Featuring Julie Mason, Caitlin Smith, Linn Lorkin and Jane Horder
 
The chick singers’ revenge!   An ability to play the piano gives a female singer a rare advantage in a world where many a male pianist would rather be just getting down with his band-mates than having to accompany some chick singer. Here, second time around, is the concert we call "Piano Women"  featuring four fine examples of women’s independence. There were three women last time so it's growing in leaps and bounds. And the males are down to one, redoubtable bassist Aaron Coddel, who will no doubt hold his own. 
 
  JULIE MASON  
 
One of NZ's foremost women in jazz, Julie has performed all over the globe, including Paris, London, Berlin, The USA, Australia and the South Pacific. She has been a finalist in the Jazz Album of the Year Awards, and recently released her 6th album "Layers of Disguise". She has also sung and played in concert with The Auckland Philharmonia, and The Julie Mason Quintet was the featured group for Bill Clinton (as President USA) and the APEC World Leaders Dinner.
 
CAITLIN SMITH
 One of New Zealand's most accomplished singers, Caitlin always shines with her outstanding versions of jazz standards and her ability to appropriate songs from other genres and turn them into earthy jazz vehicles. But in this concert Caitlin will be performing a special program of originals at the piano in "story-singer" or "song-poet" mode, deriving inspiration from the songwriters she calls her spiritual parents, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Seated at the piano, this is Caitlin in an intimate setting, her exuberant style, poetic lyrics and amazing vocal abilities firmly anchored in her own accompaniment.
 
 
LINN LORKIN
 
Singer-songwriter Linn Lorkin played piano in funk bands on the Auckland club scene in the 70s and went on to play at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London in 1976.   Her performing and creative life found fulfilment in her subsequent eight years in New York where she played in piano bars and began writing her own songs. She has been very active in various cabaret-ish combos in NZ and her solo jazz musical  “Hey, Piano Bar Lady!” won Best Cabaret in New York’s United Solo Festival in 2013 and was featured at Auckland Writers Festival 2018.
 
                                          
JANE HORDER
 
Consummate singer and performer Jane Horden sings in Auckland swing band ‘Prima Swing Riot’ and has performed in numerous musical both in NZ and Australia including Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweeney Todd.  She won a NAPTA award for best Female Actor in a musical for her performance in Nunsense in 2088. During the day Jane is the Director of Vocal Studies at Takapuna Grammar School conducting four choirs, a jazz vocal group and teaching musical theatre and singing.
 
With Aaron Coddel on bass

Door Charge:
Members and students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Queen City Big Band is back, proud to present a fresh program for the Jazz & Blues Club for 2018. The performance will present the Big Band playing a selection of some of Sammy Nestico’s finest arrangements. Sammy has been arranging and composing since 1941 and is still active today at the age of 92. Famous for his stunning arrangements for the Count Basie Band, Frank Sinatra, Sara Vaughan and many others. As orchestrator, he has worked on nearly seventy television programs, including Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Charlie's Angels, and The Mod Squad.
 
Queen City will also be featuring a newly formed vocal group, 5 up and coming young vocalists singing in the style of the New York Voices and Manhattan Transfer. The group are calling themselves “Fresh Air”, this will be their first public performance – not to be missed.
 
Backing this program up will be Helen Clague-Healey and Andrew Curtis, Queen City Big Band’s fantastic and dedicated vocalists with a selection of their favourites for your enjoyment. 
 
Fun and variety from the Queen City Big Band, we love the support the Auckland Jazz & Blues Club provides the band – see you there! 
 

Door Charge:

Members and students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Geoff Hughes is one of Austlia’s leading jazz guitarists. His practical knowledge of harmony and time is rare and much sought after – honing his craft whilst living and working throughout Europe in the 1980’s. During this time Geoff’s gigs included The North Holland Philharmonic,and supporting jazz greats Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, andHerb Ellis.
Since moving to Australia he’s recorded a CD “The Drop” with Allan Browne, and brought his unique sound to the bands of Joe Chindamo and Christine Sullivan. He often plays sessions with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and touring shows such as The Main Event. Geoff is a core member of teaching staff at the Victorian College of the Arts, and in 2007 he completed his Masters in Music Performance at The University of Melbourne.

Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Geoff Hughes is one of Australia’s leading jazz guitarists and educators. Working in Europe through the 80’s,  gigs included The North Holland Philharmonic,and supporting jazz greats Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, and Herb Ellis.  Since moving to Melbourne Australia in the mid 90’s, Geoff has gained the reputation as one of the most accomplished and knowledgeable musicians in the country, regularly performing with many small groups as well as the Australian Art Ensemble and Monash Art Ensemble.  Geoff is a core member of teaching staff at the Victorian College of the Arts, and in 2007 he completed his Masters in Music Performance at The University of Melbourne.

