nelson mail PRESS RELEASES - 2008 jazzfest

(choose listing and click to view)

• Thursday, 10 January 2008  - Buzzing with jazz
• Tuesday, 08 January 2008  - Jazzfest trumpets success
• Tuesday, 08 January 2008  - Tomato Kiss Review
• Monday, 07 January 2008 - Whirimako Black Review
• Monday, 07 January 2008 - Hats the way
• Monday, 07 January 2008 - Nat King Cole Review
• Saturday, 05 January 2008 - Fiona Pears Review
• Saturday, 05 January 2008 - Rainbow Bridge Review
• Friday, 04 January 2008 - The Jazz Divas Review
• Thursday, 03 January 2008 - Jazz in the Park - Fairfield Park Review
• Thursday, 03 January 2008 - 6 hot jazz acts wow picnic crowd
• Wednesday, 26 December 2007 - Set for all that Jazz
• Wednesday, 14 November 2007 - Jazzing up Summer
• Thursday, 08 November 2007 - Italian films and all that Jazz

Buzzing with jazz

The twang of the last guitar, the beat of the final drum, and sweet notes of the final violin still ring in the ears of the thousands of punters at the Woollaston Nelson Jazzfest. But organiser Rowena Richards-Orange tells Tom Hunt she already has a big 2009 and sponsorship in her sights. Rowena Richards-Orange is nothing if not proud of the 2008 Woollaston Nelson Jazzfest.

"Nobody wanted to leave," she said of the five-day festival's Grand Finale. "The biggest and best yet", "unbelievable", "another dose of fine music and stunning entertainment" were other plaudits she penned in a press release this week.

But, as for all organisers worth their salt, reality - and that means sponsorship - is weighed against the celebration.

Already work is "well under way" with next year's sponsors, with new businesses showing interest, she says.

This year's festival was supported by various grants but for future festivals, Richards-Orange says she wants to move away from reliance on these - resting the whole cost on ticket sales and sponsorship. Thanks to sponsorship, 55, or four-fifths, of the events this year were free to the public in an attempt to create a "whole family" vibe. "One fan said they would be paying over £60 (NZ$180) to enjoy this quality of music back in London.

"Many performers and several seasoned festival lovers have told us that our festival is the best in New Zealand."

It will also become the biggest jazz festival in New Zealand, if Richards-Orange gets her way. It will have to attract crowds at least the size of this year's record attendance, which was near 30,000. Tauranga, which has a festival of almost equal size in April, is the only other contender for the top spot, she says. But a bigger event doesn't necessarily mean a longer party, Richards-Orange says. "We expect to keep it to five days as by the end of the five days, the bands, venues, and team are getting weary."

Summarising highlights of this year's event, it's hard to get the weary but still enthusiastic organiser away from Sunday night's Grand Finale - the one "nobody wanted to leave". She says the event was divided into four parts, giving people a chance to go outside for a drink, some fresh air, a cigarette ... but no one left. The show didn't finish until 12.30am on Monday - the Nelson School of Music still packed. "Another dose of fine music and stunning entertainment."

As for other shows, Maori jazz singer Whirimako Black was amazing, she says. Julie Mason and the Jazz Divas were "great", earning a standing ovation and encore. "The four divas worked really well together. Often you will have one that will be stronger but they all just bounced off each other." Nelson festival regular Fiona Pears and her band earned a standing ovation and two encores. Queensland vocalist Dan Teka in tribute show Unforgettable played the role of Nat King Cole so well you could have sworn the singer, who died in 1965, was in the room.

Jazzfest trumpets success

This year's Woollaston Jazzfest has been described as the best ever by organiser Rowena Richards-Orange.

"It's been the most awesome week," she said Monday. "We have had a week of sunshine and then today the heavens open up."

Six out of the seven shows last week were completely sold out, while all but nine tickets sold for the seventh, she said.

Venue hosts were rapt with the events and had agreed to host the festival next year. The most popular show was Maori jazz singer Whirimako Black. The finale at the Nelson School of Music at Sunday night was also completely packed.

