La Grande Coupure

I have returned from the Great Unknown, that is Napier. If ever you get the chance to go, I highly reccomend! The drive up consisted of being in a van with 8 other Jazz-o's with Chilli Peppers on maximum volume from the stereo - it was so freaking loud, I had to hide behind the seat in front of me for most of the time. That plus the fact that the guy next to me could not speak below a comfortabe double forte!We arrived after 5 hours to the city center - the weather was somethiiing else - no wind, maximum sun!Checked in to the 'Masonic', this Art Deco (see last post) hotel, which, after one had exited one's room through the back door, opened out into this large courtyard, with lush plants, chairs, full bar, five course meal, massage, dancing girls...


Lies. But it was just like stepping into this European holiday, say in the South of France, as it was so scenic and warm, and totally unrelated to Wellington in everyway. Like the "boyracers" driving round the block in fords, listening to Snoop, then on the next round, Queen. They were obviously professionals in their trade...After settling down, it was time for some of the local brew, before heading down to the Cosmopolitan Club for the sound check. I had a raging headache by this time, due to the afore-mentioned sounds, not to mention remnant pain from the night before (NZDF Ball)

After the sound check it was time to loiter in the club, avoiding the gaze of various ancient creatures and drinking lots of water as it was rather warm inside. We started playing around 5:30, and the first half went well - happening to sight read half the charts as in my one rehearsal we did not cover everything...terse moments ensued! During interval, it was time for liquid refreshment, of the brown and foamy variety, which was just as well as it was straight into my solo in the second half. I was playing fine - then I realised it was time to honk into the mic with no music...AKA improvise!

After losing about 6kilos, the rest of the gig went smoothly. Save an epic drum solo, which literally lasted five minutes, deafening me to the point that when I came back in, I could hardly hear what I was playing! Scary stuff.
Here is the paragraph about the rest of the night, but to sum it up I had many conversations about how I should be joining the 'dark side' slash Jazz, and how the 'blues' is the basis of all Jazz.

Then followed sleep, before waking up (obiously, one has to fall asleep to wake up...logical?) to the news that there was full breakfast on the house. I ordered the Full Cooked Breakfast (the standard eggs (scrambled of course) toast, hash browns, bacon, sausages, tomato (not eaten. Yuck.). After that, it was straight into hot cakes with bacon, banana and maple syrup, followed by pot of English Breakfast tea, a latte, then an OJ. I milked the menu for all it was worth. Not the 200gram steak though, as eating large hunks of meat so early is a slightly bizarre concept.

After breaking the fast, it was back into the van for the long journey home, passing through torrential rain, and the sight of an entire countryside painted in new green hues from the onset of Spring