How did you get the name?

The story of the name Zrazy is still unravelling itself. Years ago, when we had a band but no name, a show coming up and one day left to decide, we had some friends round to dinner. One friend suggested opening a book at any page and seeing what came up. Maria took up her trusty Woman's Own Cookery Book, which she had been using that evening, and it opened  at "Zrazy à la Nelson", a beefy dish from Russia or Poland. On seeing the name Nelson, Carole's second name, our friends threw up their hands and said "It's a sign!" Being ever ready to recognise signs along the way, we pondered Zrazy à la Nelson, then Zrazy à la Walsh, then settled for the short but perfectly formed, Zrazy.

The next day, the day of final decision, Maria said "well it looks like it's still Zrazy after all these years" and we both went "YES!"

Soon, another meaning came along. A Russian friend of our then manager informed us that Zrazy was slang for 'right now!' or 'hip' in Russian beat circles. That felt good.

Then just recently, after a show in Chicago, a Polish woman asked us how we got the name. We told her the story. Then she said "Well it is an amazing thing and surely the name found you, because there is another meaning to Zrazy. The 'razy' part of the word means 'races' or 'peoples' and the Z upfront means 'with' or 'together with'. Hence the full meaning is one of unity, all the peoples together. Coincidence or guided? Whichever, we are so happy to be Zrazy.