An estimated 6000 people enjoyed the outdoor show at Fairfield Park on Wednesday night, she said. A full feature article, along with photographs of the festival, will appear in Thursday's Nelson Mail.

n hats jazz up picnic

hats the way

The Nelson Mail | Monday, 07 January 2008 - Martin De Ruyter

Pat Standish-White of Nelson with the right head gear for the Founders Park Mad Hatters Picnic, part of the jazzfest. Any hat would have done for the punters who enjoyed the Mad Hatters Jazz Picnic at Founders Heritage Park on Saturday. Scorching sun had everyone seeking shade under umbrellas and trees as William Fairbairn and the band Freewheelin' performed at the Woollaston 2008 Nelson Jazzfest event. Pat Standish-White wore a hat with a festive theme. She'd bought it at the $2 Shop and decorated it with Christmas baubles for her husband to wear at a party. Mrs Standish-White said she planned to go to another Jazzfest event later that day, a performance by Impressions at the Monaco Hotel and Resort. "I like music, I like rhythm," she said. At Founders, 10-year-old William Fairbairn decided to mix some rock'n'roll into his performance with songs written by Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. But the young performer, who likes to play jazz on keyboard and harmonica, said he also had a number by jazz great Herbie Hancock in his set. It was the second Jazzfest he had played. He liked playing jazz for one simple reason: "It's fun." Founders' coordinator, Elspeth McEachern, said more than 700 people attended the event "and a lot said they would love to have jazz in the park again next year".

review - whirimako black

Peter Gibbs in Art of Nelson | 9:43 am 7 January 2008 A review by John Jefferies

Whirimako Black entranced her audience at the Woollaston Estate on Saturday evening. A capacity audience, seated at tables in cabaret style, was treated to a rare and precious gift, and one, which obviously came from the heart.

Black, elegant in a trouser ensemble completed by a long red jacket, appeared completely relaxed and at home with her material, and quickly drew the audience into her mood. She began her first set with Bacharach’s The Look of Love, followed by Gershwin’s Summertime and the moving Billie Holliday standard Good Morning, Heartache. Black’s voice is a powerful and persuasive instrument, often compared to Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone. To these should be added Fitzgerald at her best, Laine, and Morgana King, with the impeccable phrasing of Julie London.

But make no mistake; Whirimako Black is a complete original, switching effortlessly from te reo Maori to English and back again with consummate ease. Why has no one thought of singing jazz in te reo before? A blend of one of the world’s most musical languages with well-loved jazz standards seems the perfect combination.

Speaking of perfect combination(s), Black’s backing group; Kevin Field (keyboards), Olivier Holland (upright double bass), Ron Samsom (drums), and Dixon Nacey (jazz guitar), provided just that, although Field’s considerable talents might have been better served by a more robust piano sound. Hard though to believe that it was the first time the ensemble, including Black, had performed together live. Each of the musicians was showcased by solo breaks during many of the songs.

The whole evening was a delight, with not a jarring moment to be heard or seen. Personal highlights were; Stormy Weather, accompanied with rare delicacy on guitar by Nacey, My Funny Valentine (with Field on piano), a fabulous I Loves You, Porgy and a stunning Cry Me A River, Julie London’s signature tune. A perfect evening’s entertainment, which received the almost de riguer standing ovation. If you missed Saturday’s show, and don’t have Whirimako Black’s cds, do something fast. This is a compelling talent not to be missed. Black will be performing with Salmonella Dub, Richard Nunns and the NZSO on 12th February at Trafalgar Park – be there!

review - jazz divas

Julie Mason and the Jazz Divas, Woolaston Estates, Thursday night. Reviewed by Barbara Stowe.

On a perfectly steamy summer’s evening in Nelson, what better place to be than sitting in the coolness of a wine cellar listening to hot jazz? Those of us who journeyed out to Woollaston Estates to catch Julie Mason and the Jazz Divas were in for a treat of glamour and bling on stage. Vocalists Jenny Eirena, Trudy Lile, Susan De Jong and Julie Mason were introduced as soloists in the first set. Each Diva performed selections using the Great American Songbook as an inspirational source of material, a collection of music that jazz musicians have adapted from shows.

The crowd was delighted to witness the individual styles of each performer with songs made famous by the likes of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. A stunning sunset provided the atmosphere for a laid-back interval before the evening set. We were treated to four-part harmonies from the Divas, and when people got up to dance it was clear that this set was to be the highlight of the evening.

Tenderly, one of Sarah Vaughan’s standards was very enticing with its beautiful tight harmonies arranged by Mason.

The backing jazz musicians Phil Broadhurst on piano, Olivier Holland on bass and drummer Jason Orme really listened to the singers and to each other, providing wonderful professional accompaniment for the women on stage.

