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Club Night 6th May 2025

 What a great night it was! Good crowd, lots of laughter, and fantastic music! Warren Levick provided the Arrival Music and followed by Ian Jackson. Due to sickness our second member could not turn up and play for us, but serendipity stepped-in and a former member, Paul McIsaac, happened to be in Auckland and came along. A quick nod of the head and he stepped-into the fray and played five great pieces for us. Wonderful music, thank you Paul. To finish the first set, Warren Levick played the Clavinova for us using the built-in rhythms/styles to great effect. Superb music in various styles by our three players in the first set.

After the Raffle and superb refreshments in the interlude (thank you to our new Catering Manager, Jan Ellin for the scones and bikkies) we were ready for our guest artists to perform. The band is called "Viva Jazz" and consists of Darren Smith on keys, Dean Tremlett on bass guitar, and Matt Hennessey on drums. Some great light jazz was enjoyed together with lots of friendly banter between the band and the audience. It was great to have some of the Band's fans turn-up to enjoy the fun. All in all, a great night of music.

The Videos:

Our Guest Artists, Viva Jazz, 
L:R Darren Smith; Dean Tremlett; Matt Hennessey

Ian Jackson playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Paul McIsaac playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Warren Levick playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

                                                 

The Photos:

Our Guest Artists, Viva Jazz. 

From L:R - Darren Smith; Dean Tremlett; Matt Hennessey

Warren Levick playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ian Jackson playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Paul McIsaac playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano.
Paul was playing 'cold' as he just happened to be in Auckland
and agreed to play a few numbers for us!

Coffee Day at Greenwich Gardens Metlifecare Village 23rd April 2025

 What a lovely day spent playing music at Greenwich Gardens Village. We played to an appreciative audience of residents, our members, and visitors who had come along especially for the occasion! They have a lovely Boston grand piano (made by the Steinway Company) that was enjoyed by all that played it. For variety, we also had a Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard to add an orchestral dimension to the music. As this was a school holiday period, Wu Liu, a member of our Club, brought along 11 of his students to play a piece each for us - mostly on the piano one sang and another student played his violin!

All in all, a very pleasant day enjoyed by all who attended.

The Photos:

One of Wu Liu's students playing the Grand Piano

Some of the proud parents listening to their children performing

Wu Liu's students receiving their Certificates of Merit for their great performances

 

Wu Liu played a lovely classical piece for us as well

A regular player at the Village, Roderick Isaacs, kindly gave
a 30-minute concert for us 

Club members, Mary Elvin

Club member, Gordon Sutherland, played his
Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard

Club member, Brian McMurray

Club member, Warren Levick

Club member, Patrick McMillan playing
the Boston grand piano

Club Night 1st April 2025

 A great night was had by one and all with a variety of styles played on the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 together with two arranger keyboards. We had quite a few visitors in attendance which was good to see. In fact, one of the visitors gave us a 15-minute performance on the Clavinova as arranged before the evening. We were delighted to welcome back as a guest artist, our member from New Plymouth, Jeanette Harding. Jeanette brought along her Korg Pa4X arranger keyboard and added vocals for more impact.

The Video: 

Our Guest Artist, Jeanette Harding.
Jeanette is playing her Korg Pa4X arranger keyboard

Ian Jackson playing at the Club on 5th November 2024.
Ian is playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809. 

Ian Jackson playing at the Club on 1st December 2020.
Ian is playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809. 

The Photos:

Linda Dickinson debuting on our Clavinova
with added vocals - very enjoyable.

Mary Elvin playing our Clavinova

Yvonne Moller playing her Korg Pa3X

Claude Moffat playing the Clavinova

Our guest artist, Jeanette Harding, playing her Korg Pa3X arranger keyboard.
Jeanette a wide variety of styles with added vocals

Coffee Day at Settlers Village, Albany

 A great day was had by one and all. It is 11 years since we last played at this lovely village and we were made most welcome by the Management and residents. It was good to catch up with a former member of the Club, Barbara McNab, who lives in this luxurious village. We had a good variety of our members playing both on the Village's Yamaha C2 grand piano and on arranger keyboards brought in by certain of our members. Plenty of enthusiasm by the Village residents which was encouraging.

