It's great to get an occasional email on the site. Thanks for your best wishes. I do get lot's of emails asking what I'm up to and I'm painfully aware that I'm pretty slack at keeping this news section up to date. Actually I have been flat out which is good of course but on the other hand doesn't allow much free time to think about keeping in contact.
Since my last post in Feb this year I have had a steady stream of free lance gigs .. small jazz or easy listening things .. and together with a bit of teaching/lecturing keeps me pretty busy. On top of that I played a short season of Secret Garden in my home town of Hamilton and have just completed a short season of Miss Saigon.
The AJO (Auckland Jazz Orchestra) is still a once a month event and Tim Atkinson and I are looking at getting the band playing more gigs. It's a labour of love for all participants but we have fabulous bands at each gathering and it's a testament to the talent here in Auckland.
Well, without going into much more detail that's about it. For those friends up in the Nothern Hemisphere - have a great Summer!
New Zealand music commentator Nick Bollinger has recently published a book which assembles a collection of essential NZ recordings. It's a well researched and considered reflection on the progress of NZ pop music and well worth having on the shelf as a reference. No doubt there are exclusions from the list which we would all think bizarre but Nick has uncovered some gems that deserve inclusion and I was flattered to be contacted and very happy that "Collision" was included. It's a long overdue recognition of the fantastic talent and committment of the guys in the band.
Thanks Nick and AWA press.
A lot of times we get filmed by well meaning listeners and posted on forums like utube. Unfortunately the quality is often not that flattering (although I like to think the performance is usually OK!) but here's a utube hit that I am proud of. A neat time from the "old days' when I was based in Wellington and had the opportunity to work regularly with some fantastic musos in Palmerston North. The band was called SP2 with Mike Griffin at the helm. The horns are Rodger Fox on Trombone, Paul Norman and myself on Trumpets.
The Auckland Jazz Orchestra is born! On January 16th we performed for the very first time to Aucklanders at a concert organised by the Auckland City Council's music in parks team. We got a great hearing from the gathered crowd .. heaps of people came along .. and we are all feeling pretty upbeat about it.
Over 2009 Tim Atkinson and I co-ordinated a group or pool of local players into a once a month Big Band rehearsal. The primary aim was and is to create the opportunity for local composers and arrangers to have their stuff played. The "original" material came from Tim - who is a recently graduate from Massey university and a talented altoist/arranger/composer; Me - I like to dabble too; and the other main contributor - Andrew Hall, also a Massey student and prominent saxophonist on the Auckland scene. We also bulked out the rehearsals with published charts that we have in our library.
Auckland has a few Big Bands already but even outside of these groups there are players who are willing and interested to contribute their time and talent to this concept. We hope to continue this year and perform again! Next step for Tim and I is to get the band profile up onto one of the internet networking sites so that people can get to know more about us.
It's always a buzz to be part of a salsa band happening. Here's a clip or two of some recent experiences.
Salsa Viva! with Chico & the Soneros
Chico and the Soneros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAQzb9xBK-s
Chico & the Soneros: Peruvian National Fiesta 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96FslW8J17o&feature=related
A number of people have asked what kept me in the Netherlands for so long. Often the names of fellow Dutch musicians and entertainers have little meaning to my New Zealand friends so they soon lose interest if I get too enthusiastic about my memories!
In a way it's quite simple - friendship makes a big difference and we made many friends; What we commonly call Holland is a beautiful country, great people, an active national and international entertainment scene and is a doorway to Europe.
At a music level I was lucky to perform with great musicians and be a part of several fantastic groups. The whole experience was a constant learning curve at many levels. Moments of magic include performing for and meeting Dizzy Gillespie, playing in Big Bands (Conservatory level) led by Bill Holman, Bob Brookmeyer. Being included in the Dutch Jazz Orchestra - particularly the Billy Strayhorn projects we recorded.
There are so many things to be proud of: The West Coast Big Band and the projects with Johan Plomb and Rob Pronk, The Holland Big Band, and the wonderful Triba; knowing great musicians like Ab Schaap, Peter Ypma, Toon Roos, John Ruocco, Bob Wijnen, Ruud Brilles, Gerard kliejn, Bart Van Leer, Ack van Rooyen ... there are so many more it would be a long list!