The singers really supported each other and had fun singing together, which is an accomplishment in itself being that they are spread out all over the country and only meet a few times a year to perform together for jazz festivals.

Temp-ta-tion. I can’t resist!

review - fiona pears

Fiona Pears, and band, Nelson School of Music, Friday night. Reviewed by Veronica Struthers.

Fiona Pears has for many years enthralled the Nelson Jazzfest with her wonderful, exuberant violin playing but now, as an ‘international’ artist and composer, she has come of age and matured into a self-assured and charismatic performer providing the audience at the Nelson School of Music with an evening of absolute treats. She has cleverly selected a band of excellent musicians and has the confidence to perform her own compositions written in every conceivable style – celtic, classical, gypsy, tango with a taste of jazz thrown into the mix.

Her rapport with the audience was infectious. Every song made to come alive with anecdotes of her travels through Asia, Europe and the UK. The first five items were all her own work starting with the vibrant and lively ‘Fire-fly’ and “Tangissimo’. This was followed by a quiet and introspective ‘Memories of Home’ reflecting her feelings of home-sickness and evoking romantic images of the beauty of her New Zealand homeland. We moved onto Ireland and a song entitled ‘Memories of Martin and Mary’ in the style of a ballad culminating into a fast and furious Irish jig. The set concluded with the well known ‘Hava Nagila’ the audience joining in with feet stomping and hands clapping.

Her band, Ian Tilley (piano), Misha Marks (guitar), Greg Donalson (drums) and Pete Fleming (bass) are all talented and gifted musicians. I was particularly impressed with Misha Marks on guitar who took up Fiona’s challenge of musical intensity in some delightful duets and solo passages.

The second half of the evening provided more variety and contrasts and as Fiona herself explained she likes to inspire the band with experimenting in all different styles. A piece that started off as Bach becomes a celtic pipe and returns to Bach. She use her violin as a seamless extension of her body weaving in and out of rhythms and musical patterns.

The evening culminated with Khachaturian’s The Sabre Dance because it was such ‘fun’ to play. This music was fast and furious with fabulous, intense rhythms absolutely mastered by Fiona and the band. The audience responded with a standing ovation and would not let the evening finish without a further three encores.

Concert-goers were effusive in their comments about the evening and the exhilarating music we had all enjoyed. Nelson is indeed privileged to have musicians of this calibre performing at this wonderful Jazzfest.

review - nat king cole

Unforgettable – a celebration of Nat King Cole. Dan Teka and April Phillips vocals, James Cameron vocals, double bass, Andrew London vocals,guitar,Nils Olsen tenor ,soprano saxophone, Terry Crayford piano and Reuben Bradley drums. Nelson School of Music, Saturday night, reviewed by Gail Tresidder.

One memorable day in 1954, my father came home with a Pye Black Box stereogram and two 33rpm discs, Highlights from La Boheme sung by soprano Renata Tebaldi and a Capital Records compilation of Nat King Cole hits including Mona Lisa. My musical appreciation had begun.

Cole was born somewhere between 1917 and 1919 in Alabama. He died tragically early in 1965, victim to the three packs of cigarettes he smoked daily – he thought they improved the huskiness of his voice. Introduced to the keyboard by his church organist mother, Cole moved on to the piano and began his performing career in his mid-teens. Over thirty years, his impact on the world of jazz and pop is legendary.

On Saturday night, seven very talented musicians talked and played us through a musical journey of Cole’s life. And here I have my only quibble about the production. Dan Teka and April Phillips, who narrated the story from a shared script, were placed on high stools in the centre front of stage. There were many times, especially during the first half, where they were doing little and although Teka moved around the stage when possible, the overall effect was to block the relationship between the band and the audience. Could it have been avoided by having the narrators/singers at the side of the stage? I would have thought so.

The evening gifted some lovely memories of a band that were not only fine musicians but palpably enjoyed playing together on the Nelson School of Music stage.  Crayford came across as a talented and delightfully mischievous imp on the piano, his flashy improvisations getting our venerable Steinway to really rock. Then there was the consistent charm of Cameron, leading most of the jazz numbers with animated vocals, his double bass playing absolutely outstanding.

Andrew London’s touching solo of I Love You for Sentimental Reasons accompanying himself with harmonizing guitar then joined by Nils Olsen on soprano sax was absorbing and throughout the evening Olsen’s tenor sax playing was superb.