The Geoff Hughes trio have had a longstanding relationship as the backing band for vocalist for Michelle Nicolle and throughout this time have developed a unique approach to the art of performing jazz standards.  A contemporary and swinging guitar trio, steeped in the tradition but always looking forward and to the now.

Geoff Hughes Trio
Geoff Hughes   guitar
Tom Lee          bass
Ronny Ferella   drums

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Club Manouche with Linn Lorkin

 A Django Reinhardt inspired gypsy swing jazz quartet –

James Sneyd (the Grappelli of the South Pacific) - violin
Hershal Herscher - piano/squeeze-box
Sunderland’s finest, Steve Sherry - rhythm guitar
Aaron Coddel - upright bass.
Vocals - Linn Lorkin

Although vocalists were only rarely featured with the "Quintette du Hot Club de France", the legendary group founded by Django Reinhard ( a genuine Romany gypsy) and Stéphane Grappelli in 1930's Paris, Linn Lorkin adds an authentic touch, singing as she does fluently in French.  There will even be some Piaf numbers re-arranged into the gypsy swing style.
 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The University of Auckland Big Band

Come experience the sound and excitement of the University of Auckland Big Band under the direction of Paul Norman. This University student jazz ensemble explores a range of musical styles including swing, latin and fusion with a host of musical features from the saxophones, trombones, trumpets, rhythm section and guest vocalists. This will be a fabulous program and a dynamic night of music, not to be missed!

Door Charge:
Members and students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Thabani Gapara

Zimbabwean born and raised  Thabani Gapara is an Auckland based saxophonist who has been performing in and round New Zealand for the last 6 years. A recent graduate of the New Zealand School of Music (B Mus Jazz), Thabani has had the pleasure to play as a member in several musical projects in Zimbabwe, South Africa and now New Zealand.His passion for collaboration has seen him work with a plethora of NZ artists including: Batucada Sound Machine, Hipstamatics, Vince Harder, Stan Walker, House of Shem, Three Houses Down and Katchafire to mention but a few.

In the “The Gapara Project” Thabani steps out as band leader presenting original material and and a mix of some arrangements that he and the group have arranged.

Personel

Thabani Gapara - Saxophones

Issac Etimani - Bass

Peter Leupolu - Keyboards and Piano

Nathan James - Guitar

Elijah White - Drums

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The Hauraki Hot Seven is the Hauraki Hot Six plus one.
The HHSix was formed to play what became probably the shortest lived residency in Auckland jazz history.An agreement with the management of an Eastern suburbs restaurant / bar, for what would be a once a month residency for one year ,resulted in two gigs before the establishment folded last year!
The HHSix has become the seven for this appearance at the Auck Jazz n Blues club,with the addition of Ron Coleman on piano.
The aim of the band is to play Dixieland jazz for their own enjoyment and that of their audience - plain and simple.
All the band members are well known on the Auckland scene.
They are - 
The Hauraki Hot Seven
Lindsay Meech - cornet/ vocals ( co - leader)
Brian Kelly - trombone ( co- leader )
Chris Nielson - soprano and tenor saxophones
Ron Coleman - piano
Glyn Frewin - bass
Phillip Beatson - guitar
Owen Kneebone - drums
 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Zoe & Keys - fresh and alluring takes on jazz standards, and classics from Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan from Paris based singer / keyboardist / composer Zoe and keyboardist / arranger Sylvain.

Zoe Dadson : vocals / piano
Sylvain Brousse : keyboards / organ
Adam Tobeck : drums

 Zoe and Sylvain are both accomplished jazz / improv performers; Zoe, voice and piano, (ex Bill Evans Academy and a grad from Paris Conservatoire in piano); Sylvain, an experienced jazz keyboard performer and arranger (a grad from Paris University and Cachan Conservatory, and a jazz piano teacher at Bill Evans Academy in Paris.

While in NZ they have been performing a selection of their favourite jazz , pop and soul tunes, as well as original songs from their newly released Open Top CD, Take it Slow.

