Brekky Boy: Húsavík (featuring the PH Grand Piano)
Brekky Boy is an Australian band, fronted by the friendly and personable pianist Taylor Davis. As a group, the trio of musicians play “jazz not-jazz” with great musical storytelling and a cinematic approach that is likable, well-written and very interesting.
Their new piece, Húsavík, recently debuted as a piano solo piece on the PH Grand Piano at Phoenix Central Park in Sydney, Australia. Taylor spent some time with me to share the background of the piece and some reflections on music and art.
Making of the Music Video
Brekky Boy’s music is focused on the musical development of the piece, more than stage showmanship or dramatics. That said, the group has done amazing shows in venues that add to the audience experience. Taylor mentions the music videos they recently completed in the Northern Australian desert. “We made those playing on a massive sand dune, and I think it added a lot to the (audience) experience.”
Phoenix has several top-quality pianos for musicians to select from when performing in their award-winning architectural space. For this music video, which was part of Phoenix’s Monochromatic series and filmed in black and white, Taylor choose the PH Grand as the best voice for the solo piano version of Húsavík.
“I could choose from all their amazing instruments, including their Fazioli, but then I saw [the PH Grand Piano] and I loved its modern shape. Even the touch felt really perfect for the piece that I was doing.” When he found out that its completely modern form was first designed in 1930, “it was an even more amazing fit.”
A Nostalgic Look Back
Húsavík is a flowing, beautiful piece that has a great arc and story to it. Musically, the piece is a nostalgic look back on Taylor’s 2014 trip to the northern Icelandic town (the namesake of the song), and the stunning landscapes around it. Much like the PH Grand Piano, the piece feels both of-the-moment and like it belongs to the future and to the past.
Taylor is a fan of film scores, and that’s audible in the band’s music. Húsavík -the piece- correlates to the beautiful landscape and atmosphere of Húsavík the town. “It opens with a peaceful and quiet mood- like the many days and nights we had in a row with no wind. And then the weather can change so abruptly. We were stuck in these crazy storms,” Taylor says, “and I wanted to capture that incredible shift.”
His jazz background also helped shape the sound of the band, whose influences include Robert Glasper, Gogo Penguin, and Tigran Hamasyan.
Now, the group has JUST released their trio version of the piece.
Listen to the Song:
Compared to the solo version, Taylor tells me to expect more of a cinematic approach in the trio version. “It builds more- the drums really escalate through the piece, and it is driven by the epic rhythmic motif throughout. Of course, the melody soars through everything that’s going on underneath.”
This piece is one to listen to and love.
Follow Brekky Boy and Phoenix Central Park, and keep in touch with us as we uncover more PH Piano stories!