It was disappointing not to hear more from the young drummer, Reuben Bradley though he had his moment with the brushes, backing Dan Teka as he smoothly sang A Blossom Fell. Teka’s velvet voice is like Cole’s in many ways, and his delivery of Too Young and Mona Lisa was raptly received by the audience. The other singer, April Phillips, has a voice of honey. Her excellent phrasing in The Very Thought of You brought meaning to the lyrics. One of Cole’s most famous songs, Nature Boy, really suited her and her duet with Teka of Unforgettable was tenderly sung.

Sending us all happily home, the evening ended with a final encore of Rambling Rose and full participation of the audience in a rousing sing-along.

review -rainbow bridge

Rainbow Bridge, part of the Woollaston Jazzfest ’08, Friday night at the Boathouse. Reviewed by Paula Cunniffe.

It was a night full of musical sensuality as Jazzfest ’08 served up its latest dish of world class performers at the Boathouse.

Jamie Oehlers (a feast for all the senses) on saxophone and 2007 Bell Award winner for Best Australian Jazz Musician of the Year, comes together in a rare-occuring encounter with Frank Gibson (who says men can’t multi-task and do it well) on drums, Phil Broadhurst (fabulous fingers for Africa) on piano and Alberto Santarelli (the grooviest thing attached to wood and string) on double bass.

In musical contrasts between frantic and serene, the four gave interpretations of the likes of Thelonius Monk, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers, John Coltrane and Lennie Tristano, belting out some of the most accomplished solos in one room that I’ve heard in a while.

Original compositions included their entitled namesake Rainbow Bridge that can only be described as smokin’ hot. I’ve got to buy that CD! Another favourite of mine was the love ballad that I missed the name of. Also the closing number which included a sax and drum duet that was pure madness, eliciting an orgasmic response from witnesses.

This style may not be for the average Sunday listener (comparably the heavy metal of the jazz genre) but it has a hardcore following evident in last night’s audience, confirmed by applause and the raucous plea for an encore. I always love to watch out for musicians that play each soloist’s instrument, in a world of their own; their bodies tangible evidence of invisible sound as they mimic note for note in the air. It was great too, to see other Jazzfest bands coming in after their own gruelling performances from around the region to support, drink in and glean from some of the finest.

The Boatshed, while remaining a fantastic venue for the Jazzfest with its open doors out to sea (most welcome with the hot weather Nelson has had of late) causes some sound complications with its current u-shape seating around the stage. While giving most a delicious eyeful of technique, there is a sacrifice on sound quality at the longer sides of the hall. I’m praying these guys come back next year, what a treat!

Thank you to Tony Bowater, Rowena Richards-Orange and all the other contributors for another amazing Jazzfest with more to come.

review - tomato kiss

Tomato Kiss, part of the Woollaston Jazzfest 08, Thursday January 3 at the Boathouse. Reviewed by Paula Cunniffe.

Straight-ahead jazz fans got the full taste of tomato last night, just two days into Nelson’s annual Jazzfest.
In a sold-out concert, bodies restrained only by seats convulsed to the rhythms emitted from the stage.

Like many of this years acts -Tomato Kiss members Mike Booth (trumpet/flugel), Craig Walters (saxophone), Paul Dyne (bass), Roger Sellers (drums) and Josh Hindmarsh (guitar) are all respected professional musicians that have come from all over the world, performing together exclusively for the festival.

With an almost informal atmosphere – front man Mike Booth welcomed the audience as if we were sitting in his own lounge, with chitchat in the manner of old friends sitting in on a jam session. But he needn’t have been so humble about the fact they didn’t really know what they were playing, as he and saxophonist Craig Walters jostled for space over the music stand while straining to read unfamiliar notes.

His words belied the sounds we heard. Some outstanding solos from both Walters and Booth elicited the occasional ”whooping” sound from worked up listeners: akin to enthused gospel goers on a Sunday and faces all aglow like kids on a Christmas morning. Josh Hindmarsh stunned all with his spirited guitar playing, and other than not being able to hear his first solo the sound went off without a hitch all night.

In between the excellent service to both diners and those at the bar, the Boathouse staff boogied their way around wearing Jazzfest T-shirts. All this added to the smooth and professional running of the festival itself so far – my hat is off to all those involved.

The end of another scorcher day in Nelson saw Booth introduce a tune written especially for the festival. “This is a song for you all about Nelson Bay … what do you call this bay again?” he asks a captive audience. Several reply in unison the word “Tasman” as we look to a backdrop of glorious summer sky over a pink and deep mauve sea as the sun sets over the Western ranges.

