Meet our Jazz and Blues Streetfest Artists

HOME STREETFEST SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARTISTS PHOTO GALLERY 2007 STREETFEST MAP 2008 ARTISTS Arts & Crafts Market CONTACT DETAILS	JAZZ & BLUES STREETFEST A FUN FILLED MUSICAL SPECTACLE

Jazz and Blues Streetfest 2008 ARTISTS
20/20 Express Alzarae Brilleaux Blue Collar Band Chris Melville Jazz CJ & the Sidewinders	Edwina Thorne Quintet Frank Gibson Jazz Gahu Grammaphone Indigo Blue Big Belly Woman	Mike Garner Mitch Golner and Blues Toulouse Noel Binns Swing Band Matecito Latin Band Pugsley Buzzard	Recliner Rockers Riverhead Slide Bridge City Jazzmen Smokestack Katy Soljak The Jukes	Street Level Tuesdays at Morries Wild Reeds Combo Zamba Flam Chris Mason-Battley Jazz VoxNova


Alzarae	Alzarae: The English translation of Alzarae means to raise or to lift up. Exactly what these four guys do to your spirits with their renditions of well-known classics. Back to top

Brilleaux	Brilleaux: Groovy Brilleaux - New Zealand's premiere, kick-ass rhythm and Blues band. With lead/rhythm/bass guitars, drums, harmonica and vocals. Back to top

Chris Mason-Battley Jazz	Chris Mason-Battley Jazz: Led by Chris Mason-Battley on saxophone and combining the classic acoustic sound of jazz with contemporary music technology, providing top quality entertainment. Back to top

Edwina Thorne Quintet	Edwina Thorne Quintet: Specialising in the music and the styles of Chet Baker, Miles Davis and Peggy Lee as well as Latin favourites. Trumpet virtuoso and vocalist, Edwina is accompanied by an experienced line up. Back to top

Frank Gibson Jazz	Frank Gibson Jazz: “Gibson is the kind of drummer most musicians are only destined to wish for in this life. He has an acute sense of dynamics and chooses approaches that are often unexpected but never in the way.” *– Jazz Forum.* Back to top

Katy Soljak	Katy Soljak Blues Band: A band with a smoky blend of coffeehouse blues/folk/jazz/ poetry/truth. Worldly songs that strike a familiar cord with Bohemians old and new. Back to top

Mitch Golner and Blues Toulouse	Mitch Golner and Blues Toulouse: Golner and Blues Toulouse still wowing audiences with rhythmic ballads, blues, rock and jazz. Vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, drummer and producer, Golner brings global know-how to a wide range of music.

Pugsley Buzzard	Pugsley Buzzard: Piano playing and gravel-voiced Australian singer drawing from a rich vein of music, including Harlem Stride, New Orleans Funk, Jazz, Barrelhouse Blues and Modern Improvisations. His exciting performances are delivered with a touch of vaudeville. Back to top

Wild Reeds Combo	Wild Reeds Combo: “Fun, exciting and new, with an energy and passion that comes from few.” Five piece band playing Dixie, jazz, rock & swing, Latin, blues, soul and fusion jazz. Back to top

Mike Garner	Mike Garner: The Mike Garner Band is based in Rotorua. Mike is a soulful singer & fine acoustic & slide guitarist who plays blues and original songs. He is accompanied by Warren Houston on percussion and Dave Robinson on acoustic and electric basses. Back to top

Noel Binns Swing Band	Noel Binns Swing Band: This band is quickly becoming one of Auckland’s leading groups. Their repertoire includes all your big band swing and other favourites. Back to top

Bridge City Jazzmen	The Bridge City Jazzmen came together in 1962. At this time there was a revival of traditional jazz in Auckland through the visiting bands of Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk. The BCJM played on several TV shows, recorded five radio programmes, and released six records. The band reformed in 1997 for a series of gigs and concerts. Back to top

Tuesdays at Morries	Tuesdays at Morries: This trio loves to play the blues and strives to get everyone up dancing. Originally hailing from Palmerston North (but don’t hold that against them) with guitar, base, drums and vocals. Back to top

Zamba Flam	Zamba Flam: A five piece Latin band delighting audiences throughout the country with guitar, horns, bass, percussion and drums. “The capacity crowd really enjoyed the good time grooves – they were good, really good.” *Nelson Evening Mail* Back to top

Chris Melville Jazz	Chris Melville Jazz: The Grand Central Band 'Get Your Groove On!' Discover why this band is in demand from Vanuatu to Hong Kong, Waiheke to Queenstown. Back to top

Riverhead Slide	Riverhead Slide: Regular Jazz and Blues Festival performers once again pumping out their mix of originals and blues. Typical Riverhead Slide with liberal lashings of open-tuned slide guitar to thrill the listeners. Back to top

