The Woolshed Sessions: Did you catch the Interview with Jess Chambers and Age Pryor?

Last Thursday on "The Adventures of the Coffeebar Kid" (Thurs 6PM) We were honoured to have the multi talented Jess Chambers (Solo Work, Rhian Sheehan) and Age Pryor (Solo Work, Wellington Ukekle Orchestra, Fly My Pretties) in the studio to talk about their latest project : The Woolshed Sessions.

What's resulted is an album, a deluxe limited edition version (incl Session Photos by Andy Morley-Hall) and a live October Season at Bats - Thurs 9, Fri 10, Sat 10 (2 Sessions) & Sun 11 (2 Sessions)

http://www.bats.co.nz/plays/08/The-Woolshed-Sessions.html

Or phone 802 4175

The Woolshed Sessions music was captured on an improvised recording set-up; essentially a borrowed collection of nice microphones plugged into a tired old computer as the musicians worked four days straight, morning, afternoon and night. The tunes are mostly fresh songs written by various members of the eight strong collective. These songs were jammed and then recorded ‘live’ - everyone singing and playing together, often with many attempts made until getting a version down that was felt to be ‘the one’.Throughout is the ambient resonance of the space the music was created and recorded in – a converted woolshed with bare timber floors, lined with plywood and clad in corrugated iron looking across the Takaka Valley.

For more details go to http://www.myspace.com/woolshedsessions

LA Mitchell In town for 1 Show

Just in LA Mitchell the Canterbury Jazz/Soul Singer is in Town to release here new album "Lve at the Matterhorn"

Playing at the Famous Matterhorn 8 October
- contact them on 03 849918

Background:: The evening of April 23, 2008 was a watershed moment for LA Mitchell as she prepared to perform. This was no ordinary gig, nor was it an ordinary venue. It was a triumphant return to Wellington to play at the world famous Matterhorn, following in the giant footsteps of Fat Freddy's Drop at the same venue that catapulted them to heights never before reached in NZ music.
For the entirely independent Kiwi musician, the performance represented a significant new stage in her career, when she would build on the success of her acclaimed 2007 album Debut with an album that would solidify her status as one of the rising talents of homegrown music.
LA Mitchell: Live at the Matterhorn is a gorgeous album of her original music spliced with new tracks and reinterpretations of classics. The album sees Mitchell uncork a sparkling collection of seductive soul and jazz, that reveals her undeniable talent as both a singer-songwriter and musician.
Recorded live one special evening at the famous drinking and dining venue, to a crowd that was tightly packed in and full of anticipation, LA Mitchell: Live At The Matterhorn captures the magic of the atmosphere. Playing at the Famous Matterhorn 8 October - contact them on 03 849918

Here's Our Photo Album

Check Out Photos from the Food Show on Flickr.com. See link to the right: Groove Photo Album (OR copy this to your address line : http://www.flickr.com/photos/groove1077fm/sets/72157605077150582/)

What a month!!!

Well! Where do I start? We were on and off-air a fair whack for a couple of weeks there with 3 different transmission faults! One of our transmission masts fell over. We got that fixed but still no signal. What are the odds that the transmitter at a different location blew up at the same time! Got that fixed and then a few days later the power at the transmission site went out. Luckily it's all fixed now and we're happily back on-air, sounding great.

The technical problems didn't stop there though. We must have had a power surge in the studio I think as we also damaged the emergency backup power, the no.2 PC, 2 x turntables, on-air desk, CD player...

As you can imagine, there is a bit of a repair bill (although a big thanks to Phil for helping out). So, now would be a great time to donate some money to the worthy cause that is Groove 107.7FM. Remember, we are the only station of our kind in NZ and we, to date, have had no funding from anyone apart from our fabulous advertisers and donations from you wonderful listeners. Scroll down the page to find out how to donate.

On a personal level (and while all this was happening) I had the fantastic luck to have a successful Kidney transplant, amazingly from a complete stranger who wanted to do a good deed (while living)! I believe that this is only the second time this has happened in Wellington. After being on the waiting list and on dialysis for nearly 5 years it really was a case of prayers answered. I'm incredibly thankful to the donor (who I have not met). It all went perfectly and the doctors said I was their star patient. By the way, if you want to be an organ donor, having it mentioned on your drivers licence is not enough (in fact it's irrelevant). You must tell your family/next of kin your wishes. They are the ones who make the decision in the event of your passing...