Then proceeds a ramble of hypnotic compositional layers, conjuring what could have been a movie soundtrack staring each listener. Thoughts of floating in a yacht somewhere beyond the Nelson shoreline with cawing gulls, waves breaking on the bow and wind rippling through the sails. Bliss. (Interupted only briefly by some people chatting loudly in the doorway of the venue) ‘‘That was Tasman Bay ladies and gentlemen.”

Yeah, and with a contented grin I’m thinking that maybe he tells that to jazz lovers in every port.

review - jazz in the park - fairfield park

Peter Gibbs in Art of Nelson | 9:04 am 3 January 2008

Woollaston Jazz in the Parks, Fairfield Park, Wednesday January 2. Featuring Impressions, DeJaBlue, Wellington Heads, Fiona Pears and Band, The Neil Billington Band and Sideshow.

Reviewed by Paula Cunniffe.

Wow! I’m still buzzing from the sizzling afternoon delight that was the launching of the Woollaston Jazzfest Nelson 08.

With the stage resembling a grand tent version of the Sydney Opera House, six hot acts one on top of the other kept all entertained from 3-8pm.

What started out sounding great, just got better as the afternoon drew on. Looking somewhat like a scene in Georges Seraut’s painting Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, c.1886 - I lost count of the modern day punters laxing out on Fairfield’s grassy slopes; slapping on sunscreen, sunhats and slurping down some fine Nelson refreshments available on the outskirts.

Like me, many were seeking the cool shelter of the trees although some more seasoned attendees brought their umbrellas and nabbed the best spots near the stage. Aged from zero to ninety-odd, they came from every nook and cranny within the Nelson region and overseas, to shake their groove-thing or toe-tap a bare patch on the grass from their deckchair.

Each band brought a different twist to the genre of jazz. First up was Impressions, a group of five players sending out gentle sounds of old greats that belie their young faces. Wellington’s DeJaBlue lean toward the swing side, revamping old standards with modern pizazz and a big sound - all with a cheeky grin and a twinkle in their eyes.

Wellington Heads amped things up a bit more with some jazz blues and influences from other cultures, then came a favourite of mine having heard her last festival; Fiona Pears. Lively and talented, this classically trained violinist and band served up new and old tunes that lurk in and around the jazz boundaries.

The powerful blue sound of the Neil Billington band commanded the almost compulsory booty shaking of all in the park. Billington’s off-stage antics with harmonica and cordless microphone among the crowd gave many a close-up of that magic mouth.

Finally, Sideshow gave a thorough interpretation of showmanship complete with pinstipe suits and energetic choreographed moves. A full jazz and swing sound was teamed with unlikely tunes such as Message in A Bottle and Ghostbusters.

By now, the front of the stage was brimming with dancers begging for more as the concert drew to a close. Drinking in the sounds and witnessing the crowd around me enjoying themselves was something quite special in itself. I felt rather satiated and relaxed, having supped on my own picnic throughout whilst chatting and listening, renewing old friendships and making some new friends. Just a taste-tester of more fine music to come over the next week in Nelson, this event brought sexy back to instruments of another era created to communicate in a way that modern technology struggles to match.

Check out the Woollaston Jazzfest programme or visit here to see where you can catch some of the hot jazz action.

review - six hot jazz acts wow picnic crowd

Woollaston Jazz in the Park, Fairfield Park, Thursday 3 January, 2008. Featuring Impressions, DeJaBlue, Wellington Heads, Fiona Pears and Band, The Neil Billington Band and Sideshow.
Reviewed by Paula Cunniffe.

Wow! I’m still buzzing from the sizzling afternoon delight that was the launching of the Woollaston Jazzfest Nelson 08.

With the stage resembling a grand tent version of the Sydney Opera House, six hot acts, one on top of the other, kept all entertained from 3-8pm.

What started out sounding great, just got better as the afternoon drew on. Each band brought a different twist to the genre of jazz. First up was Impressions, a group of five players sending out gentle sounds of old greats that belie their young faces. Wellingtons DeJaBlue lean towards the swing side, revamping old standards with modern pizzazz and a big sound - all with a cheeky grin and a twinkle in their eyes. Wellington Heads amped things up a bit more with some jazz blues and influences from other cultures, then came a favourite of mine, having heard her last festival; Fiona Pears. Lively and talented, this classically trained violinist and band served up new and old tunes that lurk in and around the jazz boundaries.

