The 55th National Jazz Festival Tauranga March 2017: It’s hard to believe that next Thursday 19th January they’ll be announcing the programme for the 2017 Tauranga Easter Weekend Jazz Festival. In the second of our series about Tauranga-based festivals, ARTbop contributor Diane Hume-Green reminds us all about the calibre and content of jazz contained in our local jazz festival. Here’s what Diane said about some of the events and performances of Easter 2016.
NZ Jazz Awards – What a great night of top class jazz we listened to at the Baycourt X Space. The sound was the best I have ever heard in that space, courtesy of a former Split Enz drummer and sound guy, Paul Crowther.
The house band, Neutrino Funk Experience were top jazz musicians in their own right not only providing the backing for the finalists but also playing some of their own music from their album, ‘Ace Tone’. Ex-Tauranga musician, Grant Winterburn, played on different keyboards during the set and is renowned as a jazz organist. Representatives of the sponsors were on hand to present the awards for the evening
The finalists who played a set each were:
Phil Broadhurst, pianist, composer and educator, for his album, ‘Panacea’ which went on to win the Tui Best Jazz Album of the Year.
Pianist and composer, Kevin Field for his album, ’A List’.
Roger Fox, well-known trombonist and leader of the Roger Fox Big Band from Wellington was nominated for his band’s collaboration with classical musician, Michael Houston, on the album, ‘Concerti’.
The APRA award for Best Jazz Composition went to Callum Allardice for ‘Sons of Thunder’.
Downtown Carnival
On Sunday some of the acts drawing the crowds were:
Queen City Big Band in traditional style Big Band uniform sweltering in the heat. A well rehersed band providing the Big Band experience with sax, trumpet and trombone sections and vocalist.
Mike Garner Band and Neil Billington. Harmonica, double bass, two guitars, vocals and drums. Laid back and cruisy blues music.
Tait Kora Band from Whakatane. Keyboards, vocals, guitar, drums and trombone. Original jazz tunes and some old favourites.
Pick of the bunch – Spiral featuring Finn Scholes from Auckland on trumpet and keyboard. Cool dub style jazz with original songs. Perfect vibe for a hot Sunday afternoon on the Strand, with family and friends and a cool drink.
TECT Jazz Village Easter Monday was a beautiful sunny day, just right for sitting or dancing and listening to some great jazz. Once again the outdoor bands were situated at the cobbled courtyard end of the Village and the hall, the upstairs lounge and nearby church were used for indoor venues. Food vendors were situated on the lawn at the entrance of the Village this year but I prefer them in the street leading from the courtyard so you can still be part of the scene and hear the music while you wait for food.
First stop was the hall to listen to Tui Jazz Award winner, Phil Broadhurst and his wife, Julie Mason. She played piano accompanied by double bass and drums. She also sang vocals and released her new CD, Layers of Disguise and had her re-released album, Tales at Twelve O’clock. for sale at the concert as well. Bass player, Alberto Santarelli and drummer, Frank Gibson, were all class and have both played with Julie for many years as well as other top jazz musicians in Auckland and around New Zealand.
Phil then played tunes from his award-winning album, Panacea, which sounded a little different with the trio compared to the quintet at the Awards night. He was then joined for another set by Julie on vocals and some very pleasant jazz was enjoyed by the audience.
Outside in the courtyard I listened to the Shake-Em-On-Downers from Wellington. After hearing this crowd pleasing group last year they didn’t disappoint a second time. The crowd loved them and there was dancing, clapping and toe tapping all round. Lots of laughter and smiles from the audience as the band walked amongst them and put on a great show. Who doesn’t love an accordion and double bass combination.
Miho Wada and her band were a visual and sound experience. With her quirky Japanese Harajuku dress style including her ‘piano’ shoes, she looked and sounded quite different from the usual jazz flautists I have seen. She played other instruments during her original music set including saxophone and piccolo and also had a very enthusiastic violin player in her five piece band. Her waltz competition was popular and complete with prizes and her sense of humour, rather interesting to watch.
Mioho Wahda features at the 2016 Tect Jazz Village
Two Many Chiefs were worth waiting for and even though the crowd was smaller by that time of night it really was the best time of the whole day. Warm, clear, food and wine at hand and a really relaxed vibe and not so crowded. The trio consisted of vocalist, keyboards and drums.
