Coffee Day at Okura Country Estate

 What a great day out at this lovely country estate just north of Albany, Auckland. Our host, Dave Winslade, kindly shared the estate's beautiful community hall and resplendant surroundings. The weather was superb as well to enhance the great music that was played. A shared lunch was very enjoyable also.

For our piano players, Gordon Sutherland, borrowed a Korg EX20 ensemble 88-note weighted piano. The piano was kindly loaned to the Club for the day by Music Planet of 128 Wairau Road, North Shore. What a great keyboard and well enjoyed by our piano players on the day.

A big thank you to Dave Winslade for making the community hall available to our Club for the day. This has been a tradition stretching back some 10 years! Thanks also to Karen Steen for providing the kitchen things and all those that helped on the day to set up the lunch table.

The Photos:

Mary Barrett playing her Korg Pa1000

Roy Steen playing his Korg Pa300

Roy Steen (left) and Warren Levick duetting. Roy on his Korg Pa300 and Warren on the Korg EX20 ensemble piano

Warren Levick playing solo the Korg EX20 ensemble piano
that was kindly loaed to us for the day by
Music Planet 128 Wairau Road, North Shore

Gordon Sutherland playing his Korg Pa5X

Club Night 6th February 2024

 The Club kicked off the year with the first Club Night of 2024, rounding off a glorious Waitangi Day in Auckland. Roy Steen provided the arrival music then the evening started with the first set provided by Linus Treefoot on his Korg Havian 30 ensemble piano, accompanied by his friend John Lethaby on guitar, harmonica and vocals. The audience chimed in on the chorus for 'I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends' and they finished appropriately for Waitangi Day with a lovely rendition of Pokarekare Ana.

Peter Longbottom followed on with a nice selection of tunes, fluidly played on his Korg Pa600 and then Roy Steen returned to finish the first half, including some stirring marches, highlighting the versatility of his Korg Pa300 keyboard.

After a refreshing supper, we welcomed back our good friend Ben Fernandez and his guest Tracey Collins, a virtuoso on her Titano piano accordion. While they humbly confessed that this was their first gig together, you would never know it. The synergy, energy and chemistry between them belied the fact and it was enthralling to see and hear the melodies being bounced and caught between them throughout their set. A mix of new and old and traditional songs provided a perfect blend and highlighted the lovely voice of the accordion when played by an expert such as Tracey. Ben of course was in fine form too, taking the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 on a roller coaster ride of ever changing moods and melodies. What a great night's entertainment!

For those who missed the evening, a video has been produced and linked below via YouTube.

The Video:

Ben Fernandez on the Clavinova CVP-809 and Tracey Collins on her Titano piano accordion.

The Photos:

Roy Steen playing his Korg Pa300

arranger keyboard

Linus Treefoot on his Korg Havian 30 ensemble piano and accompanied by John Lethaby on his acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals.

Peter Longbottom playing his Korg Pa600

arranger keyboard

Ben Fernandez playing the Yamana CVP-809 ensemble piano and accompanied by Tracey Collins on her Titano piano accordion.