It's always good to see Tauranga musicians achieving in other places; for every one that stays there is another who finds success elsewhere.

It's one thing that you notice at the Easter jazz festival when a lot of Tauranga musicians turn up playing in bands from other cities, whether it be Damian Forlong in Wellington's Shaken Not Stirred (which also features ex-Tauranga guitarist Deanne Hunter) or keyboard player Grant Winterburn who is the first call for many an Auckland outfit.

This weekend the Tauranga Jazz Club are hosting their final get-together of the year in the back room of the Greerton RSA and will be enjoying a rare treat: the full four-piece Bonjour Swing. Both Oscar Laven (sax, trumpet, etc) and Milan Wilshier (bass) are back from studying music in Wellington and will be joining Marion Arts and Robbie Laven for what promises to be a most enjoyable night.

The Jazz Club monthly meeting are, of course, open to anyone: you don't have to be a Jazz Club member. The band is always good and there are a wide and varied group of jazz lovers and musicians there so it's something worth checking out. They start at 6.00pm over summer (which is, I assume, now officially on).

Some Tauranga players, however, go a lot further in service of their musical muse. Dominic O'Meeghan is someone that eagle-eyed music watchers might remember from the band Madhouse, one of Graham (Brilleaux) Clark's rock excursions in the mid-nineties. (Late nineties? Sometime in the latter half of that spurious decade.) They could be seen playing frequently down at the Oak and Ale, which used to reside on Grey Street (where the Flying Burrito Brothers now ply their Mexican trade.)

Dom was the man behind the drums for Madhouse. After that he headed off overseas, following a variety of musical paths including playing his way around the world on a series of cruise liners. More recently he was in Brighton, England, part of that city's thriving jazz scene. A couple of weeks ago he sent me the album reviewed this week. Damn fine to see another Tauranga brother making good.

And, just to close for the week, a quick mention – before a full article next week – that Exodus, New Zealand's biggest New Year's Eve reggae festival is back in Papamoa this year promising to be bigger and brighter than before. Last year, the inaugural concert was hit by atrocious weather. Many other events in the area were cancelled but still over 6,000 people braved the elements and travelled to the far end of Papamoa Beach Road for a good time.

Full details next time but, in case you have any questions, all details can be found at www.reggaebynature.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com/reggaebynature

LAWRENCE JONES – ALL TOO SOON

Lawrence Jones – currently a sideman with Marcy Gray and her Big Band - is one of the prime movers behind England's respected Brighton Jazz Allstars, a group which has been playing for fifteen years in the bop/hard bop idiom. He plays flute and various saxes and sings the occasional track.

This CD finds him in intimate form, not going so much hard bebop as modern mainstream, keeping the playing close and melodic on a set that includes originals, an opening flute take on Toots Thielemans' 'Blusette” and more familiar tunes such as 'Good Life” and a beautifully subtle tenor sax take on Duke Ellington's 'All Too Soon”, reminiscent of Dexter Gordon in a mellow mood.

I'm not a huge fan of jazz flute, though Jones is certainly adept, but the sax playing is gorgeous. So is the backing. Pianist Roy Hilton is a gem, whether deftly accompanying or cutting loose on solos that are the very definition of tastefulness (not sure whether that's a good thing or not for a jazz player!).

And the rhythm section is exemplary. Dom O'Meeghan's drumming has moved several leaps forward since I last heard it. He ably powers the slowest of ballads with absolute, almost invisible, precision or to explosively cut loose as he does with a stunning extended solo on the sax-driven 'End of a Love Affair”.

All in all a fine bit of work. It is nice to see a local boy making it good in such prestigious company. Copies can be obtained by emailing [email protected].