Today we’d like to introduce you to Bronwyn Baz.
Hi Bronwyn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Bronwyn and her husband Blake met through music and promptly formed supergroup Baz Moto from their former cover bands, recruiting the top musicians from each project. They have been in demand ever since for public and private events, performing over 250 shows through the PNW, California, and Canada in just over two years, and serving as the go-to band for such prominent clients as McMenamins, We Believe in Portland, Expensify, and many private bookers. Baz Moto specializes in theme shows and dance parties crafted to their client’s wishes, whether ’80s, current pop hits, disco ’70s, metal night, country and blues, and beyond. They also have a trio format that performs jazz and pop hits for cocktail hours, wine bars, and other private and public events.
Bronwyn is classically trained; she studied jazz at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, earned her degree in classical vocal performance from the University of Oregon School of Music, and studied flute in graduate school in Germany. Her former ’80s cover band, Members Only, sold out its annual show at the Star Theater in Portland 17 years running (450+ capacity). She met her husband Blake Sakamoto while singing at the popular musical theater piano bar at Corkscrew Wine Bar in Portland.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Transitioning from classical, jazz, and musical theater to rock held its own unique challenges, mainly in letting go of the perfectionism that comes with classical training and learning to be in the moment with improvisation and overcoming the occasional surprises that come with live performance. The journey has been an adventure, a joy, and a privilege.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Baz Moto is a supergroup formed from well-known Portland bands the Dan Reed Network (Mercury/Polygram Records) and Hit Machine (keyboardist Blake Sakamoto), marching band MarchFourth (drummer Camille Denny), Prince tribute band Erotic City ( bassist Annelise Josserand, Denny, and Sakamoto), New Wave cover band My Siamese Twin (guitarist Brandon Navia), and ‘80s cover band Members Only (lead singer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Bronwyn Baz). Nearly all played in the now retired ’80s cover band The Nu Wavers.
Unique for a cover band, everyone sings and plays the original instrumentation without backing tracks, including keyboard and keytar (Blake Sakamoto), guitar (Brandon Navia), bass (Annelise Josserand), drums (Camille Denny), and keys, saxophone, flute, melodica, harmonica, hand percussion, and second bass (lead vocalist Bronwyn Baz). Baz Moto also covers every decade and genre in demand, and takes wildly versatile requests.
Known for their intensely energetic and acrobatic interactive shows, Baz Moto’s “wildly entertaining frontwoman” Bronwyn (Vinstar7 Radio) dances through and with the crowd, inspiring them to sing, clap, and jump along while leading them in the Time Warp and limbo contests.
Press rave reviews: “Our new favorite!” (McMenamins Corp.; internationally touring tribute band GayC/DC), “our house band” (Expensify/Midtown) the “hottest band in the PNW” (Coyote Entertainment), “Portland’s band” (We Believe in Portland Assn.), acclaimed all-women/minority band Baz Moto covers the hits from all the decades through TODAY—in the most fun way!
Finally, Blake Sakamoto is the founder and co-producer (with Bronwyn Baz) of “Vancouver’s New Year’s Eve”, the longest-running NYE ballroom gala event in the Portland-Vancouver area, and the ONLY one to sell out last year. Baz Moto is the house band. Tickets: https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/7pj6gnqqxr/preview
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Your band is your family; they are your closest friends and allies. You can’t make music without them. The same goes for your fans! Treat them well, and they become your family, too. There is nothing more precious or more joyous than making and enjoying music together, both for the musicians and the audience!
Secondly, practice really does make perfect: overpreparation is key, especially when performing new songs (and when singing and playing multiple instruments at the same time)!
Pricing:
- Flexible. Please email our booker at bazmotomusic@gmail.com for details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bazmotomusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bazmotomusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bazmotomusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BazMotoMusic
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bazmoto