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The Flaming Mudcats are a rip snortin’, fire breathin’ blues outfit that puts heart and soul into every note they play.
Often gritty, sometimes raw, they hold nothing back and play the blues like they had no choice in the matter.
Fronted by Craig Bracken one of the country’s most accomplished harmonica players, Doug Bygrave provides the six-string raucousness, while Sean McCarthy and Ian Thomson provide the band with its hard working rhythm section.
The pieces don’t just fit together seamlessly, they belong together.
They have recently returned from a whirlwind visit to the USA where they opened the inaugural Field of Blues Festival in Chicago Illinois and played on the B.L.U.E.S Chicago and Kingston Mines club stages on the famous Halsted Street.
Equally at home on large festival stages or in the intimate setting of a club it’s plain to see right away that these guys love the music they make together.
The Mudcats are never too loud or too showy, and pay attention to detail while they pull off the tricky task of playing tribute to their heroes without slavishly ripping them off as they confidently move through different components of the blues — shuffles, soul, funk, four on the floor rock and roll and low down blues.
Anyone who argues that good blues is getting hard to find has never heard of this band… chances are you couldn’t find a tighter good time band.
The Flaming Mudcats mission is to put a smile on your face and then kick you in the ass, musically speaking.
They succeed.
Audiences have bruises to prove it!
Everyone can identify with the Mudcat’s brand of blues; it’s just that not everyone knows it.

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Twistin’ the Swing is a lively acoustic gypsy jazz band influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt, 1930-40’s swing and Romani songs. 

The band consists of the sublime Asher Truppman Lattie on clarinet and saxophone, the exceptional Phillip Beatson on gypsy guitar, the rock-solid Travis Hill on la pompe guitar and the incomparable Djordje Nikolic on double bass. The sense of rhythm, musicality and dynamic interplay between band members creates an atmosphere that is highly energetic and engaging. They alternate this vibrancy with slow melodic ballads and medium swing tunes, suitable for any occasion.

Twistin’ the Swing have been performing extensively for the past several years, at parties, weddings, swing dance events, theatres, corporate events, markets and festivals such as Auckland Arts Festival, Auckland Jazz Festival and Music in the Parks. They gig every second Sunday afternoon at The Occidental on Vulcan Lane (come along and have a Belgian beer and a dance!)

Door Charge:
members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Hipstamatics are a 10 piece high energy soul/ funk band and Masters of the Funk Remix. With a set full of red hot remixes and authentic old skool Funk originals Hipstamatics Stage show is something to behold.The line up is classic Showband from the Motown, Stax and Atlantic golden years. They could well be New Zealand’s hardest working band playing well over 100 shows a year for the last 4 years. From the smallest stages to full on Festivals Hipstamatics blow the roof off every show.

Dillon Riesterer. Molee Taou and Victor Hawkins-Sulfa are a vocal force to be reckoned with.

A tight and hot Horn section made up of Thabani Gapara, Jerome Drumm and Jonathon Brittain will wow any crowd.

And the engine room consisting of Hannah Elise, Cam Sangster, Liam Pram and Matt Lorden are rock solid.

Any time Hipstamatics are around, there’s a party goin’ on. Bet on that.

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Long time collaborators Stephen Morton-Jones (saxes) and Young Um (Piano) continue their unique musical exploration, jazzing up some of your favourite tunes from popular music and the classical repertoire. Joining them for this special night of music are the supremely talented Cameron McArthur (bass) and Jono Sawyer (drums). 

Stephen has been a staple of the Auckland Jazz scene since his return to NZ in 2000 after spending a few years performing and studying music in Europe and the USA. As an alto and soprano saxophone specialist he has performed and recorded regularly with many of Auckland's stalwarts such as Frank Gibson, Murray McNabb, Phil Broadhurst,Young Um, Mike Walker, and most recently the Julie Mason Group. Stephen has performed at many national festivals including being part of headline acts several times at the annual Tauranga Jazz and Blues Festival. 

Young Um is an outstanding female Korean pianist who has built a considerable following on the Auckland jazz scene.

She Studied at Yon-Sei University (Bachelor in classical composition), Seoul, Korea and Massey Uni Bachelor in Jazz piano). After gaining a classical composition degree she worked as a music composer for MBC and EBS Korean broadcasting company as a music composer.

Since she moved to NZ her various groups have performed for Pump House winter jazz festival, Music in Parks and many jazz venues accompanied by leading musicians such as Alberto Santareli, Barry Young, Stephen Morton Jones and Susan de jong. In 2011 she launched her album “Distance” which includes her originals with Oliver Holland, Jason Orme .

