 |
Music Plus with |
Last week we started looking at Easter’s jazz festival. Let’s continue...
Tauranga’s relationship with jazz is interesting. After all, holding New Zealand’s National Jazz Festival here for more than 60 years would suggest a certain enthusiasm for the music.
But, having observed it from the mid-1980s, I’ve noticed a certain ebb and flow over the years. During the 1960s, possibly late-1950s, Tauranga became home for a remarkable number of top jazz players, from Bill Hoffmeister to Vern Clare, Jack Claridge, Brian Geogan and more, with apologies to the many brilliant musicians I’m skipping.
That vibrant scene continued for years, with outfits such as the Dr Jaz band and Jazz-a-Plenty drawing happy crowds. But as players grew older and less active there did seem to be a lull on the scene. The festival grew bigger but everyday jazz became a little sparse.
The Adrian Cox Trio. Photo / Supplied
I’m glad to say over the past five years that has slowly changed. An active new coterie led by musicians such as Liam Ryan, Jeff Baker, Trevor Braunias, Tristan Hancock and others have re-established a firm jazz base here.
Free jazz
There are Friday night gigs at The Barrel Room, which also offers free jazz every Saturday afternoon, jazz Sundays at The Matua, monthly Black Coffee nights at the Tauranga Club, and Jazz Society jams at The Mount Social Club; the next one Wednesday, February 25. Tauranga has returned to being a jazz city.
Last week we looked at changes to this year’s festival model. Now let’s start on the concerts.
The evening shows are a blend of the old and new and the fascinatingly indescribable. In that last category is ‘Waypeople’, Good Friday in Baycourt’s X Space. I can do little but offer the programme notes: “Waypeople is a sonic and visual journey through ancient philosophical poetry that is at once solidly pragmatic and profoundly mystical”.
“With lyrics drawn from author Ursula Le Guin’s poetic English language version of the Tao te Ching, eight artists explore traditional and contemporary music forms, composition, improvisation, shadow, light and ink as they guide you through 10 movements, illustrating the themes of the unseen, unheard, unnameable Tao, ‘wu-wei’ (not-doing) and true Power.”
A must see
Wow! That’s a must see for me. I’m all for a journey into the unknown, particularly as musicians include James Baxendale and the incredible Chelsea Prastiti, singer for Skilaa.
Later that night in the Addison Theatre local heroes Kokomo celebrate their 35th anniversary with a special show along with a 13-piece horn section and guests galore. Sounds like a bunch of fun.
The following night is another extravaganza in the Addison Theatre: Nick Granville’s Funk And Drum Extravaganza. The guitarist and bandleader promises both a bluesy organ trio and a double-drum funk band. Considering those drummers are Wellington's Darren Mathiassen and Papamoa's international superstar Stan Bicknell it should be quite a night.
Adrian Cox. Photo / Supplied
Meanwhile in the X-Space there’s the world’s best New Orleans clarinettist, Adrian Cox. From playing with Wynton Marsalis in New York he’s coming here. Bring it on.
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: