The Mercury Bay Big Band Chronicles
Once upon a time, the great Polynesian explorer Kupe paid a visit to our region, followed a few centuries later by Captain James Cook. Later, the small seaside township of Whitianga became renowned for its kauri sawmilling, and laid out the permanent settlement of the town.
A large brass band was started in 1909 by the local barber, rehearsing in the drill hall – probably Whitianga’s first ‘big band’. By 1929, the famous American author of westerns, Zane Grey, made the area his playground for big-game fishing, which again put Mercury Bay in the limelight.
Winning the America’s Cup in 1988 (briefly) was another world-famous event, with the clubhouse for the Mercury Bay Boating Club being a 1955 Ford Zephyr! So we’re not just a sleepy seaside town. But wait, there’s more …
Skip a few years to 2014, when a local music teacher and talented flautist and saxophonist, Helen Lee, got together with some local musicians, including two very talented students from Mercury Bay Area School, early in the year, with the intention of forming a Big Band to play Big Band music. Word spread, and soon there were several accomplished musos playing the few charts that were available. Very soon there were approximately sixteen players, some coming from as far away as Thames, Tairua and Matarangi. By September, concerts were performed, first at On Fire restaurant, now Kufe on the Esplanade and the Mercury Bay Club.
More music was sourced from the late Rodger Fox, a world famous trombonist, based in Wellington. Rodger also came up to take several great workshops over the following years, with concerts in C3 church, where the group was now rehearsing – what a great venue that was. Audiences enthusiastically enjoyed what they heard. Barbara Bradley became the standard MC/compere, the audience hanging on every word as she introduced each number.
The band had now the benefits of a music librarian, Roger Simpson, who had all our music electronically stored ready for reference when needed. The Mercury Bay Community Choir had two concerts combined with the band for ‘tea dances’ in the town hall as well which were well attended and well received. More concerts enthralled appreciative audiences, including: A Taste Of Matarangi, supporting The Lions and the Sea Scouts, a town music festival, a performance in Thames at St George’s church, and more Rodger Fox concerts – all very memorable occasions for the players as well as the audiences.
Late in 2019 the band played in the Tuia 250 celebrations, commemorating the first onshore encounters between Māori and Pākehā. For this special event, two of our members – Yvette Audain and Paul Lee – were commissioned to compose special music for the occasion, which they did very well, and the band excelled in the performance of these two outstanding compositions. Sadly after that, our wonderful Helen became seriously ill and had to leave the band, so musical directing was ably taken over by Paul Lee.
‘Lest We Forget’, the ANZAC concert in the town hall on ANZAC Day 2021, with guest conductor Alistair McMillan from Waihi, and featuring Jenny Jackman as Vera Lynn, was a tremendous success, with the hall decked out in suitable bunting, and absolutely packed with an audience eagerly awaiting the great sounds of those years gone by – they were not disappointed. It was an honour and privilege to be part of this wonderful concert.
Covid lockdowns took their toll on rehearsals. To encourage more young players, a scholarship was offered to school students, and was won by Kenjia Campbell, who accepted the scholarship, and has continued to play with us.
As often happens, our two foundation students have moved on to university studies. Cyclone Gabrielle cutting SH25A early in 2023 made it too difficult for our Thames players to rehearse with us, and with its fewer members, the band had to look at becoming less instrument-dependent; vocalist Abby Lawrence ably joined to help broaden the repertoire. SH25A has re-opened, but our away musos have gone in other musical directions, unfortunately for us.
And that’s where we are now, a smaller combo group of nine players playing not-so-big-bandish but very danceable and well-known music. An offshoot of the Big Band was the formation of the Whitianga Dixieland Band who also rehearse regularly. The Dixie group is led by Kevin Robinson, who is lead trumpeter in the MBBB.
If you are a competent musician with your own instrument and can read charts, or know of someone fitting that description, who would like to join our little Big Band, you/they would be most welcome. For further enquiries – please phone Paul Lee on 027 811 9211. He, and we, would really love to hear from you. Come and have a blow.
If you’re interested in booking the band for a party or event, please reach out to Jani at soulsax@xtra.co.nz or call 027 811 9211.
In the picture: Paul Lee – alto sax, Kenjia Campbell – tenor sax, Trevor Hildreth – trombone, Rob Perks – drums, Paul Bradley – Bass, Bong Cureg – guitar, Jani Dennis – keyboard, Roger Simpson – librarian
Absent: Kevin Robinson – Trumpet, Michelle Lidgard – clarinet, Abby Lawrence – vocal
Words by Paul Bradley, bass guitarist with MBBB
