By Alesha Capone
BOB Casley is mad about music.
The Altona resident owns seven instruments – four saxophones, two clarinets and a flute – and belongs to several musical groups, including the Opus 21 Big Band and the Werribee-based One More George Jazz Band.
He is also leader of the Motivated Jazz band and will join the group’s five other musicians at the Werribee Jazz & Swing Club for a show on April 16.
“I’ve been playing music for a long time. I don’t get nervous now,” Mr Casley said.
“I play music just to make people happy, that’s what music is about.”
He took up the clarinet as a youngster and took up the saxophone later on.
“I’ve done weddings, I’ve done everything you could do. I used to play at all the balls in Melbourne,” the talented musician said.
“I’ve always liked jazz, I wouldn’t like to say when I became interested in it. That was over 50 years ago.
“I think it’s just the lively music. It’s friendly, it’s not mournful, it’s good, clean fun.”
At 68, Mr Casley has some advice for younger people interested in jazz music.
“Just learn to play as well as you can, make sure you enjoy it,” he said.
“If you don’t enjoy it, stop doing it.”
He said the Motivated Jazz band came up with their name “just one night, probably over 25 glasses of red wine I think.”
When asked whether many people thought of jazz as a glamourous past-time, Mr Casley agreed. “We’re sophisticated. We drink wine out of glasses, we don’t drink out of bottles anymore. That’s sophisticated,” he said.
For more information contact Bernie or Hazel at the Werribee Jazz & Swing Club, located at the Werribee RSL Bowling Club, on 9749 4262.