Door Charges
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non members $15.00

Jenny B  is Back!
Jenny B is back in New Zealand bringing her twenty five years of experience singing in Italy, France, New York and various points around the globe, including Auckland Jazz and Blues Club audiences. In 2013 she won the Award ‘Coltellino s’Oro’, the highest award that the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano offer to personalities from the world of art, culture, business, sports and entertainment. Jenny has also done many television appearances in Italy, as well as studio work, and in 2000 won the best female vocalist award and the press and critics award at the San Remo festival, the award was presented by Luciano Pavorotti. This is a singer, with several hits to her name, with that special something which delights audiences everywhere she performs.
The Prohibition Jazz Experience Band is a ten-piece little big band which presents jazz standards, latin jazz and popular standards. During February 2018 they performed at the Q Theatre, accompanying Paul Ross,  and Cornwall Park, accompanying Marjan.  The musicians are: Lukas Fritsch, Markus Fritsch, James Langabeer – saxes; Grant Langdon and Richard Breed tpts; Mike Young – tbn; Ben Fernandez – pno/kybd; Nathan Collings- gtr; Stu Johnstone bass; and Trevor Thwaites drums.
 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Oli Holland’s Jazz Attack!
 
German bassist and composer Olivier Holland once again calls the crème de la crème of young Jedi masters (no, not Padwuan learners, masters!) to hit Auckland with a short tour of this powerful and skilled band. 
On the menu this time are brand new compositions, a debut performance of works that Oli is going to record with jazz giants Geoffrey Keezer and Terreon Gully in Germany around April this year. And you will be the first to hear them! And you will be in tears if you miss this! The menu will be enriched and contrasted by some skillfully arranged standards.
 
Olivier Holland: Bass
Misha Kourkov: tenor
Nick Dow: Piano
Daniel Waterson: drums
Michael Howell: guitar
Finn Scholes: trumpet
Special guest: Roger Manins on tenor!
 
 
Oli’s bio:
Bassist Olivier Holland has performed at major festivals and venues in Europe and Australasia, with artists such as Joscho Stephan, Danny Weiss, Djamel Laroussi, Nathan Haines, Whirimako Black, Stefon Harris, John Goldsby, Doug Lawrence, Jamey Oehlers, James Muller and Florian Ross. 2017 also saw him perform and present at the ISB (International Society of Bassists) world convention in New York. He has to date contributed to 22 CD releases, 3 of which are his own projects. Olivier is lecturer for double bass at the University of Auckland and holds a doctorate in jazz bass. 

Door Charge:
members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The Swingin’ Steam engine is a very typical New Zealand jazz group with a mixture of muso’s with day jobs and some who are busy with “other music” careers. What brings them together is a desire to explore a collective interest – a cohesion of spirit - that can only be experienced in the joy and freedom of jazz!

Ross Devereux on Alto convened the band two years ago with a selection of hard bop material. A graduate of the Christchurch Jazz School, Ross has largely been involved in music education since graduating in 2001. He has performed with The Garden City Big Band, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Stan Walker, and various trios/quartets over the years. Now, as school

principal, Ross finds time around his busy schedule for music and the Saxophone.

Trumpeter Mike Booth may be a familiar face to the Jazz and Blues club having performed with a variety of groups over the last few years. After 20 years in the Netherlands Mike now teaches at Auckland Uni, has co-founded the Auckland Jazz Orchestra, and performs with a wide variety of musicians including Phil Broadhurst, Nathan Haines, and Rodger Fox. Mike also currently plays with the Walters/Booth project, and the Superhero Second Line Band.

Joel Griffin - Usually heard on Alto or Bass, but you’ll see him on Tenor this time.

Joel has a full time job in the IT industry but finds time to pursue music after hours. He studied at the New Zealand School of Music and plays with various ensembles including the Auckland Jazz Orchestra and cover band One Night Stand.

Mark Baynes (Doctor of Musical Arts) is an accomplished pianist and composer in a wide variety of genres outside of Jazz with a diverse range of performers such as King Kapisi, Che-Fu Don McGlashin and the Topp Twins! He is currently a senior lecturer at Mainz. His jazz credentials follow on from a first class honors degree in Jazz Performance.

Drummer Andrew Keegan is involved in many different musical projects ranging in styles from jazz to avant guard to electronica and pop. Andrew hails from Sydney originally graduating from the Sydney conservatory of music studying under some of Australia’s best jazz educators and players. Now based in Auckland Andrew works with many of New Zealand’s best musicians and producers both live and in the studio.

On Bass Wil Goodinson is fast establishing himself as one of the best in town.

He has recently completed his Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz Performance. He has performed at various jazz festivals around New Zealand and is often gigging throughout Auckland playing various styles of music.