The powerful blues sound of the Neil Billington Band commanded the almost compulsory booty-shaking of all in the park.  Billington’s off-stage antics with harmonica and cordless microphone among the crowd gave many a close-up of that magic mouth. Finally, Sideshow gave a thorough interpretation of showmanship complete with pinstripe suits and energetic choreographed moves. A full jazz and swing sound was teamed with unlikely tunes such as Message In A Bottle and Ghostbusters. By now, the front of the stage was brimming with dancers begging for more as the concert drew to a close. Drinking in the sounds and witnessing the crowd around me enjoying themselves was something special in itself.

A taste-tester of more fine music to come over the next week in Nelson, this event brought sexy back to instruments of another era created to communicate in a way that modern technology struggles to match. Check out the Woollaston Jazzfest programme or visit www.nelsonjazzfest.co.nz to see where you can catch some of the hot jazz action.

Set for all that jazz

Five days of jazz are about to invade Nelson and ticket sales are going well, says Woollaston Jazzfest Nelson 08 organiser Rowena Richards-Orange.

She is loath to pick a favourite, but does manage to make her way towards three-time Bell Jazz Award-winning saxophonist Jamie Oehlers, who plays with four-piece band Rainbow Bridge. "This guy's amazing. When he's playing the saxophone ... man!"

Nelsonians don't really know about the Australian musician, who will perform alongside Frank Gibson on drums, Phil Broadhurst on piano and Alberto Santarelli on bass, she says. The four, who rarely perform together, will serve up a repertoire of compositions by Thelonious Monk, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter, Lennie Tristano and Ornette Coleman, plus a smattering of originals.

DeJaBlue is another underpublicised gem, she says, despite the band's popularity in its home town of Wellington.

"These guys are really what you call smooth." Most members of the six-piece band - Costa Christie on vocals, Nick Christie on bass, Andrew Richardson on drums, Paul Caddis on saxophone and clarinet, Anthony Waigth on guitar, and Ze'ev Dikvert on saxophone and arrangements - have been around jazz and performing for many years, she says.

The band's challenge is: "We dare you to sit still."

Auckland-based band Impressions, which sprung from Massey University jazz school four years ago, is a little different to DeJaBlue, Richards-Orange says. "They do things like spicy samba jazz ... it's really funky - a bit of bebop. It's really upbeat." Impressions features Maria O'Flaherty on vocals, Ben Fernandez on piano virtuoso, Nick Jones on violin, Russell McNaughton on bass, and Alain Koetsier on drums.

Jasper is an entirely new band made up of Cantabrians and Nelsonians for the festival, although they have crossed paths many times before. Nelson guitarist Ivan Outram "would be one of the most amazing guitarists I have ever heard", Richards-Orange says. "He rolls his fingers across the fretboard and it's just amazing. He's a superb, world-class guitarist." Outram will be joined by Trudi Wilson on vocals, Rob Carpenter on bass, and Brian Lewis on keyboards.

Many of the groups will also be playing at an opening night Jazz in the Park gold coin entry show at Fairfield Park, from 3pm to 8pm on January 2.

The acts featured are Impressions, DeJaBlue, Wellington Heads, Fiona Pears and Band, the Neil Billington Band, Sideshow, Dynamo the Clown, and other fun for children. Among the other outdoor gigs is the January 4 Washbourn Gardens gold coin entry concert from 4pm to 8pm, featuring the Nelson Jazz Club Big Band, Panfried Jack, Jasper and the Neil Billington Band.

Information on all the bands, concerts and ticketing is available in Woollaston Jazzfest Nelson 08 programmes, or online at www.nelsonjazzfest.co.nz.

Jazzing up summer

Rowena Richards-Orange is one of the most enthusiastic of event organisers. Before the launch of the 2008 Woollaston Nelson Jazzfest, she wrote speeches for both regional mayors and issued a press release describing in advance how the ceremony went.

It is a sign of the immense faith Richards-Orange has in the festival, now into its 17th year.

With more than 70 events, 100 performers and the turnout expected to surpass 20,000, her enthusiasm for the January 2-6 event is, perhaps, understandable.

"The lineup has a very high level of quality and diversity of acts this year, including Whirimako Black, Fiona Pears, the Jazz Divas, Unforgettable - a Celebration of Nat King Cole, Tomato Kiss and Rainbow Bridge," she says.

