Posts
1 Peggy Lee - or in fact Erna Ferry, who pays tribute to Peggy Lee in her fantastic show called 'Things are Swingin' which we saw on the opening night of the Tauranga Jazz Festival. You can tell she has really researched Peggy's life and at times you get the feeling that Erna actually knew her as she talks of her with such fondness and sings every song with such love in her heart. Thank you Erna. I love what I heard and I'm going to find some more Peggy Lee music. Touching on a previous blog "Music While You Bake," I get the feeling Peggy will be a new addition to the list. Other festival highlights for me: Tauranga Big Band, Brett's New Internationals, meeting Nathan Haines, Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams - the last two's new CD "Recent Works" is stunning.
2 Jazz at the Movies - our own contribution to the Jazz Festival was a blast. Paul was commissoned to write a new score for some rare New Zealand silent movies dating back as far as 1925. The film footage was provided by the New Zealand Film Archive. The Paul Lewis Picturehouse band consisted of myself doing vocals and percussion, Kate Candy - violin, Lynda Wing - piano, Chris Williamson -guitar and banjo and Bryan Holden on double bass. It was such a privilege to be part of a unique project and gave me enormous musical satifaction. Paul's music was of course brilliant and we can't wait to do it all over again!
3 Biscotti - thanks to Kate Candy in our merry little band who made biscotti to munch on in our intervals, I have become quite addicted. I've never bothered to make them before and now I'm experimenting with all sorts of interesting ingredients. Results to be posted soon!
4 Retro Cottage - we have had a heavenly summer in our little 1930s weatherboard cottage. It is filled with a collection of 1950-60s furniture, kitsch and general madness. Retro Cottage has allowed me to indulge my love for retro style and op shop (charity shop) shopping! I'm really enjoying collecting vintage cookbooks and love the social history that is reflected in them such as: "Men are always difficult to find presents for but, since most have a predilection for pickles and chutneys in some form or another, this selection gives you a chance to break from the rather more traditional socks, tie and book syndrome" - ("101 Presents to Cook" 1973.)
5 Star treatment - I've had to change into opera gowns in public toilets, I have had to spend intervals in wine cellars, I have had to trot through paddocks in my high heels, I have arrived at a venue and not even been offered a glass of water, I have had to share a portacabin with 15 other artists with only one mirror between us and I have had my knickers stolen from my changing room, but sometimes I get this:
Thank you to Mieke Fookes, entertainments director, for treating us all so well at a magical night at Vison Forest Lake retirement village in Hamilton, where we performed "Around the World in 80 Minutes."
6 Grieving for flat whites in advance - volcanic ash permitting, we fly back to the UK on the 3rd of May. While sipping my smooth, rich flat white in Grindz Cafe on Friday I felt a wave of grief waft over me, knowing I am heading back to a country "where coffee is like a chemical experiment."
7 Forget-Me-Not CD Launch - Saturday the 24th April. We are launching our first cabaret CD at another Tauranga top cafe, Alimento, 1st Ave, Tauranga. We open the doors at 7.30pm and the show starts at 8.00pm. Alimento will be serving coffee and counterfood and a bar is available. Tickets just $15 which can be purchased on the door. I will be performing songs from the CD in the first half and then by popular demand will be performing some Sharon Elizabeth favourites.
We are really proud of our CD. It's a real little cutie, just Paul and me. I sing some classic 1920-30s popular songs and Paul Lewis cabaret numbers. To hear a sample click the You Tube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=Rk2A5kAgx3s
Well that's all for now. Now for a cup of tea and a slice of brownie (made from another vintage book!)
