Nelson Jazz Club

There were quite a few agenda items at the Nelson Jazz Club committee’s meeting of 3 September:

1. Since the club has lost the use of the Radio Network basement for rehearsals we have been looking for a new place to store the club’s equipment. Sue Morriss of Curves Gymnasium in the Wakatu Estate has offered storage space for the piano, drum kit, PA system and the stored files. The remainder of the equipment has little value, being out-of-date computer gear, an old electric organ, an equally old and dilapidated electric piano, an old PA and several chairs. A friendly computer geek has offered to take the old computer gear, which saves us having to pay to dispose of it. If you are interested in seeing the other gear with a view to making a small donation to the club for it, please contact me.
2. Mick Dowrick has stepped down as Musical Director of the Nelson Jazz Club Big Band and Simon Williams has taken over the role. The committee appreciates the work that Mick put in with the band and welcomes Simon to carry on the good work. Band members report that the band is in good heart.
3. The committee is pursuing the possibility of having some of the Youth Jazz Competition combo bands perform at Bar Berlin on a club night there. More on that as plans firm up.
4. We have been approached by the Dixie Street Jazz Band from Australia, which will be in Nelson in December 2013, enquiring about the possibility of a performance here. Dave North has undertaken to liaise with them regarding the possibility of putting something together with the Big Band.
5. You might have seen the recent press release about the 2013 Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival. Liam Ryan is working hard behind the scenes to firm up the programme. All will be revealed at the Festival launch in early November, which you will be informed about nearer to the time.
6. Deb Fish has offered to take over the role of club Treasurer from Amanda Ryan, who has done an excellent job in getting the accounts onto a software system that should make the preparation of monthly and annual statements somewhat more straight-forward in future. On behalf of the club, the committee wishes to thank Amanda for the work she has done and Deb for the work she will be soon doing on the club’s accounts.
7. We have had approaches from two venues to arrange for club bands to perform on a regular basis – Hotel Motueka and Deville. Bands that have not already done so have been asked to provide a biography and contact details for the website to make this process easier and for the bands to promote themselves generally.
8. Speaking of the website, you might have noticed how up to date it has been looking lately. The committee would like to thank Michael Rhodes for the excellent job he has been doing to reorganise and maintain it.

Best regards,

Mike Murphy
Secretary
Nelson Jazz Club