Dillon, Lou’ana and Cam are all current members of not only The Hipstamatics but are guests in other bands as well. Dillon is multi-talented and plays keyboards and also adds vocals, Cam is a great drummer and keeps the rhythm going. But the star was Lou’ana on vocals. She has a beautiful husky, soulful voice and her renditions of some of the classic jazz standards were beautiful. Their repertoire also included reworked versions of current pop and soul tunes. The people who had stayed got a fabulous set from three talented musicians.
We wandered home having had our fill of great music, as well as being fed and watered. We enjoyed the village vibe and hope this unique venue will be used for more boutique music events.
the many festivals of Tauranga
Diane Hume-Green: Writer Diane Hume-Green is regular contributor to ARTbop through her column Scene about Town, She is also a lead interviewer/conversationalist on The ARTbopSHOW. Diane is a member of Tauranga Writers and the local TedX organising group. She is the eldest daughter of an established Tauranga music, business and creative family. Diane recounts family stories of her attendance at Tauranga Jazz Club events in her carrycot. With her background in fabric, fashion, interior and architectural design, her continuing participation in a broad spectrum of arts and creativity and her attendance at a wide range of performance, social and community activities, Diane’s contributions are an interesting and readable insight into current Tauranga.
ARTbop promotes:
John Baxter is the host of ARTbop alternative’s online show Altercation. With Dhaivat Mehta and Polly Moore John interviews and talks to Bay of Plenty creatives. He is also one of ARTbop’s contributing photographers. Multi-talented Baxter is one of the team who started up The Incubator art-space at Tauranga’s Historic Village. He is currently their Music Manager, a prop maker, event organiser, exhibition curator and event photographer. With a keen interest in music John can be seen as a singer and guitar play in the local Punk band Liberated Squid. He’s also the bass and singer with the Tauranga band, The Carradines. An avid artist, John has exhibited at Gallery 59, the Incubator and more recently at Macandmor Gallery, Goddard Centre, Tauranga. He’s become a member of the Poetry Incubator and has recited his own work; both poetry and lyrics at the 2016 National Poetry Day.
The art of John Baxter
John Baxter reads at Wharf Street National Poetry Day 2016
John Baxter and panel talk with Millie Newitt Altercation 2016
John Baxter in conversation with Jacqui Gray 2016
John Baxter and Dhaivat Mehta at QVis brainstorming Altercation 2016
Do not leave me hanging by a thread: a spoken word – poetry YouTube project to support the work of Medecins sans frontieres MSF – Doctors Without Borders. You can see Tauranga locals reading their work at the Creative Bay of Plenty Gallery. Read the promotional article here online.
Corinne Rutherford of PixelFarie Photography. Band and Event Photographer from Tauranga.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/PixelFaeriePhotography INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pixelfaerie_photography
Whether you are visiting the Bay of Plenty, still holidaying or even if you’ve had to return to work – take the time to visit the beautiful boutique Cottleston Gallery, Greerton.
Cottleston Gallery, Greerton
WHAT’S ON AT THE COTTLESTON:
Hello everyone. Here’s wishing you all a great 2017 and hoping you find time to relax and enjoy the summer.
Just finished:
10 – 17 December. Decision A short exhibition of the work that has been completed in the Cottleston studio during the last two months by Artist in Residence Sheena Mayer. You can see images of some of her work, a virtual walkthrough the gallery and more information on the Cottleston website. A limited print edition of only 10 of each original monotype from this exhibition is available through the gallery.
4 – 17 January 2017
Remains of the Day.
Remains of the Day: Forkert exhibits at Cottleston
Deborah Forkert has again this year been a finalist in the Tauranga Art Gallery Miles Award. Her unusual medium – teabags – may surprise you.
You can read more about her exhibition here on the Cottleston website and art practice on the Creative BoP website here.
Opening night 4th January at 6pm. All welcome.
24 Feb – 19 Mar 2017
The Bee Appreciation Society AGM.
Paintings by Katherine Steeds. A unique and painstaking installation of tiny human portraits in homage to the humble bee.
(Due to an unexpected opportunity to develop the gallery in a new direction, please note that the advertised dates of this latter show have been changed to these new dates.)
During exhibitions the Gallery’s usual opening hours are 11am – 4.30pm every day except Mondays.
