LA PETITE MANOUCHE - INSPIRING & UPLIFTING GYPSY JAZZ
Inspiring and uplifting - La Petite Manouche delivered a flawless performance to a packed out enthusiastic crowd at the Village Cafe last Friday night. Joined by Luke Smillie on percussion, Gypsy Jazz guitar duo Burke Goffe and Robbie Averill enticed and entertained with a mix of Gypsy Jazz standards interspersed with their own clever compositions.
This Christchurch based duo - touted as one of New Zealand's hottest Gypsy Jazz acts confirmed this reputation with a powerful performance - intriguing and exceptional from start to finish. Rhythmic riffs that make your heart twirl and senses soar, so cleverly spun by these skilful masters
This Christchurch based duo - touted as one of New Zealand's hottest Gypsy Jazz acts confirmed this reputation with a powerful performance - intriguing and exceptional from start to finish. Rhythmic riffs that make your heart twirl and senses soar, so cleverly spun by these skilful masters
ROBBIE AVERILL, LUKE SMILLIE & BURKE GOFFE
SOOTHING SOULFUL RIFFS INVOKE A SENSE OF WELLBEING
La Petite Manouche played two sets taking us from mellow through to powerful melodies - brief commentaries along the way kept the audience engaged and responsive - mild humour also hooked us in. But the star of the show was the music - soothing, powerful riffs invoked a glowing sense of wellbeing - how beautiful is life when you've been in the presence of such sweet sounds.
Fave original piece was their composition "Pacific Dawn" - we overheard a guest making comparison to Mark Knopfler when praising the soulful riffs of this tune, have to agree - this class act is worthy of the reference and more. Final piece was "Minor Swing" (Django Reinhardt), a slick tribute to this jazz icon featuring a shout chorus written by UK guitarist Martin Taylor. "We've finished every gig we've played in the last 8 years with that song - (bar a few exceptions)" - Robbie.
The audience, captivated by each piece throughout the night were then rewarded with an exceptional encore - Irving Berlins "Putting on The Ritz" - a climactic end to an awesome evening. CD's were purchased & signed while chatting with the band and many requests made for their next visit to our region - La Petite Manouche are an act you need to experience and while they leave you wanting more there's a peaceful glow of enduring satisfaction you'll take away with you - this was a show to remember.
Fave original piece was their composition "Pacific Dawn" - we overheard a guest making comparison to Mark Knopfler when praising the soulful riffs of this tune, have to agree - this class act is worthy of the reference and more. Final piece was "Minor Swing" (Django Reinhardt), a slick tribute to this jazz icon featuring a shout chorus written by UK guitarist Martin Taylor. "We've finished every gig we've played in the last 8 years with that song - (bar a few exceptions)" - Robbie.
The audience, captivated by each piece throughout the night were then rewarded with an exceptional encore - Irving Berlins "Putting on The Ritz" - a climactic end to an awesome evening. CD's were purchased & signed while chatting with the band and many requests made for their next visit to our region - La Petite Manouche are an act you need to experience and while they leave you wanting more there's a peaceful glow of enduring satisfaction you'll take away with you - this was a show to remember.
ROBBIE AVERILL
LA PETITE MANOUCHE - INTERVIEW
La Petite Manouche is a collaboration between Christchurch guitarists Burke Goffe and Robbie Averill, with the aim of creating a blend of the Parisian wartime gypsy jazz music popularised by Django Reinhardt with modern jazz, world, folk, classical music and more. We had a brief chat with Robbie after the show:
Q: What inspires you as artists?
Robbie: Good music, stuff with soul (any genre), creative takes on standard musical recipes.
Q: What plans do you have for the future?
Robbie: We will release our third album in the new year and will do a couple more tours next year. We have had an orchestral project in the pipeline for a couple of years now so hopefully that will eventuate next year too.
Q: When are you likely to come to Martinborough again? (we have loads of requests for this!)
Robbie: Maybe 2017 - if so, probably around the same time. We love Martinborough so don't need an excuse to come back!
Q: We loved your original work, with loads of comments from the audience too, whats your take on the mix between original and classic work?
