wanted . As the organizer I found the bands professionalism and incredibly cooperative spirit an enourmous advantage. Suzanne Heywood, Telstra Function, Melbourne University
Band was fantastic and even left the stage with the crowd begging for more! Victorian Premier’s Gala Ball
Sound Files
La Vie En Rose
Swing 42
Milord
Bessame Mucho
Kiss of Fire
J’Attendrai
Mazeltov
More Quotes
I just wanted to say a very big thank you for helping organise entertainment for the Science Centenary Dinner last Thursday night – Jennifer, Ernie and Phil were all wonderful. I have received wonderful feedback from guests about the entertainment – they were a lot of fun. Please pass on my thanks to them. Marie Kellett
I saw the Flirting Mazurkas at Ruckers late July and really enjoyed the musicWill.
Personnel
Jennifer Hawley vocals, guitar
Jennifer has been playing in bands in both Melbourne and Sydney for the past fifteen years and has established a fine reputation as a guitarist, singer and composer. Originally based in Sydney, Jennifer trained classically and played in local rock bands around Sydney and country NSW. She now has diverse interests in jazz, French, Brazilian, gypsy and folk music. Previously a member of the gypsy jazz group, Continental Drift, she now works with Siren, Flirting Mazurkas, Parisienne Swing and Ruby and Ginger. Jennifer has worked at a number of Australian festivals including St Kilda Festival, Inverloch and Echuca jazzfestivals and plays regularly at venues around Melbourne in her own jazz ensemble
Phil Carroll accordion, vocals, flute
Phil (accordion,piano ,flute,vocals) has played in bush bands since the 80’s. He has had piano residencies in hotels, as well as freelance piano and flute work in studios and various groups. Phil has been involved in World Music playing with Indiginy Music Ensemble full-time at Ayers Rock Resort for 18 months. He leads the Middle-Eastern music and dance ensemble Yalla! having studied oriental music in the middle-east, and plays with Klezmeritis. He also plays in Gypsy Nights with Ernie Gruner who have toured overseas and regularly plays for food and wine events and other celebrations. He plays with French, Latin, jazz, gypsy and continental groups. He has composed music for films, documentaries, music ensembles and dancers.
Ernie Gruner violin, percussion, vocals
Ernie Gruner is a violinist who is most active in the world music, jazz and improvising areas. He specialises in klezmer, leads Klezmeritis and travelled to New York, Budapest and Berlin in 1998 to study this East European Jewish music. He also plays with Yalla! playing traditional Arabic and Turkish dance music. As a member of Melbourne Playback Theatre he enjoys improvising music to stories. Ernie has played at most major Australian festivals with Jugularity for over 12 years a mix of folk/world, jazz, blues, rap, country and comedy cabaret. With Flirting Mazurkas and Gypsy Nights he plays a mix of jazz, latin and gypsy café music. Artists he has toured and recorded with include Dya Singh (Sikh / Indian) and Howlin’ Wind (improv. folk rock). He has over 40 recording credits, and a few debits.
Repertoire
Latin
Bessame Mucho Black Orpheus – Boy From Ipanema Brazil El Bayon Corcovado Cumbenchero Frenesi Guantanamera – Hey mambo – La Bamba Mas que nada – One note samba – Perfidia – Perhaps Quiereme mucho – Quizas – Sway Wave –
Gypsy/Russian
Dark Eyes Russian medley Those were the days Kalinka
French
Allons Lafayette C’est Si Bon J’attendrai La mer – La Vie en Rose Milord Sous le cel de paris /La seine Tit Galop
Italian
Mambo Italiano Marina Tarantella’s Thats Amore Volare –
Tangos
Hernandos Hideaway D(A7) Jealousy Kiss Of Fire La Cumparsita Klezmer Bulgar/af shabes/after 3 glaces Khusidl2/kolomeike Lebedig/sherele Miserlou Odessa Bulgar/Mazel Tov TantzTantz/chava Varshaver/Chava Miserlou
Swing
All of me – As time goes by – Autumn leaves – Bb blues Bi Mir Bist Schon Bye bye blackbird Cheek to cheek – Don’t get around – Lady be good – Fever – Fly me to the moon Georgia – Honeysuckle Rose I can’t give you anything but love I cried for you I’m in the mood for love – Is you is – Am Istanbul It had to be you Lili marlene – Love me or leave me Lover man Mack the knife Makin whoopee Minor swing – Moonlight My baby just cares for me – My Way Night and day Our love is here to stay- Route 66 – September song Stormy weather Straighten up Summertime Swing 42 The man I love The way you look tonight Undecided What is this thing called love You go to my head
Other
Never on Sunday Amor Ashoken farewell Polish mazurka Jambalaya I Dream of jeannie Flop eared mule Uskudara Chiquilin de bachin El motivo Rica tipa Farol porteno Libertango
The Flirting Mazurkas is a versatile trio based on the skills and charms of three of Melbourne’s busiest musicians. They play their favorite and most requested songs and tunes, from years of experience playing at weddings, parties and restaurants. The gorgeous Jennifer Hawley sings and plays guitar, the debonnaire Phil Carroll plays accordion and sings backing vocals, and the passionate Ernie Gruner fiddles and percusses.I just wanted to say thanks again for your great music on Saturday. The day was a great success and your music was an integral part of it with many guests commenting on how great it was. Once again many thanks. Anna & John
Personnel