Anyway, back to ramping Groove up a gear. Lots of new music to get on-air.

Stay tuned and feel free to contact us for any reason.

Groovemiester

GROOVE IS BACK AT THE FOOD SHOW

Go here to read more about the Food Show and the Exhibitors : http://www.foodshow.co.nz/index.cfm/Home

Carrara Park Jazz Picnic (Sat 7/3/08)

Come and join us down at Carrara Park in Newtown for the Jazz picnic as part of the Newtown festival.

Free live jazz from midday from Deja Blue, Premo 4tet, Warick Murray and Jessie James and the Outlaws (who blew everyone away at the Parihaka festival) as well as music from Groove in between. The forecast is great so come and join us!

The park his a hidden gem, down the short path opposite Donald McLean St (see http://www.wises.co.nz/ for a map).

Entertainment runs until 5.30.

Jazz News!

There are 2 Wellington jazz Club gigs this month;
The welcome return of the 10th avenue band from San Diego, 1 day shy of a year since they last performed for us. Tight swing and trad jazz on Wednesday the 20th of Feb at the Loaded Hog ballroom from 7.30.
Feb 24th sees Eric newton - popular English clarinet player - return once again to bring us that classic jazz sound at Old St Pauls. 5pm start. Both concerts are $15 or $12 for members of the Wgtn JAzz Club.

The 46th National Jazz festival is comming up over Easter in Tauranga. Stay tuned to Groove 107.7FM formore details.

Also, the International Festival of the Arts features some jazz artists this time around. Again, more information on Groove.

Supporting the community and especially the jazz scene, Groove 107.7FM, NZ's only cafe style jazz radio station!

Jonathan Crayford meets the Coffee Bar kid

Tonite at 6.oo the Coffee Bar Kid meets Wellingtonian (Pianist)Jonathan Crayford to discuss his upconimg show on Friday night at the Illot theatre.

Also, tune in to Groove at 5.30 to hear Nils Wogram talk about his show at 7.00 Tonite (Illot Theatre) and win tickets!

About Jonathan Crayford.
Jonathan Crayford went to New York in 1993 after many formative years with his father Terry (also a piano player/composer) and mentor Bruno Lawrence (drummer/actor).

Playing piano in the house band of the St Mark's Bar in Manhattan’s Lower East Side he became involved with many of the players active in New York and securely established himself as collaborator with some of the finest musicians in the world.

On invitation he returned to New Zealand to perform at the International Festival of the Arts with a powerful jazz trio and to date continues to maintain frequent contact between both bases. In 1998 he toured over 20 countries including Canada, the United States and Europe with Warner Brothers record artists Groove Collective (a 10-piece acid jazz group from New York).

He is currently a member of Bill Ware’s Y2K Jazz Quartet, Kurt Rosenwinkel’s This, and the Dave Binney Group. He has performed and recorded with Groove Collective, Baaba Maal, Victor Jones (Chaka Kahn, Michelle Petruchiani), Clifford Barbaro (Betty Carter, Sun Ra Arkestra), Jay Rodriguez (Ray Barreto, Chucho Valdez) and Afro/Cuban master percussionist Eddie Bobé (Jaco Pastorius, Eddie Palmieri). He is also a key member of New York based Afro/Cuban band Mambo Macoco.

Jonathan has gained international recognition and is in demand as an instrumentalist and composer. He has made it to the cutting edge of the New York scene within many genres of music. In addition to performing and recording, Jonathan composes orchestral scores for feature films and television programs, one of which picked up Best Original Score at the New Zealand Film Awards. More recently he has been composing on commission for New Zealand classical concert pianist Danny Poynton.

We interviewed Mike Nock

At 1.00 the infamous Composer and pianist Mike Nock popped in fresh off a plane from Aussie.

