Nelson Jazz Club

The committee had a fairly full agenda, which included:

Sponsorship sub-committee

In response to an approach by a business owner enquiring about sponsoring some aspect of the club’s activities and subsequent discussion about it, Iain Clark presented a proposal that a sub-committee be established to prepare a portfolio of club activities for which sponsorship would be welcome and identify prospective sponsors. The Youth Jazz Band Competition drew upon funding from sponsors, the Big Band has an on-going need for a musical director and, of course, the Jazz & Blues Festival is substantially funded through sponsorship. There may also be other events that could be made possible through sponsorship, such as educational workshops and visits from out-of-town musicians.  The sub-committee will work with the Festival Director and those who organise the other existing club activities that seek sponsorship.

If club members know of possible sponsors, please let me know and I will pass the information along.

Band practice rooms

As most of you know, the club has lost the use of the radio station basement for band practices. Committee members have pursued a few possibilities for a new practice space but so far nothing definite has turned up. One further possibility is still to be checked out but it will involve at least a nominal hourly fee. If any of you know of a suitable, available venue, please let me know.

We also need to find accessible storage for the club’s equipment which includes a good upright piano, a drum kit and a PA system. There are also two old electric keyboards, one piano with arranger and one organ, which are of little or no value. If you know of anywhere that is available and suitable, please let me know.

Big Band musical director

Mick Dowrick, who has been successfully working in the role of musical director of the Big Band for some time now, has indicated that he will be stepping down. Simon Williams has expressed interest in taking over the role and the committee voted to support Simon and the Big Band in this regard.

2013 Jazz & Blues Festival

Although things have been publicly quiet on this front, plenty has been going on behind the scenes to put the foundations for another successful festival in place. Expect an announcement or two in the very near future.

Jazz Jam Nights rhythm section

The Wednesday club band evenings at Bar Berlin are going very well and numbers at the monthly Jazz Jam Night have also been increasing, which is great. As I am sure you are aware, this is an unpaid, Jazz Club gig for which Bar Berlin kindly provides us with a perfect venue. It would be a pity, however, if rhythm section duties are always left to the few stalwarts who nearly always put their hands up, so please let George Jury know if you are available to contribute.

Best regards and remember, Freewheelin’ are at Bar Berlin this evening so I might see you there.

Mike Murphy
Secretary
Nelson Jazz Club

Hi everybody,

The Jazz Club committee met this evening. Unsurprisingly, following the highly successful Youth Jazz Competition held the day before at The Honest Lawyer, much of the meeting was taken up with Andrew Leachman’s detailed report and discussions regarding how the club might better invite the many talented young musicians in the district to join and participate in club activities, particularly the now-regular jam evening. Andrew will send his report, which contains lots of encouraging, positive feedback to the participants, to the school music teachers to pass on to them.

Many thanks to Dave North and Andrew Leachman for organising the event and for the sponsorship they obtained for the event prizes. Needless to say, a vote of gratitude is also due to those sponsors, who include the Nelson Arts Council, Collingwood Street Fresh Choice, Beggs Music Works and Prices Pharmacy.

Iain Clark announced the forthcoming visit to Nelson of ‘The Senility Five’, which is band made up of well-known and highly-regarded senior New Zealand jazz musicians. They will be performing in Nelson in late September. More on that later.

From my point of view, with the excellent Latin Jazz workshop presented by Kevin Clark a few weeks ago, the recent success of the Youth Jazz Competition and the growing participation in gig nights at Bar Berlin, it seems that our club is in very good heart at present.

Best regards,

Mike Murphy
Secretary
Nelson Jazz Club