Thanks to everyone that has shown interest in AJO through over this difficult year.
The band has persevered, on and off throughout the year dealing, as we all have had to, with isolation, cancellations and postponement.
It feels more important now than ever to reach out a little and let you know what we are up to.
To bring you up to date we are currently midway with recording of a tribute CD in honor of Phil Broadhurst. Phil has been one of NZ’s leading Jazz composers and pianists for many years. Since arriving in New Zealand in the early 1980’s Phil has contributed immeasurably to the NZ jazz scene both as a player and as an educator.
Around the time we first began to discuss the possibility of a CD featuring Phil’s tunes we learned that Phil had cancer. It is a credit to Phil, and a measure of the man, that despite his failing health he enthusiastically supported our efforts to the end. We tried to get some recording done around lockdown restrictions so Phil could play on some of the tracks.
Sadly we will now complete the project in Phils absence but we do so with much love and respect to honour the memory of our close friend.
On November 15th last year AJO were able to participate in a tribute concert in Auckland (pictured above) and debut some of the arrangements we’ve written. Phil's tunes are great. We plan to complete and release the CD in 2021.
Another project we had finished recording in 2019 is a CD with Caitlin Smith. So this year has been mixing and mastering that CD and it is almost ready for release. More on that soon.
We hope you are keeping well, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Mike, Tim
& The Auckland Jazz Orchestra