HOW LUCKY ARE WE...

JAZZ IN THE PINES

I realise I have not posted for a while. I seem to have been caught up, as well as bogged down, with all sorts of things, including pre-Christmas activities. I really needed to get things back into perspective!!

So when Tina suggested we head down to Kingston yesterday afternoon, for a Jazz concert, we jumped at the chance to blow the cobwebs away and totally relax for an hour or two.

Actually, the term "blowing away the cobwebs" takes on a whole new meaning when you are sitting just a metre or two away from these magnificent big brass instruments!

Each year, Norfolk Island stages a big "Jazz in the Pines" Festival, which attracts large numbers of Jazz lovers from all over Australia and New Zealand. Performances and concerts take place all through the week in different venues, and many, including this one, are free.

When we went to the airport on Thursday evening to meet my sister, there were three musicians in the terminal, entertaining as people were coming through customs! My sister said there had even been a jam session on the plane!

The concert at Emily Bay started at lunchtime, and went on right through the afternoon. There were fish and chips, and masses of salads available to buy for lunch.....Ten dollars for all you could eat!

 Lots of visitors and locals took advantage of the opportunity to sit back and enjoy it all, in this most picturesque setting. Now I have a confession, that I am not a great fan of jazz music. But I do love to see Jazz musicians perform, in a spirit of joy and total immersion in what they are doing, so much of it ad lib as they take their cues from one another. There has to be real bonding in a jazz band.

You can see why they call it Jazz in the Pines!

 Ricky Robertson is a "local", and always takes the opportunity to come over to Norfolk Island with his family and his band at this time!

 Andre is one of our Governmental Ministers, but music is his first love, and he enjoys being at the "controls".

 Here are my sister Sally, her husband Roy, and Bernie feeling totally relaxed.

And even young Jasper seemed to be loving it.

 Now, how lucky are we, being able to enjoy this sort of thing, totally free, in magic surroundings, and just five minutes from home??

MAKING MUSIC AT TAMPALI

We probably don't do it enough, but here on Norfolk Island, we still have opportunities for some lovely get-togethers, with home-made entertainments.

Last Saturday was such an occasion, when Don invited everyone to come and enjoy a pot luck supper at his "shed", with some musical entertainment aferwards.

Now Don's shed is no ordinary backyard tool shed. It is at the bottom of his yard, but it used to be an Aluminium Joinery. Over the years Don and Maree have absolutely transformed it, and now it is a large hall, with a big stage, a kitchen, a lounge area, and a number of smaller rooms. They call it "Tampali Kalcha Side" (Tampali Cultural Centre). That sounds a bit grand in English, but Don and Maree have always been extremely generous in making the place available for workshops in the arts, especially in the areas of music and Polynesian dancing.

 About thirty of us gathered that night, and we couldn't believe where all the food came from.

 Don and Maree's daughter Michaela demonstrated some of her Tahitian dancing skills to us. Michaela is learning from the Tahitians themselves, and is doing something which helps her to link back to her Tahitian foremothers - and with great skill.

 The Ukelele players are always great fun, and obviously enjoy performing together.

 Then Don and Tony went to the stage. Now Tony has been coming over to Norfolk Isand annually from Sydney for about 25 years (?) to tune our pianos. Each time he brings his piano accordion and is able to entertain wherever he is asked. This year, by special request, and with the assistance of some of his grown up family who accompanied him, Tony brought his super-duper "squeezebox", with all these electronic back-ups. What a magnificent instrument, like a mini-orchestra or band, and Tony brought out the very best in it!

One of our school teachers, also named Don, entertained us beautifully on what he calls his "whistle" - I suppose it is a kind of flute -it is not a very big instrument, but it has a wonderful range and tone, and Don plays it with great skill!!

 Then Ben, another of our teachers, took Don Reynold's place on the stage to accompany Tony.

 Of course, Vonnie was there with her spoons, enjoying life to the full.

 And Clare and Cynthia were busy adding to the rhythm with their clappers.

 The evening was not complete without a session from Ken on the piano. Ken comes from a very musical family of boys, but they have barely a note of written music between them!!

What a memorable and heartwarming evening it was. If you live on Norfolk Island, make sure you come to the next one!