That's right - we have a Blue Train gig Oct 7 at the Creative Jazz Club in Ponsonby!
Venue details on the front page of this site, but it should be fun. It's been quite a while since we played together, and played some of the old material, so it will be exciting. We'll also be adding plenty of new material in there too, so it may inspire us to get our act together and organise some gigs and/or a recording...

Thanks to all who came to the Tauranga and/or Christchurch festivals recently. We had a great time! The Grand Central Band went off on the Friday night, and we had a huge crowd for the Alan Brown Trio in the Red Square on the Saturday. Sold heaps of CDs, too.

Christchurch was fun - a difficult venue for the trio, though. It was a rock-type venue - huge stage, huge PA, lights etc. However, the gig went well although the numbers were down a little. There were a number of events on that night, including the main international act, so I think we did well all things considered! The festival was extremely well-organised though, and we found some local jazzers at a small, but excellent bar after the gig. It was great to be able to play both festivals - now to find some local venues for the AB Trio...

I know it's been quite a while since a blog post - my apologies. I'll try to keep things a bit more up-to-date.

On the music news front - still busy with Grand Central Band, and we're still on track to record a new CD. There have been a few delays with getting rehearsals together, and finalising a recording date, but I hope to give some firm news soon.

MAINZ has started back so right into teaching mode again! I enjoy the teaching but it can be quite draining at times. I'm going to start some Post Grad studies at Massey Uni (NZ School Of Music) this year, and will also be teaching a few piano students there, so it's going to be a busy year! I'm looking forward to it all, though.

On that note, (pardon the pun), I do intend to start Blue Train rehearsals again in 2009. It's been too long - I guess I got put off by getting turned down for a Creative NZ grant, but I plan to do things a little different. Rather than necessarily producing a CD, we may just do the online thing, and release tracks as we get them finished! We'll see, but it might be quite fun (and less pressure - and cost!)

Anyway, I went to the 5 Peace band concert the other night - Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride & Brian Blade. What an awesome experience! Having the chance to see these guys live was enough in itself, but the incredible music and intensity the band produced was simply amazing. A night I will never forget...

And if you want something COMPLETELY different, I've produced a recording of Jewish music with a couple of friends which you may be interested in checking out here: www.simcha.co.nz

Check out the front page for a great review of the AB Trio at the recent Whangamata Jazz Festival. We played a set on our own there, and then a set with the wonderful Caitlin Smith. We’ve got some great gigs coming up - Grand Central band at Nelson Jazz Festival, along with Tauranga, and AB Trio at Tauranga & Christchurch festivals. Looking forward to a busy 2009!

Well the festival was great! Awesome crowd and a lot of fun. Saturday afternoon with Grand Central was incredible. Good energy and an enthusiastic audience. We played as the Alan Brown Trio later that night which also was amazing. The crowd was smaller but no less enthusiastic! The band was amazing and the tunes took on a life of their own.

I used a new Nord C1 combo organ kindly donated by Music Planet, in conjunction with my 145 Leslie. What a sound! I'm very impressed with the Nord - the sound is the closest I've heard, the two manuals 'feel' like a Hammond, and it's very light!!! I'm sure, once my budget allows, that I would purchase one of these (even the on-board leslie effect is good!).