Blue Collar Band	Blue Collar Band: Auckland based authentic four piece blues, soul, rock n’ roll and classic rock band. With strong vocals specialising in their own adaptation of covers music - with a difference. Audiences can’t help but swing along with the Blue Collar Band. Back to top

20/20 Express	20/20 Express: A fine band from South Auckland playing timeless smooth jazz/blues, Latin, Polynesian and contemporary jazz. Eight piece multi-cultural group with outstanding vocalists. Pioneers of the ‘Polyjazz’ style. Back to top

Gahu	Gahu: Unique Afro-Kiwi fusion, Afro beat jazz, Highlife and traditional Ghana. Drum pieces. “Gahu stride between world music and jazz…with great energy, sociability and commitment…musically uplifting stuff.” The NZ Herald, Graham Reid. Back to top

Matecito Latin Band	Matecito Latin Band: Five piece South Island band playing a variety of Latin music including Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Cha cha cha and Latin Rock. Founded by Peruvian Gerardo Torrres, previously a professional singer and entertainer in his own country. Creating vibrant Latin, Central American and Mexican music. Back to top

Smokestack	Smokestack: One of NZ's best blues/jazz bands, Smokestack features men from Melbourne, Auckland and Whangarei. Featuring lots of harmonica and slide guitar, their schtick is fast and light, big and tight, original kiwi blues-inflected rhythm-driven songs with strong messages about Aotearoa. Their new album will be premiered at Mission Bay. Back to top

Indigo Blue	Indigo Blue: is an Auckland based blues/rock band; playing Chicago/ British influenced music. They also enjoy blending the blues and Jazz with a wide spectrum of ‘good songs’ Band members have had both national and international experience playing in some high profile bands over the years. Indigo Blue includes a well known Auckland harmonica player, Keri Betti, who has recorded with other bands in the past, his most recent project being the “Harmonica Masters of New Zealand” CD Back to top

Recliner Rockers	Recliner Rockers: A high octane, up-tempo blues band that throws caution to the wind. Kick off your shoes, let your hair down and try and keep your clothes on. You'll swing, you'll grind, you’ll lose your mind. Back to top

CJ & the Sidewinders	CJ & the Sidewinders; This band was formed by five experienced musicians to express their love of blues, swing, jump and blues/rock music. A polished act with the emphasis on FUN, taking the audience through many styles and genres that have been influenced by the blues. Enjoy a musical trip that includes shades of New Orleans and Chicago – to Mississippi and even London. CJ & the Sidewinders – an experience you won’t forget. Back to top

VoxNova	VoxNova : FretSalad - is a phrase the quintet has coined to describe the resulting fusion of guitar styles and the selection they perform. The flamenco-rumba sound is an accessible blend of flamenco and South American musical forms made famous by French Romani band The Gipsy Kings. Including flavours from Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, Argentina and Paraguay. Aficionados relish the chance to savour live performances that ordinarily are only available offshore.Delicious instrumental and vocal treats by artists such as: The Gipsy Kings, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, John McLauchlin, Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, Sergio Mendes, Carlos Santana, Buena Vista Social Club as well as original material penned by their own Chico Zarate. Back to top

Grammaphone	Grammaphone: is made up of 5 Auckland Grammar students in love with jazz. We play mostly avant-garde and Latin jazz as well as pulling out some funky bass lines and transforming the norm. Improvisation is one of our forte's and with this, we believe that jazz is freedom to express what we think and feel. Back to top

The Jukes	The Jukes emerged from the deep blues tradition in 2006 and were formed with the vision of bringing something different to the New Zealand music scene. Uncompromising authenticity, as faithful to the original Chicago blues as possible. That means maximum ‘danceability.’ They are as much of a cause as a band, playing genuine, emotional music. Blues touch you where it hurts, and then heals you. Back to top

Street Level	Street Level: This South African band’s style of music is Cape Street Latin jazz, Ethnic African jazz and the good old favourite Jazz Standards. Specialising in Cape Afro Jazz, with vocals in three different South African languages, and also in English. Back to top

Big Belly Woman	Big Belly Woman: is not only a band but is an integral part of a Charitable Trust. Our Trust comes from a Flax roots, local Maori community base and is situated in the rural Far North of Rawene, Hokianga. We are an 8 piece Maori group comprising of luscious vocals, Taonga Puoro, Sax, Keys, guitar, drums and bass. Our music contains original compositions that has traditional Maori instruments woven with modern sounds intertwined throughout. Back to top

Pugsley Buzzard: Piano playing and gravel-voiced Australian singer drawing from a rich vein of music, including Harlem Stride, New Orleans Funk, Jazz, Barrelhouse Blues and Modern Improvisations. His exciting performances are delivered with a touch of vaudeville.