Swing Into Christmas

The big band played its last gig for the year at the "Swing Into Christmas" event, an evening of music and dancing at the Old Library, Rust Ave, Whangarei. Lynda from Swing Dance Company B was there to lead the dancing and taught a good number of folk to do the Charleston. The evening was also Janelle's last performance after many years gigging with the big band on keys. We wish her and her partner the best in the land of OZ. Swing into Christmas was the first opportunity the band has had to play at the old library and it turned out to be a great venue. Watch out for the band at the Northern Jazz Society's Jazz Picnic first Sunday of February. 

Australia versus Austria Trumpet Battle

Check out this amazing video (courtesy of Herman Otto) of an all-star Austrian Big Band with James Morrison playing "Meet the Flintstones." Some of us saw Thomas Gansch (in the purple shirt) playing with Mnozil Brass in Auckland this year.

Christmas Concert

Big Band a hit at the Jazz Club

Sunday 2nd December saw the long awaited return of the big band to the Northern Jazz Society Club day at   the Whangarei RSA. The band played to a large audience of music lovers who showed their appreciation in the form of many positive comments and loud applause. The band played music ranging from swing standards such as Stardust to modern jazz composition such as James Morrison's Le Belleclaire Blues. Vocalists Tanya Maich and Brian Phillips delighted listeners with their performances. Soloists Don Durrant (tenor sax), Stephen Thorne (alto sax), Ian Mason (trombone), Grant Burns (filling in on trumpet) and Mike Vink (keys) added their panache to the afternoon's music.

BCBB at BOI JBF

Don't you just love abbreviations? Next weekend the Basin City Big Band will perform at the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival for the first time in many years. We will be featuring our stunning vocalist Barbie Wellington in what promises to be an exciting show. There are two opportunities to hear the band: 11:00am at Pahia Pacific Resort and 4:00pm at the Duke Hotel in Russell. You can visit the festival website www.jazz-blues.co.nz to find out about venues and other bands. Another excellent band to check out will be Jazz Inspired, a smooth sounding 3 horn and rhythm combo with Tanya Maich on vocals.

Hospice Fundraiser Success

Last Sunday the Basin City Big Band played at McCleod's Bay Hall near Whangarei Heads. The concert was to help raise funds for Hospice. It was also the debut performance of the band's new singer, Barbie Davidson. Barbie was a hit with the audience and the band received plenty of praise for their performances. The Manaia Singers also joined the big band in entertaining the audience. The concert raised $1000 for the Hospice Foundation.

The band's next appearances will be at the Bay Of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival on the 11th/12th of August in Pahia, Northland.

Going into battle armed with a trumpet

The amazing story of war veteran Jack Tueller and the trumpet he carried with him on 140 flights during WWII.

.............on each mission, Tueller carried his trumpet in the cockpit.

"I took it in a little canvas bag attached to my parachute. I figured if I ever got shot down, it would go with me, and if I survived and got put into a prisoner of war camp, I could get an extra bar of soap from the guard."

Click here to read more.

Hospice Fundraiser at McLeod's Bay

Sunday week, June 10th, the Basin City Big Band will perform an afternoon concert to help raise money for Hospice. The band will be joined by cabaret singer Barbie Wellington in her debut performance with the big band. Click on the flyer below for more information.

Big Band - Brazilian Style

From time to time I will post links to interesting big band music videos on this website. To kick off, here is the famous Spok Frevo Orquestera from Brazil. Frevo is a style of latin music originating from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Sit back and enjoy the amazingly tight big band peformance in this clip...

Sara's Farewell Concert

Last Sunday afternoon the Big Band played at a farewell concert for Sara Harris. The venue was St Andrew's Church, which provide some nice acoustics. The Big Band started the program with Sara singing numbers such as L.O.V.E. love, Old Devil Called Love and Mack the Knife. They were followed by 10 members of the Tauraroa Area School Glee Club (and a private student of Sara's) singing a range of popular numbers accompanied by Sara on piano. Natalie Wilson and Abby Chambers sang an original song, Good-Hi, to farewell Sara. The program was closed by Jazz Inspired, a six piece jazz combo, with whom Sara has performed numerous gigs over the last few years, providing backing for Sara to sing Sunshine of my Life, Mercy, Mustang Sally and All that Jazz.

Your last chance to see Sara is Sunday 1st April at Reva's in the town basin, Whangarei (2pm - 4:30pm), when she will perform with Jazz Inspired one last time.

Relay for Life Saturday 17th March

The big band played its second gig for the year at the fund raising event "Relay for Life." In this event participants walk in teams around an oval track for 24hrs. The band played on a covered in stage to small crowds of passers-by, between 2 - 3pm. Fortunately the sun was shining on all, not the case for the Sunday when heavy rain must have dampened proceedings. Jim Thorne filled in on baritone sax and nice solos were heard from Don on tenor sax, Matt on trumpet, Ian on trombone, Stephen on alto and Brian on guitar.

Come and see the band at Sara Harris's farewell concert Sunday 25th March, 3pm at St Andrews church, Whangarei.

First Gig For the Year

Today the band played for two hours at Heritage Park's Live Day, in Maunu. The park had a good flow of people listening to the music, riding trains and viewing exhibits. The weather was fine with only a mild breeze to ruffle the sheet music of players. The band even had some young fans enjoying the sound of the band....

Farewell Concert for Sara Harris

Sadly our excellent vocalist Sara Harris is returning to the UK to live. Sara was a very popular vocal teacher at Tauraroa Area School and Bream Bay College for the last few years and started the TAS Glee Club which will feature in the concert along with Jazz Inspired and the Basin City Big Band. Click below to enlarge the poster.

2012 Ahoy

2012 brings some new opportunities for the Basin City Big Band. The band is already preparing music for their first gig at Heritage Park on the 4th of March. The band will be playing under the leadership of new musical director, Derek Hopper, and performing a range of popular tunes from the 40's to the 80's. Bring a picnic lunch and sit on the  village green to hear the band, 1 - 3:30pm.