The Photos:

Claude Moffat playing the Yamaha C2 grand piano

Mary Barrett playing her
Korg Pa1000 arranger keyboard

Mary Barrett playing the
Yamaha C2 grand piano

Denise Gunson playing the Yamaha C2 grand piano

 Patrick McMillan playing the Yamaha C2 grand piano

Gordon Sutherland playing his
Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard

Graeme Webber playing the Yamaha C2 grand piano

Club Night 4th March 2025

 A great night's entertainment with a distinct variety of music from classical piano to jazz standards on piano and pop/country style on guitar and vocals! We had a goodish attendance considering it was AGM night for the first 50 minutes. In the first set, Brian McMurray gave us a performance on our Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 playing nice jazz standards. Brian also kindly provided the arrival music. After the raffle and refreshments break, Hana Tani played the Clavinova for us with a mixture of jazz standards and classical pieces including Rachmaninov. What a wonderfully talented teenager who has been playing at our Club over the last 10 years and oh how she has developed. To finish the second set, Charles Rafi [Rafi] played his electric guitar with added vocals with some Pink Floyd and Toto! Well done Rafi, a nice change of style for the Club.

The Videos:

Hana Tani playing the Club's
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Brian McMurray playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Charles Rafi [Rafi] playing his electric guitar with added vocals

The Photos:

Hana Tani playing our
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Charles Rafi [Rafi] playing his electric guitar
with added vocals

Brian McMurray playing our Clavinova

Club Night 4th February 2025

 What a great start to the Year. A good attendance of members and visitors were entertained by a diversified and somewhat eclectic range of music styles and instruments. For the intro, the arrival music was shared between Graeme Webber and Warren Levick on our Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano. Thanks guys some great music to get us into the mood. Graeme Webber then gave us a performance with a range of jazz standards, some with added vocals. Good stuff, thanks Graeme. Next up, our member Linus Treefoot brought along his Korg Havian 30 ensemble piano. Linus played some classics (with an interesting 'twist') and a highlight was a song he had composed for Auckland City - great song! Linus brought along his friend John Lethaby who gave us some solo performances on his acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals. To finish their set, Linus and John did some duets culminating in a great, foot tapping traditional Russian folk song. Well done guys, very entertaining.

After a refreshments break, we were entertained by our formal guest artists for the evening - Ken Naidu on our Clavinova CVP-809 piano and accompanied on some numbers by a music colleague, Denholm Orr on double bass. The focus was on light jazz numbers with some amazing instantaneous changes of key as called out by the audience! High quality music and much appreciated by the discerning audience. Ken Naidu, CEO of NZ Musicians Collective, pianist, composer and performer.  Ken is resident pianist for Accor Hotels Group and a Steinway piano company ambassador.

The Videos:

Ken Naidu (piano) and Denholm Orr (double bass)
Playing at our Club as our very special Guest Artists

Ken Naidu's BIO

"Ken Naidu is an award-winning Session Pianist and Composer.
He has played and collaborated with a wide range of both New Zealand and international artists from Iris Dunn to Sol3 Mio.
His international recognition is evident, with music premiered in over twenty countries, and performances at over thirty venues across the world.
Ken is the founder and CEO of The NZ Session Collective and works deeply within the networks of the NZ music industry. His relentless pursuit of excellence is guided by a blend of passion, purpose, and a deep understanding of the musical universe."

Timestamps:

Tunes played:

0:29   - Nardis | Bill Evans
  8:45   - Fly Love | Rio
  14:41 - Smile | Charlie Chaplin
  19:57 - Ken's Improvisation Game
  25:47 - Summertime | George Gershwin, Arr. Artley
  31:04 - Dark Eyes (Ochi chyornye) | Yevhen Hrebinka

--------------

John Lethaby and Linus Treefoot. John on guitar and harmonica
and Linus Treefoot on his Korg Havian 30 ensemble piano

The Photos:

Warren Levick playing the arrival music

Graeme Webber playing the piano
with added vocals on some numbers

Linus Treefoot playing his Korg Havian 30

Linus Treefoot playing his Korg Havian 30 accompanied
by John Lethaby on guitar, harmonica and vocals

John Lethaby playing his guitar
with harmonica and vocals

Our Guest Artists:
Ken Naidu playing our Yamaha CVP-809 ensemble piano
and accompanied on double bass by Denholm Orr

Ken Naidu playing our Yamaha CVP-809 ensemble piano
and accompanied on double bass by Denholm Orr.
Denholm is seen here using a bow to play the double bass!