I guess though, the major thing, was a pop group called de Dijk. I first played a Summer (1991) season with them and was fortunate to be asked to join the band. Roland was already there on Sax so we formed the horn section and became the Hot Haarlemmerdijk Horns. This is an incredibly talented group of guys who are now celebrating more than 25 years as a successful group and continuing to move forward. Lately they have dipped a little deeper into their soul roots recording a single with Solomon Burke .. but they are much more multifaceted than that and I'm sure are stars still in ascendency. Take a look at their site: www.dedijk.nl.
I've been pretty slack about keeping my page updated. Busy guess!
The vegas tour was great. It was a NZ horn section with some wonderful OZ muso's and it was all too short.
Otherwise it has been a period of small gigs here and there. I've been lucky to meet some of the "latin" musos living here and enjoyed a couple of sessions. Maybe it will grow into something more. Other than that the New Zealand winter has seemed pretty cold. Maybe that just means the sun is on it's way!
Together with Tim Atkinson (arranger/Alto) I have invited Auckland Jazz muso's to participate in a rehearsal Big Band. We convene on the first Sunday of each month and so far it's been a blast. We are hoping that all players interested in participating will feel welcome to join us and so far the players that have made themselves available has meant we have had a great band at each rehearsal. The list is growing!
The concept is to play through local arrangers/composers stuff. We balance this out with our own library of material and want to get as many people interested and involved as possible. What else is music for?
It is! There's just a handful of Musicals that nail the "Musical" genre and this is definitely one of them! I was lucky to receive a last minute call to join in on the New Zealand season of this fabulous Australian production.
The set, cast, direction and performances are stunning.
Loving it!
Sir Howard Morrison is so much a part of the NZ soundtrack that we almost take him - as a person - for granted. Not many New Zealanders achieve household name status and Howard Morrison shares that honor with some world greats. Recently I was lucky to be a part of the backing orchestra in a special tribute TV program which presented songs and people significant to him. It was a most rewarding experience as important to me as to anyone there.
Highlighting more than six decades in show business the show was brilliantly hosted by Pio Terei (at the Civic Theatre in Rotorua) the show featured Dame Malvina Major; John Rowles; Frankie Stevens; Tina Cross; Jackie Clarke; Suzanne Lynch; Ray Woolf; Ben Makisi; Spacifix; Howard Morrison Jnr; and more!
To be honest we didn't achieve perfection (yes folks I'm still chasing it!) and live TV is fraught with complication. But considering everything I think we can be proud and most of important of all we had that opportunity to say "Thanks" to the man himself.
I was "almost" speechless and more than a little chuffed when the current Head of Music from my old high School said he had organised for one of the annulal prizes to be the Mike Booth cup. What an honour! I will try to make sure the recipient recieves a gift as well - probably a cd voucher.
I can't help but imagine some poor Hamilton Boys High School youngster working his butt off all year being rewarded with the "soloist award" ... looking at this cup and wondering what it's all about! One can only hope that the quality of the recipients will long over shadow anything to do with me and make it something really worth going for!
I recently adjudicated a High School Big Band competition for bands from the Auckland area. Together with Penny Dodd we were treated to an extremely high standard of Big Bands and combos filled with talented students. My hat goes off to all the directors and tutors who together with the students presented such a high standard. It was a tough decision at the finals and I hope everyone gained valuable experience from the event. I certainly did. Hopefully the AAMP competition will be an anual event.
By good chance I have recently performed in the pit for FAME, WEST SIDE STORY, and CATS. All three productions were a thrill to be involved with. I was particularly chuffed to be asked to play Cats with the Hamilton Operatic not only because it was of a very high standard and very successful at the box office but because it means that now 4 generations of my family have in some way been involved in productions in Hamilton with that theatre group.
A limited number of Cd's "Better Late Than Never" will be available from de Dijk merchandising at DIJK concerts. I'm waiting for a release date here in NZ so things are on hold for NZ but .... Rehearsals for the LIVE band start this week!
I've heard through the grapevine that the new DIJK CD is in the can and is going to be the best ever! and I can believe it. Those guys have so much talent. Awesome!
