Nelson Jazz Club

At the Nelson Jazz Club AGM on March 25th 2013, George Jury was presented with a life membership and thanked for his long and substantial contribution to the NJC, the musical community in Nelson, and jazz in NZ.  The following is a copy of the speech presented by Andrew Leachman.

George Jury – Alto saxophonist and arranger

George retired from active playing in 2010, despite encouragement from his many musical friends and admirers. George has been active in the jazz scene in Nelson for over twenty years, he worked with big bands and touring bands out of Auckland prior to his arrival in Nelson during 1988.

Within a year of his arrival in Nelson, George took over the lead alto chair in the Sun City Big Band under the leadership of American trombone player Al Leonard. The saxophone section in 1989 included Bryan James on baritone, Steven Fleming and Andrew Leachman on tenor saxes, with  Andrew Jary on second alto. Other band members included Chris Lukies, Ian Nicholas on trombones, with Linclon Cowie and Graham Woods on trumpets.

During that same year George supported the local Operatic Society with their staging of “West Side Story” under the musical direction of Chris Lukies. George played clarinet and alto saxophone in the pit band. In April 1990 George teamed up with Andrew Leachman in the group “Hardlines” for which George wrote arrangements. In 1991 Al Leonard put together a traditional jazz band which he named “Bourbon Street Beat”. George featured on clarinet and alto saxophone, plus he wrote arrangements for the group.

In 1992 Al Leonard sadly left Nelson, moving back to Australia. Rupert Winter co-ordinated the remaining members of the Al Leonard Band/Bourbon Street Beat into the “Jazz Club Players”, who regularly performed at the Victorian Rose pub on a Wednesday evening. During 1993 George Jury with Nelson Jazz Club members, David Bowater, Mike Delceg and Andrew Leachman formed the “Nile Street Saxophone Quartet”.

In April 1994 “Jazz Workx” performed at Kacey’s Bar where the Nelson Museum now stands. “Jazz Workx” featured George Jury, Gabor Tolnay, Chris Self and Chris Cowles. In October 1994 Nelson Jazz Club members Brian Smyth, Rupert Winter, Andrew Leachman and George Jury travelled south to Oamaru for the annual residential South Island Jazz festival. This group played under the name “The Tasman Bay Slime”.

Over the last 20 years George has performed with every jazz musician in the town. He was active as a judge in the inaugural NJC Youth Jazz Competition in 2011 and again the following year. As a Jazz Club Committee member George has for several years,  organised the band roster for both the Victorian Rose weekly club sessions and the monthly Bar Berlin sessions. George has made a tremendous contribution to the musical community of Nelson. He has generously given his support to many fund raising projects and he is always happy to help struggling young saxophone players.

Minutes of the 2013 Nelson Jazz Club Annual General Meeting held at The Honest Lawyer hotel, 6:00pm, 25 March, 2013.

Attendance:
Iain Clark, Warren Fenemor, Deb Fish, Steve Hainstock, George Jury, Andrew Leachman, Karina Miller, Mike Murphy, Dave North, Lila Osnabrugge, Michael Rhodes, Amanda Ryan, Liam Ryan, Simon Williams and Rupert Winter.

Apologies:
Annabel Boyes, Mike Delceg, Trevor Hunter and John Morris.

Minutes of the 2012 AGM:
The minutes had been circulated with the AGM notice. Rupert Winter moved that they be accepted. Seconded by Michael Rhodes. Carried.

Matters arising:
There were no matters arising from the 2012 minutes.

President’s report:
In the absence of Mike McElhinney, Mike Murphy presented a brief summary of the club’s events during the year. In particular, these include the Jazz & Blues Festival, the Youth Jazz Competition and the Jazz Jam weekend that Steve and Gale Hainstock organised. Mike expressed his disappointment that, through lack of club support, the weekly gig at The Vic Mac’s Brew Bar and then Bar Berlin had been lost during the year. He also expressed his concern that the monthly gig at Bar Berlin will also be lost.

Treasurer’s report:
Amanda Ryan and Lila Osnabrugge of WHK, the club’s accountants, presented the annual accounts, which have been circulated to the membership. Deb Fish moved that the annual accounts be accepted. Seconded by Mike Murphy. Carried.

Amanda Ryan presented a detailed minute of grants received for the Festival and the Youth Jazz Competition to satisfy the requirements of some grant agencies that grants be listed in the club’s minutes or financial report.

Mike Murphy noted that the Schedule of Fixed Assets in the club’s annual accounts is out of date and has made notes about what assets have been disposed of during the clean-out of the club’s previous rehearsal rooms since the use of the rooms was terminated.

Festival Director’s report:
Liam and Amanda Ryan presented a detailed report of the 2013 Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival, which was a great success musically and financially. A summary version of the report has been sent to sponsors and venues. Mike Murphy moved that the Festival Director’s report be accepted. Seconded by Michael Rhodes. Carried.

Mike Murphy moved that Liam and Amanda Ryan investigate the viability of organising a 2014 Festival and report back to the committee by the end of April. Seconded by Iain Clark. Carried.

General business:

1. Life membership: George Jury. Andrew Leachman spoke of George’s history of contributions to the Nelson Jazz Club and announced that the committee had voted to grant him life membership. George was presented with a letter from the committee, thanking him for his long and substantial contribution and granting life membership. There was enthusiastic acclaim for George from those present.
2. The committee thanked Steve and Gale Hainstock for organising the Jazz Jam weekend that was held at The Honest Lawyer during the weekend of 22 – 24 March, 2013.
3. Steve Hainstock expressed his disappointment that The Vic Mac’s Brew Bar threw out the club’s banner that used to be hung in the bar on club gig nights. Steve asked for the banner so that it could be used at the Jazz Jam weekend venue. Mike Murphy investigated and was told it had been thrown out. Mike expressed his disappointment to Phil Williams of the bar that the club had not been contacted to remove it at the time.
4. Steve Hainstock expressed concern that The Honest Lawyer is not a large enough venue for the Youth Jazz Competition. Because of fire regulations, the venue was at capacity last year and he was refused entry. Andrew Leachman and Dave North assured Steve that the matter has been addressed.
5. Steve announced that he would be able to store the club’s drum kit should the use of the store room in the radio station basement cease.
6. Liam Ryan followed up on a proposal he made at the last committee meeting, that a link be created between the Jazz & Blues Festival and the Youth Jazz Competition through the creation of a ‘Festival Cup’ to be awarded to the most outstanding young musician in the competition. Iain Clark has investigated having a cup made and will liaise with Liam regarding the matter.
7. Liam Ryan told the meeting that Doug Stenhouse reported that the club’s drum kit that was used during the Jazz Jam weekend is in need of some repairs.

Election of 2013 committee:
Those standing for the 2013 committee include: Iain Clark, Deb Fish, Karina Miller, Dave North, Michael Rhodes, Amanda Ryan, Liam Ryan and Simon Williams.

Meeting closure:
7:10pm.