About Mike Nock

New Zealand born pianist/composer Mike Nock is one of the acknowledged masters of jazz in Australasia. His reputation rests partly on his imposing international experience which includes ...

twenty-five years working in the USA with many of the world's top jazz musicians such as: Coleman Hawkins, Yusef Lateef, Dionne Warwick, Michael Brecker, etc...
a large catalogue of critically acclaimed, internationally released recordings
his role as leader of the 1970's seminal jazz-rock group The Fourth Way
a substantial body of original compositions in print and on recordings

"Nock's ringing iconoclasm pervades all his music, taps a deep well of melody that transcends jazz and informs and ignites his every encounter."
- Fred Bouchard, Down Beat (USA)

Photos From the Opening of the Jazz Fesival / Tui Awards

Tuis - 2007 - And the Winner is....

A huge congratulations to Wellington's own Charmaine Ford ("Busy Silence") who took out last night's top award for the best Jazz album of 2007 against two time winner, Kevin Clark (with "Zihara") and the sultry indegenous Jazz of Whiramako Black (with "Soul Sessions").

The award was presented at the Opening night of No.11 Wellington International Jazz Festival (6-14 November) and also featured the Edward Ware Quartet (Edware on drums, Anita Scwabe on piano, Nick van Dijk on Trombone/Euphonium and Paul Dyne on Bass.

A great turn out for opening nite. the place was pack to the gunnels. "Happy" is the old Cricketers Arms Bar in Tory St and a great "Seedy" underground location for late night Jazz. Big Ups to the Organisers, esp Megan.


Ford's album Busy Silence BUSY SILENCE was release in December Dec 2006 featuring
Charmaine Ford (piano/composer)
Tom Callwood (bass) & Reuben Bradley (drums)with special guest Johnny Lippiett - tenor sax

It recieved 4-stars (NZ Herald, Feb '07)
“One of New Zealand's True Piano Masters”
WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, NZ

“Charmaine Ford has sealed her reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading Jazz Pianists”
CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has established herself as one of New Zealand’s most innovative and fearless voices in jazz"
TAURANGA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, NZ

"Charmaine Ford has a maturity of jazz expression that belies such youth. This is her debut album and it’s a classic"
NZ MUSICIAN MAGAZINE, NZ

"A rising star of New Zealand Jazz Piano"
DOMINION POST, NZ


Capital city-based pianist Charmaine Ford’s ‘Busy Silence’ has tonight been named the New Zealand Music Awards Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Wellington International Jazz Festival.

Ford is a former finalist in the category at the 2004 awards for her debut album ‘Blues for Guppy’. She also played piano on the 2006 Tui winning jazz album, Vaughan Roberts’ ‘Grrrreat Stuff’.

And her connection with the music awards doesn’t stop there - in 2005 Ford had 12 months individual tuition from 2007 Classical Music Tui winner John Psathas.

Today only 27 years of age, Charmaine Ford was born in Tauranga and started her piano training at age six. After moving to Auckland two years later she became heavily involved in jazz ensembles at Rangitoto College both as a player and a leader.

She has won numerous national Jazz awards since she started gigging professionally at age 16. In 1999 Charmaine studied in London on a Royal Schools of Music scholarship. Charmaine has performed and toured throughout New Zealand and Australia and has been selected as pianist for the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra on four occasions.

‘Busy Silence’ was released in December 2006. The self-penned album has been described as highlighting Ford’s distinctive style as a composer, arranger and producer as well as capturing her skills as an improviser.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith describes Ford’s win as “thoroughly deserved recognition of a dedicated and talented jazz musician”.

“For someone still so young, Charmaine’s achievements in the genre are already almost legendary. She is a most worthy recipient of the Jazz Tui for 2007.”

Charmaine’s win will be acknowledged at the New Zealand Music Awards 2008.

Today in the Studio ; Dean talks to Edward Ware

As part of the International Jazz Festival Dean talks to New York based percussionist Edward Ware who brings together a quartet of musicians to explore the concept of Rothko meets Monk. Ware, a composer and drummer based in New York, and local musicians Paul Dyne (bass), Anita Schwabe (piano) and Nick Van Dijk (trombone and euphonium), have rearranged Thelonious Monk tunes to create a blend of fresh colours and spicy harmonies. RIANZ presentation of the 2007 JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR award.