Robbie: Yea it's always tricky knowing what will please the audience, we like to mix it up, but have had a great response to the original pieces.
Q: Luke Smillie was amazing on percussion, what's his background?
Robbie: Luke started out his career playing drums in a band touring Europe, opening for Cypress Hill and playing festivals. Since then he has studied and now teaches at the ARA Music Arts school (formerly CPIT Jazz School). He plays regularly in a wide variety of musical lineups from rock to reggae and jazz.
Thanks to Robbie, Burke and Luke for an inspiring evening - for more on La Petite Manouche visit their website here:
Q: What inspires you as artists?
Robbie: Good music, stuff with soul (any genre), creative takes on standard musical recipes.
Q: What plans do you have for the future?
Robbie: We will release our third album in the new year and will do a couple more tours next year. We have had an orchestral project in the pipeline for a couple of years now so hopefully that will eventuate next year too.
Q: When are you likely to come to Martinborough again? (we have loads of requests for this!)
Robbie: Maybe 2017 - if so, probably around the same time. We love Martinborough so don't need an excuse to come back!
Q: We loved your original work, with loads of comments from the audience too, whats your take on the mix between original and classic work?
Robbie: Yea it's always tricky knowing what will please the audience, we like to mix it up, but have had a great response to the original pieces.
Q: Luke Smillie was amazing on percussion, what's his background?
Robbie: Luke started out his career playing drums in a band touring Europe, opening for Cypress Hill and playing festivals. Since then he has studied and now teaches at the ARA Music Arts school (formerly CPIT Jazz School). He plays regularly in a wide variety of musical lineups from rock to reggae and jazz.
Thanks to Robbie, Burke and Luke for an inspiring evening - for more on La Petite Manouche visit their website here:
BURKE GOFFE
JAZZ IN MARTINBOROUGH -GYPSY SWING DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS
Synergy at play - this is the underlying reason we got to see La Petite Manouche perform in our town last Friday night. Ted Preston of Jazz in Martinborough tells us: "The band contacted us, asking if we would support their visit, we wanted to do our media launch so decided to combine it with this event. Quite simply, there's a mutual admiration between La Petite Manouche, Jazz in Martinborough, The Village Cafe and a supportive audience - the total package being a tangible synergy. - it all just fits together so well".
The first Jazz in Martinborough was held 6 years ago after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes - La Petite Manouche were one of the first Christchurch bands to take up the invitation to come to Martinborough, take a break from the quake damaged city and play here. A strong bond was forged from then on, "We jump at the chance to have bands of this calibre in our region" - "Gypsy swing doesn't get much better than this" - Ted tells us.
Fast forward to 2016 and Jazz in Martinborough is a strong force, the programme for this year is out and tickets on sale - click this link for more info!
JAZZ IN MARTINBOROUGH - CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMME HERE!
The first Jazz in Martinborough was held 6 years ago after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes - La Petite Manouche were one of the first Christchurch bands to take up the invitation to come to Martinborough, take a break from the quake damaged city and play here. A strong bond was forged from then on, "We jump at the chance to have bands of this calibre in our region" - "Gypsy swing doesn't get much better than this" - Ted tells us.
Fast forward to 2016 and Jazz in Martinborough is a strong force, the programme for this year is out and tickets on sale - click this link for more info!
JAZZ IN MARTINBOROUGH - CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMME HERE!
JAZZ IN MARTINBOROUGH SOUND CREW
THE VILLAGE CAFE FRIDAY NIGHT
Acknowledgements for this event to Martinborough School for the staging, transported and set up by Martinborough Lions. Professional lighting and sound management from Dylan Taylor, organised by the Jazz in Martinborough team. Finally huge thanks to Bruce & Chris of the Village Cafe Martinborough for the awesome venue.
Images by Simon Murcott
Trish Higginson & Karina Hailwood - Creative Directors Martinborough Village
"Let us show you the magic of our town"
Copyright MV 2016
enquiries to karina@martinborough-village.co.nz
"Let us show you the magic of our town"
Copyright MV 2016
enquiries to karina@martinborough-village.co.nz
