Barry Hirst - Piano

Barry started playing trad jazz piano in 1959 with the South Coast Stompers. Well known around the coast over summers and at the Downbeat concerts at the Melbourne Town Hall. The band also ran their own "New Orleans Jazz Club" for a number of years featuring guest artists such as: Bob Barnard, Frank Johnson, Judith Durham (before Seekers) and many others.

With the decline in jazz during the late sixties, Barry turned to cabaret bands. In 1972 Barry's trio played a three week South Pacific cruise backing pop artists of the day. This was followed by residencies at the Collendina and Colony restaurants.

He has also played with the Levis (a cabaret band) for seven years which included backing artists such as John Farnham, Normie Rowe, Frank Ifield, Barry Crocker and Ugly Dave Grey.

Barry learnt arranging in Melbourne for two years and wrote and arranged for a number of artists and wrote and performed in commercials one of which ran on Channel 9's IMT for two years.

Barry has returned to his main love, trad jazz over the last couple of years and has the distinction of being named in Australia's Encyclopedia of Jazz, Who's Who of Rock and Roll and has an award for "Best Cabaret band"