Door Charges:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non members $15.00

The Club is delighted to welcome back two of NZ's finest jazz musicians- PHIL BROADHURST & JULIE MASON, after their year's sabbatical based in Paris. They have many adventures to report- both musical and travel-wise, and have spent a year feasting on the finest of American & European Jazz Musicians at all the top jazz clubs in Paris, along with some great festivals. Their performances have taken them from Ronnie Scott's (London) to The Bb Bar (Berlin) and from Paris to the South of France, and their listening from American Jazz Greats such as Eliane Elias, Pat Metheny and Dianne Reeves, to European Jazz Greats such as Enrico Pieranunzi and Jan Garbarek.

Julie & Phil return with renewed enthusiasm and vigour, and both have exciting projects lined up for 2018! In the meantime, they will be bringing you an appetising mix of tunes from the GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK- so be prepared for some favourite Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and many other songs by top American composers, with the following line-up:

PHIL BROADHURST: piano
JULIE MASON: piano/vocals
ALBERTO SANTARELLI: bass
FRANK GIBSON: drums
......and special guests:
MIKE BOOTH, CRAIG WALTERS, ROGER MANINS, BRIAN SMITH & LINN LORKIN.
COME AND CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR WITH THIS GREAT BAND OF JAZZ MUSICIANS!

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Based in Sydney since 2009, pianist Steve Barry grew up in Auckland and spent much of his teens playing with local luminaries such as Roger Manins and the Queen City Big Band.
Steve now maintains a busy schedule composing, teaching and performing across Australia, New Zealand and, more recently, Japan and East Asia. He recently completed his PhD in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, focussing on the uses of pitch class sets and intervallicism as tools for composition and solo and collective improvisation. Steve is the co-founder of Orbiturtle, a not-for-profit arts organisation that aims to foster a growing community of musicians and artists by curating new collaborations between artists from across the Asia-Pacific region and establishing a medium for the intersection of eastern and western art and philosophy. In January last year, Steve spent two weeks in Japan collaborating with renowned koto player and improviser Michiyo Yagi.
Steve is the recipient of numbers awards, including the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (2013), 2nd place in the National Jazz Awards (2013), and a BBM Travel Scholarship (2011). He was a finalist in the 2017 APRA Professional Development Awards and a nominee for the 2016 Freedman Fellowship.
Joined by a stellar local rhythm section, tonight's show sees Steve return to his roots in jazz standards and the classic music of the Great American Songbook, alongside selection of compositions from his latest quartet recording and a product of his doctoral studies, Blueprints & Vignettes.

Door Charges:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Nanny Assis is a Brazilian, New York based vocalist, instrumentalist and songwriter. Nanny has just won best male vocalist for the Brazilian Press Music Awards 2017 and nominated for best show in New York also instrumentalist. He will perform songs from his Double Rainbow album, with standards also. Nanny is an outstanding vocalist drummer/percussionist and a talented songwriter who has touched hearts and souls through his music. Anybody that sees Nanny perform immediately feels his rhythms and notes often snatching audiences away, other times energising them enough to stand up and dance and sweat until you cant sweat no more to use Bob Marley's lyrics. Nanny Assis is quite simply a gifted artist. 

Nanny has been collaborating with vocalist Maggie Gould in New York and Maggie has her inspiration from Ella Fitzgerald, Astrud Gilberto, Ivan Lins, Chet Baker and Elaine Elias. Her music is described as soft, sultry, vocals with space, her performances have taken her to festivals Tauranga Jazz, Samoa, Monterey, Rome, Venice to Lon

Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

French song and gypsy swing with NZ's premier vocal manouche band, La Luna & the Gadjos. 
Chanteuse La Luna (Caro Manins) sings vintage Piaf with nerve and verve together with classic songs from the steamy hot clubs of Paris. She is aided and abetted by sax-man Roger Manins, adding a touch of New Orleans soul, and the gypsy talents of Phillip Beatson - lead guitar, James "le Prof" of the burning violin, Sam Swindells - la pompe, Chris Marshall - contrabass

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The Brian Smith Quintet.

This will be a wonderful night for jazz lovers. Look forward to a smooth sophisticated evening of music from some Kiwi icons you all know and love. 

Brian Smith - Sax, Bruce Lynch - bass, Frank Gibson -Drums, Chris Nielson - Trumpet etc. Dean Kerr -Guitar. 