The Cottleston Gallery
cottlestongallery.blogspot.com
The Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival 
When: 11am – 6pm, Saturday January 14th 2017
Where: Uretara Domain, Katikati
Tickets: $16 – $20
To Book: Early bird tickets ($16) can be booked at
www.iticket.co.nz or gate sales ($20) will
be available on the day
For more information go to www.avofest.co.nz
Medieval Faire 2017, Tauranga
What: The NZ Medieval Faire recreating action from times past.
When: Friday 20th 2pm to 4pm; Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 22nd January 2017 10am to 3pm.
Where: Southey Field (near Tauranga Boys College) Devonport Road, Tauranga 3112. (Parking on Devonport Road.)
Why: To share a sense of the historical past from 9th to 14th century.
Who: Facilitated by Baldaquin Inc., but participants come from all over New Zealand.
CONTACT:
Andria Goodliffe
Mobile: 021 022 55 898
Landline 075702445
ROTORUA SULPHUR LAKES SCULPTURE TRAIL
Although the historic Rotorua Museum is closed indefinitely the other buildings in the wonderful Government Gardens remain open. The gardens are worth a day out in Rotorua and while there include a walk around the Sulphur Lakes Sculpture Trail. This project was begun in 2014 with 2016 seeing the second Sculpture Symposium.
In November 2016 wielding chisels, hammers and power tools artists descended on Rotorua Arts Village Green to transform 25 tonnes of stone and logs into works of art. Seventeen of New Zealand’s top local and national sculptors had nine days to create pieces of art during the 2016 Sulphur Lakes Sculpture Symposium. The finished pieces of art became part of Rotorua’s Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail.
All the finished sculptures are installed along the Sulphur Lakes Sculpture Trail in Government Gardens to form The Energy Within Exhibition. The pieces will remain on public display along the trail until the next sculpture symposium in 2018.
The works are for sale at prices set by the artists, and any sold from the sculpture trail would be replaced with alternative pieces.
Only five pieces from the 2014 symposium remain available for sale. There is a comprehensive brochure available (free) at both ends of the trail. Make sure you get one of these before you walk through this sculpture park. Free parking is available in the Government Gardens and nearbye streets. There are clean public toilet facilities. The cafe at the Polynesian Spa is a good place for a coffee or walk into Downtown Rotorua to find a variety of cafes and international food chains.
For further information please contact:
Ingrid Tiriana
Public Relations Advisor
DDI: 351-8110
Mob: 021-190 8868
Email: Ingrid.tiriana@rdc.govt.nz
Hello from Miranda Farm Gallery,
The Summer show is now up and open for viewing. There are some
sculptures out doors in the orchard, and many beautiful paintings,
prints, ceramics and sculptures in the gallery.
Artists this year include Michael Smither, Fatu Feu’u, Neil
Miller,Christine Hellyar, Warren Viscoe, Clovis Viscoe, James Wright,
Uli Christofferson, Samantha Lisette, Suzy Dunser.
We will be open on all the public holidays through the Summer, and the
farm shop/cafe also.
We look forward to seeing you here, and have a safe and happy Christmas
from us all.
Annie Wilson
Miranda Farm Gallery
1107 Miranda Rd
09 238 2608
www.mirandafarm.co.nz
Open 8-4pm every day
BOP Symphonia RISING STARS Competition. Applications now open to all Bay of Plenty secondary school students. Entries close February 2017. More info from Maggie Gething, President Bay of Plenty Symphonia P: 021 144 2028
HAMILTON GARDENS
Travelling through Hamilton and the Waikato? Make sure you take time to stop and walk through the Hamilton Gardens. Forty years of effort on a disused quarry and swamp site has created and international standard botanical garden. Lots of parking, clean toilets and an onsite cafe. Hamilton also has a Museum and art centre on Victoria Street.
Paradox the Street Art Festival coming to Tauranga March to June 2017 – W: taurangastreetart.co.nz
ZOETICA – life – passion – bravery 30 August to 02
September 2017 Tarnished Frocks & Divas in association with Carrus W: tarnishedfrocksanddivas.co.nz F: Tarnished Frocks and Divas
Do not leave me hanging by a thread is a You Tube spoken word project to encourage support for the work of Medecins Sans Frontieres – Doctors Without Borders.
“Medecins Sans frontieres – Doctors Without Borders is an international non-governmental humanitarian medical organisaiton. It delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from health care. It was founded in Paris in 1971 by a group of doctors and journalists who believed that all people have the right to medical care regarldess of gender race religion or political affiliation. There are regionally based organisations. Australia has an organisation www.msf.org.au “
