Jack Claridge is still ‘vibing' out with his groovy jazz beats at age 97, wowing restaurant goers at this year's Jazz Festival.
As a jazz master and lover, Jack made the trip from Paraparaumu, Wellington, where he lives to join in the fun of the 59th Port of Tauranga National Jazz Festival. With all the spots filled for musicians in the festival, Jack jumped in with local jazz duo Trevor Braunias and Jill Leighton. Jazz guitarist Trevor is an old jazz pal of Jack's, having played on and off together since 1974. Trevor described playing with Jack at downtown restaurant, Nectar as 'amazing”.
'It was such a buzz – it was the most enjoyable festival I've played at,” says 68-year-old Trevor. 'I thought he'd [Jack] probably play a couple of songs and sit down but he played the whole hour and a half… and he's sharp!”
It's fair to say that Jack has been around the block when it comes to jamming out to jazz. Born in 1925, Jack has played drums, the double bass and played piano for the Bay Big Band in Tauranga during the 47 years he lived here. Jack even had his own music cabaret in Wellington called Claridge's by Candlelight in the 1950s and 60s.
Good vibes
It was during this time that Jack bought a set of vibraphones, and is the same ones he plays today 60 years on. 'He got really well known for playing the vibes because there's not that many people that can play them,” says Trevor.
Part of the xylophone family, the vibraphone has a softer sound, says Jack. 'It has a vibrato but I didn't like that too much so I play with the very slow vibrato – just changes the tone so it doesn't hurt people's ears when it's absolutely in tune.”
Jack says what he loves most about jazz is the rhythm. 'People tap their feet straight away and you know their enjoying it… and the musicians providing tricky little pieces here and there to make it interesting with the driving beat of the bass.”
The 97-year-old is already thinking about his next big jazz performance too. 'He said to me that he's planning his 100th birthday and that he's going to have a big jam for it,” says Trevor. What better way to celebrate your centenary year?