All have had illustrious careers in music both here and overseas. All have played with some of the best known music artists in New Zealand and internationally. The lists of accomplishments is far too long to list here. 
Make sure you don’t miss this night. 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00
 

Big Ticket is a band which specialises in taking modern pop songs and playing them with a vintage twist. Our repertoire includes songs by popular music greats such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones and also more current pop sensations like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. All songs are played in a variety of vintage styles which includes Swing and MoTown.

We also play a collection of standards by the likes of Nat King Cole, Elvis and Ray Charles.

Featuring:
Allana Goldsmith, Hannah McGrail and Lilo Asiata - Vocals
Asher Truppman-Latie - Saxophone
Paul Norman - Trumpet/Trombone
Sam Swindells - Guitar
Loris Zigon - Piano
Wil Goodinson - Double Bass
Tristan Deck - Drums

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

DOG, featuring Kevin Field, Roger Manins, Ron Samsom and Olivier Holland are some of NZ's most highly regarded Jazz musicians and their self-titled album DOG won the award for the Tui 2015 New Zealand Jazz album of the year. For this performance they will be playing some of their latest compositions!. Expect a lot of fun and energy, and support this great band at the Auckland Jazz and Blues Club
 Kevin Field - piano. Ollie Holland - bass.  Ron Samsom - drums Roger  Manins  Tenor sax

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Tonights entertainment features the top bands from The Auckland Scholl Jazz band Competitions held earlier this year

Lynfield College Big Band 2017

The LC Big Band is directed by Paul Norman and has members from Year 9 through to Year 13.  In August this year they were awarded Best Big Band at the Auckland Schools Jazz Band Competition.  This was their fourth win since the competition began in 2013.  At the KBB Music Festival they were placed in the top 4 Big Bands to qualify for the Gala Showcase where they were presented with a Gold Award and two new awards:  Best Performance of a Ballad and Best Performance of a Swing Chart.  Three of the the Year 13 members intend to study Jazz at Auckland University next year.

The St Peter's Jazz band is an ensemble dedicated to providing young learners with a broad and diverse experience of performing music. They are committed to exploring repertoire from across the jazz spectrum, ranging from the the beginning of the big band era, right up to today. Today's program will feature selections from artists such as Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Count Basie, and Harry Connick Jr. The St Peter's Jazz band is led by Ben Sinclair and tonight's featured vocalists are Max Hackshaw, and Netta Solomon-Brown (Baradene College). 

 

Rangitoto College Big Band (directors: Markus Fritsch & Nathan Collings)

The Rangitoto College Big Band is the auditioned Senior Jazz ensemble of our school. Students aged 14-18 are committed to rehearsals, sectionals and instrumental tuition – and most of them are living the Jazz life style! In 2017 we have been fortunate enough to take part in the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Hawaii in April.  In June we took part of the Wellington Jazz Festival, where we saw Dave Weckl amongst others as well as receiving awards for best Big Band, best Jazz Combo, best trumpet, best drums, best bass player and best overall musician of the festival. In August the band enjoyed their part in the Auckland Jazz & Blues Club Competition this year and the KBB Music festival, where they won respective Gold Awards, placing them firmly in the top Jazz bands in Auckland. We are extremely honored that the Auckland Jazz  & Blues Club is inviting us to perform on a regular club night and are excited to perform there again! And we have some special guests as a surprise up our sleeve…    

Personnel: Drums: Tom Lawton; Bass: Sally Han; Guitar: Donovan Rae; Piano: Emily Wong; Trumpets: Bella Thomas, Tim Kwon, Miles Timmis, Noah Ferguson-Dudding, Giona Basso; Trombones: Luca Basso; Suzie Xu; Chuan Li, Daniel Xu, Tim Prosee; Saxes: Marco Vas, Daniel Gailer, Krishna Suresh, Charlie Harmer, Georgie Trivanovich. 

The Auckland Secondary Schools Big Band was created in October this year.  Directed by Paul Norman, it is comprised of 24 of the most talented young jazz musicians from 10 different schools across Auckland.  The purpose of the band is to extend the students by providing them with the opportunity to play professional level charts and further develop collaboration across schools.

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

 

BEN WILCOCK & THE JELLY ROLLS release 

‘THE PHANTOM CANOE’ 

In January 2017 pianist Ben Wilcock set about composing an album of instrumental jazz
inspired by Te Arawa legends of the Rotorua region. 

"I thought why not write about where I live, like the saying, 'write about what you know’. I
wanted to write about the area of Rotorua and the lakes." 

The result is the Jelly Rolls’ third album ‘The Phantom Canoe’, which features nine
interpretations of four different beloved narratives. 

‘Kataore' (the taniwha dragon) is a passionate tango and opens the album. 

The well known love story of ‘Hinemoa and Tutanekai' is interpreted in three variations, one
including a cameo bass saxophone appearance by Dan Yeabsley. 

‘Man and his Dog’ tells the tale of Ihenga’s discovery of Lake Rotoiti, along with his dog - 
‘Potakatawhiti’. 

The album concludes with The Phantom Canoe suite, which includes a chilling portrayal of
the famous sighting of a ghost ship on Lake Tarawera, days before the 1886 eruption. 
Swamp Thing and Jonathan Buttler Trio percussionist Michael Barker features on the
vibraphone. 

‘The Phantom Canoe’ was released at a sell out show as part of The Wellington Jazz
Festival on June 10, the anniversary of the Mt Tarawera eruption. A Rotorua release concert
is in the planning. 

The album can be found at www.thickrecords.co.nz as a download, and is available on
Thick Records’ (NZ) USB card series, packaged with high quality audio, a 12 min
documentary and ‘moving liner notes’ designed by award winning artist Riley Claxton. 

Available now at: www.thickrecords.co.nz / www.benwilcock.com
MEDIA RELEASE JUNE 2017 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Lauren Nottingham Bio:
Lauren Nottingham is a vocalist from New Plymouth whose serious interest in Jazz began in 2011 after she won the award for Most Outstanding Vocalist at the inaugural New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) Jazz Festival.  This led her to study Jazz Performance at NZSM from 2012 – 2014 where she established a profile as a promising young musician. Alongside her love for jazz is her love for choral singing. Lauren was a member of the 2014–2016 New Zealand Youth Choir, who went on a European Landmark Tour last July, and won the Grand Prix in the 2016 IFAS in Pardubice Czech Republic and also all four categories it competed in. Other recent projects include featuring alongside Jamie Oehlers in UK pianist & composer Mark Donlon’s latest album release ‘Shadowbird’, and releasing an album as the lead singer of Multiplayer - a band showcasing the original works of Californian Jazz pianist & songwriter Matt Sagen. After spending the past year living in Berlin, Lauren is back home continuing to develop her own musical collaborations.

Mark Donlon Bio: 
Mark Donlon is a renowned British pianist, composer and educator currently based in New Zealand. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM). Recent and upcoming album releases include ‘Southern Shift’, which is an album of improvised solo piano pieces and ‘Between Moons’ - a duo album with New-York based, Grammy Award winning trumpeter Alex Sipiagin. 2017 will see the release of ’Tales From The Diaspora’ - a quintet album recorded in New York and featuring Seamus Blake, Alex Sipiagin, Boris Kozlov, Mark Donlon on piano and Donald Edwards on drums. 2016 saw the release of the debut album ‘Shadowbird’ by his Australasian group which features Australian saxophonist Jamie Oehlers.
He has performed with artists such as George Coleman, The Machito Orchestra, Maceo Parker, Dave Valentin, Dave Liebman and Kenny Wheeler to mention but a few. He moved to New Zealand in 2013 to take up the post of Head of Jazz at the New Zealand School of Music, where he teaches Jazz improvisation and Jazz piano along with being a busy performer.

Quotes from reviews in the UK national press:

‘a fabulously gifted pianist’ (Manchester Evening News - Alan Brownlee)

‘brilliant, focussed playing’ (The Times – Alyn Shipton)

‘Streaming up-tempo freedom, at times suggestive of the implacable precision of early Paul Bley . . . Donlon’s take on ‘My Foolish Heart’ and ‘Recorda Me’ was a revelation (The Guardian – John Fordham)’

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Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Pure of tone and sweet sounding, jazz vocalist Hetty Kate was born in England and moved to Melbourne as a youngteenager. With nine diverse albums under her belt in the last decade, and a regular international touring schedule, Hetty has built a reputation for being ‘truly one of the best swing-style singers on the current scene’ (Will Friedwald, jazz critic andauthor). She approaches each song and performance with a natural musicality, and is often lauded for the clarity in her voice. Hetty spent three years touring with James Morrison and was the featured vocalist in his award-winning symphonic concert‘The A to Z of Jazz’ which toured NZ in 2015. She is a regular at jazz and swing festivals around Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and her career highlights range from singing at the Sydney Opera House to touring Victoria with the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Share The Music Program. Hetty is now based in Paris, France.