There were shows for jazz purists, but the range of music extends to soul, blues and classical.

The high number of covers bands fits neatly into the jazz tradition of taking an old song and reworking it, she says.

"What we want to do is fill part of the void that World of WearableArt left, and to compete with other events. We want to be up there with the arts festival."

The programme features the acts Richards-Orange has mentioned and, of course, many more.

The music of trans-Tasman hybrid jazz quartet Rainbow Bridge has been described as "liquid, with four-way musical conversations during which the group constantly reshapes and reinvents itself".

Headlined by three-times Bell Jazz Award-winning saxophonist Jamie Oehlers, it features Frank Gibson on drums, Phil Broadhurst on piano and Alberto Santarelli on bass. The four, who rarely perform together, serve up a repertoire of compositions by Thelonious Monk, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter, Lennie Tristano and Ornette Coleman, plus a smattering of originals.

The members of international band Tomato Kiss can trace roots from Golden Bay through to Europe, and are forming specially for the festival, to play bebop and original compositions. Featuring European Mike Booth on the trumpet and flugel, Australian Craig Walters on saxophone, and a Kiwi rhythm section that includes Golden Bay-born Josh Hindmarsh, Tomato Kiss is truly globe-spanning.

Various band members have played alongside the likes of Billy Cobham, Mike Nock, Dave MacRae, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Bobby Shew, Dionne Warwick, Tina Turner, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Isaac Hayes to name a few.

Whirimako Black has been acclaimed as New Zealand's most prolific Maori-language singer.

In less than five years she has produced five solo albums and had guest appearances on three other album projects. Her velvety voice that compelled the Sunday Star Times to exclaim: "Black is our most graceful female jazz singer, with a dry and smoky lower register and an uncluttered delivery that owes much to great singers such as Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Dionne Warwick.

"Those not fluent in te reo will find the language barrier enhances rather that detracts from their enjoyment, throwing the listener's attention on to all the nuances of the singing and the playing." Black's show features Kevin Field on piano, Ron Samsom on drums, Olivier Holland on bass and Dixon Nacey on guitar.

Unforgettable was one of the signature tunes of music legend Nat King Cole, who died in 1965. The Nelson jazz festival features a tribute to him. Unforgettable, it turns out, is also a tribute band to the jazz great, featuring former New Zealander, but now Australian Dan Teka. He will be joined on stage by a cast of Wellington musicians - Andrew London, April Phillips, James Cameron, Terry Crayford, Reuben Bradley and Nils Olsen. They will cover songs such as Nature Boy, When I Fall in Love, Sweet Lorraine, Mona Lisa and, not to be forgotten, Unforgettable.

Another covers band, Julie Mason and the Jazz Divas, range from Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart through to Tom Jobim and Tom Waits as they attempt to recapture the glamour and glitz of yesteryear in a vocal tribute to the Great American Songbook. With four female vocalists - Mason, Trudy Lile, Susan De Jong and Jenny Eirena - it is probably the most female-oriented show of the festival.  With Jason Orme on drums, Phil Broadhurst on piano and Olivier Holland on bass, the band has had sell-out performances around the New Zealand jazz festival circuit.

The performance by violinist-composer Fiona Pears and her band promises to be the last in Nelson for a few years, slotted in on a brief return visit from Britain. This year she has performed at festivals in Britain and Bermuda as well as touring Asia and Germany. During her career she has played with orchestras in Britain and New Zealand, as well as recording for EMI and Universal alongside many international artists. Pears will be joined by Misha Marks on guitar, Ian Tilley on piano, Pete Fleming on bass and Greg Donaldson on drums.

The festival also features the Briar Ross Quartet, Wellington Heads, DeJaBlue, Impressions, Sideshow, the Nelson Jazz Club Big Band, and more. Programmes are available from many venues, or at www.nelsonjazzfest.co.nz.

italian films and all that jazz

Such a lot to look forward to. The prospect of Sealord Opera in the Park is tantalising, but last night came a reminder of other pleasures to come.

First it was the launch of the programme for the Woollaston Jazz Festival. Both the new mayors spoke at the do, using their own version of speeches written for them by organiser Rowena Richards-Orange.

Philip Woollaston had to write his own, but it was all entertaining and, more importantly, we got to see the lineup for the the January 2-6 festival.

Programmes are now available all over the place, but you can see everything online at the very good website click here.

Nelson Mail Mov 14 2007            Read more .. (click here)