18 May 2005 - 0 Comments

Two Auckland-based groups and a Wellington trio are the finalists in the 2005 New Zealand Music Award for Best Jazz Album.

The Kevin Clark Trio based in the Capital has been nominated for its ‘live with guests album’ The Sandbar Sessions.

From Auckland, the Dan Papirany Trio has been nominated for its debut album Session One while the Julie Mason Quintet’s third album Estate (Summer) is the third finalist.

The winner of the 2005 New Zealand Music Award for Best Jazz Album is to be announced at the Manawatu International Jazz and Blues Festival on June 4 in Palmerston North.

Kevin Clark has an Honours degree in Music and is a part time tutor at the Massey Conservatorium of Music. He has been performing in and around Wellington for the past 35 years and the trio with guest artists has been resident at the Sandbar in Paremata for three years.

The Kevin Clark trio comprises Kevin Clark, Richard Wise and Rowan Clark.

Israel-born and Wellington-trained Dan Papirany studied jazz at the Massey Conservatory in Wellington changing from drums to piano in his third year and graduation in 1999 with a Bachelor of Music Performance.

The trio is a regular performer at MLC Bar in Auckland with Papirany joined by Owen Kneebone on drums and Peter McGregor on Bass.

Julie Mason has more than 20 years’ experience in the New Zealand jazz scene and has performed at jazz and arts festivals throughout Australasia and in the UK and Europe. She released her first album Invitation in 1997 and Estate (Summer) was released in 2005.

The Julie Mason Quintet comprises Julie Mason on piano and vocals, Alberto Santarelli on bass and Frank Gibson on Drums.

It is the first year the Tui for Best Jazz Album has been presented outside the main Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

Adam Holt, spokesperson for the music awards says: “We're thrilled to present the Tui for the Best Jazz Album at the Manawatu International Jazz and Blues Festival. This is the second longest running jazz and blues festival in New Zealand and attracts hundreds of Jazz enthusiasts.”

The Tui is to be presented during the evening concert at Palmerston North’s Regent Theatre on the Saturday of Queens Birthday Weekend. It is part of The Blue Chip New Zealand International Jazz Series Concert featuring noted US musicians and the Rodger Fox “Allstar” Big Band.

The Manawatu International Jazz and Blues Festival is now in its 38th year.

Thanks to www.rianz.org.nz for this story.

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