“a stage presence only matched by the clarity of her voice” James Morrison AM (AU)

Outstanding guitarist James Sherlock was born in Christchurch, before moving to Brisbane as a young teenager. Known for his ability to convey a lyrical and luscious timbre on his instrument, James has an ongoing duo project with celebratedBrisbane vocalist Kristin Berardi, and has worked with a variety of Australia’s finest; as well as many visiting artists such as Leroy Jones, Sheila Jordan, Cyrille Aimee, Jon Riley and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts. He was awarded the Ike Isaacs International Jazz Guitar Award and as a bandleader has released six albums as well as appearing on many more for other artists. Close tohome, James has a weekly residency with Melbourne bebop sextet Bopstretch, and is currently completing an new album, to be released late 2017.

“Sherlock is a wonderful guitarist, and a craftsman of songs possessing beauty and depth.”
Ian Patterson : All About Jazz Magazine (USA)

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

SUZANNE LYNCH  

Suzanne was discovered along with her sister Judy by New
Zealand guitarist Peter Posa, the two sisters became regular
performers on the New Zealand television show ‘C’Mon’ in
the late 60’s and in 1971 as a soloist Suzanne was also a
regular on the television show ‘Happen In’. Having
established a name in New Zealand as the blonde member of
the popular 60's duo "The Chicks" and then as a solo
performer; 

Suzanne studied vocal technique with the well known singing
teacher from Covent Garden in England, who had recently
moved out to New Zealand.. Hubert Milverton Carta for 3
years, before travelling to England in Jan 1973 and she
quickly became one of London’s first call session singers
singing on Albums by Chris De Burgh, Art Garfunkel, 
ShaWaddyWaddy, Cleo Lane The Walker Brothers and Cat
Stevens to name just a few. She joined Cat Stevens band in
1974 and performed with him on two world tours and on all
his recordings until he gave up his music and became Yusuf
Islam. She had the pleasure of singing with him once again in
Christchurch last year at his concert there as his special
guest. 

Whilst in England Suzanne also did a lot of work with Neil
Sedaka, touring and recording a live album with him at The
Royal Festival Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in
London. She toured with Charles Aznavour throughout
England and Europe. She performed on many English
television shows, including a Lulu Special, a series with Leo
Sayer, and was a regular singer on the English television
series, “Get it Together”. 

Back in New Zealand in 2004 – 2007 Suzanne was the vocal
coach for 3 seasons of New Zealand Idol, and 2008 – 2009
vocal coach for Stars In Their Eyes., and has been the vocal
and performance coach for New Zealand’s Got Talent, for the
last two years. 

Currently Suzanne teaches contemporary vocal technique
and stage performance, and is still busy performing as a
soloist, and as a member of the well known vocal group “The
Ladykillers, with Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke and the The
Ladykillers special guest Annie Crummer .. 

Suzanne will be backed by the Mike Walker Trio

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

Voxnova is enjoying its 20th year of existence, performing a mixture of Latin, Manouche offerings focussing more recently on a progressive form of these genres as well as originals penned by Violinist James and Guitarist Doug Robertson.
Members in order of appearance: 
Alan MacDonald (founder/percussionist), Fine Art Grad.
Alberto Santarelli  (double bass) Ex APO, well established figure in the jazz scene.
James Sneyd (violin) Maths Professor by day, seasoned and energetic performer of many years and genres, at night.
Doug Robertson (guitarist)  Bachelor Music graduate, highly imaginative improvisationist, composer.
  
We currently enjoy a regular Monday residency at the very chic, literally underground Caretaker Cocktail Bar in the Britomart district.

Door Charge:

Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00

The Experience Band grew out of the Bublé Experience Band so popular with Jazz and Blues Club audiences from 2014. For this show we present not only jazz standards but nostalgia songs such as Blood, Sweat and Tears, Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, the Average White Band and instrumentals from the Brecker Brothers plus some great new latin charts written for little big band. 
The band features Marjan a talented vocalist, songwriter and actress (seeher in the  newly released film 6 Days) who has performed at the Tauranga Jazz Festival, CJC, Music in the Parks, Cornwall Park and Xmas in the Park. Marjan’s unique sound has been shaped by years of listening to Motown, Jazz, R&B, and Pop and also draws inspiration from the music and traditions of her indigenous Persian culture. 
The ‘experienced’ musicians are: James Langabeer, Lukas Fritsch, Markus Fritsch – saxes; Grant Langdon and Matt Howell tpts; Mike Young – tbn; Ben Fernandez – pno/kybd; Nathan Collings- gtr; Sally Han bass; and Trevor Thwaites drums.
 

Door Charge:
Members and Students with ID $5.00
Non Members $15.00