Here in NZ I just got back from a short tour with the Rodger Fox Big Band featuring Roy Phillips (ex Peddlers). Great concerts and a real treat to hear Roy Philips. He has an amazing voice and is great in concert. We also played the Manawatu Jazz Festival which is based in Palmerston North. I saw some excellent local groups and some awsome young talent amongst the High School Big Bands. Pukekohe rocks! It was fantastic to hear and meet Americans Holly Hoffman (flute) and Mike Wofford (piano) there too. They played a great concert with Paul Dyne on bass and Lance Philips on Drums. Rodger Fox and a string section from the Wellington School of music did a great job on some Jobim tunes.
I was saddened to hear the Bo Didley has passed away. I was lucky to be in the band for some dates he did in Wellington in the early 80's and it was a lesson in "road chops" to hear him talk about his experiences and life.
At last I have finished my first CD! I'm really pleased with it. I hope I'm not the only one!
The title track - Better late than Never features Cyrille Oswald on Tenor. Richard Pattisilanno plays great guitar and contributed two tunes. Rick van Hek helped with production and plays Keyboards. Nancy van Hek sings beautifully. Taco Nieuwehuizen plays some great bass and Taco Gorter contributed on Drums. I was lucky to be able to ask for help from Dijk colleagues - Nico Arzbach plays great guitar on one track and Roland Brunt performed all sax sectional duties and additional solo work. The horn section is completed with Lex van Wel on Trombone.
I will post more detail from the CD shortly and post some tracks on the site.
The CD should be available in Holland at Dijk merchandising later this year. Meantime I will respond to any enquiries about purchasing the CD through this site.
I just got back from a great tour with Dutch band Triba. www.tribamusic.com.
We first played at Groove Junction in Kula lampur, then flew on to Jarkata to play the Jazz Festival. Wow! Had a great time playing at the festival and saw some great music there too! After Jarkata we played in Jogjakarta, Surabaya and Bali.
See the Triba site for more detail and take a listen to a "sample track I posted under music. These are some of the songs featured on their new DVD.
Some New Zealand friends have asked about these groups and my performance with them.
How did a New Zealand Trumpet player get the gig!
Once again luck intervened.
Jan van Duikeren (Dutch Trumpet star) had broken his leg and recommended me to Kresip. They were a young Band who at that time had had huge success with their first CD. Thankfully they liked the result and I did a few gigs with them including Pink Pop 2003! Kresip continue on their winning path. www.kresip.com
Also by recommendation - this time Nico Bransen (Ilsa de Lang, Ro and Paradise Funk, Vispot, Kane) - I got the chance to play and record with Kane on their February DVD. www.kane.nl
Both opportunities were unexpected bonuses and a great experience.
Check out these added sound files in miTunes.
In 2006 I was very pleased to be asked by my good friend (and great musician) Cayan Witmer from Amsterdam to play on a Lebonese singers CD. I remembered Randa from Beruit a couple of years before when she sat in with the band. Her silky voice and inate sense of interpretation left a lasting impression. You can access her site at http://www.randamusic.com.
I was fortunate to play with The Holland Big Band based in Amsterdam for a number of years. Under the leadership of Loet van der Lee the band has blossomed into one of the best bands around - great musicians, great arrangements - a real asset to the Dutch Jazz scene. In 2007 we recorded the CD Happy House. I was honored to have the opportunity to solo on a track. Here's a snippet of Both Sides. Buy the CD at www.hollandbigband.com
Sat 12 Jan 2008
It's taken me so long to get this site up to date!
Another big thanks to all the Dijk fans who so kindly acknowledged my leaving the band last year. It was really amazing to get the emails, cards and best wishes from everyone!
It looks like the Dijk have achieved another gold record - probably my last bit of Dijk memorabilia! I will be back in the Netherlands during February so I hope to pick up my copy then.
Things are starting to come together here in New Zealand. Not settled yet but I'm pushing on with my CD project and hope to get it out in the next month. I'll bring some copies to Europe.
I have some good gigs coming up and I will update my gig list soon.
Review - Tomato Kiss (Nelson Mail)
Art of Nelson | 7:57 am 8 January 2008
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.