Open Mic Session with anchor Band Epicenta

All Girl Big Band Bio
In a largely male dominated musical genre, to see a full jazz big band on stage with a woman in each section is one thing. To find a full big band of women is stunning. Full sections of trombone, trumpet, sax and rhythm, played with class and style. Add two powerhouse vocalists and you'll be blown away! The All Girl Big Band, formed only a short time ago in January 2016, was brought about after a conversation between Lana Law, Kate Taylor and Jody Keehan at the ‘Doug and Doug’ Tribute Concert.
It had us wondering if we could actually get a big band together here in Christchurch consisting of only female musicians. It didn’t take long between us to realise that in fact we could name virtually a full 17 piece big band of Christchurch female musicians. What was considered a crazy, out of the box idea finally became reality.

The Port Hillbillies Every Tuesday evening they slope from the shadows of the Port Hills. One American, Justin Rogers on mandolin, guitar and vocals, one Aussie Gary Elford on guitar, acoustic bass and vocals. They meet up with a six toed Kiwi singer, banjo and guitar player Steve Stern to share their love of Bluegrass, Old Timey and Americana music as well as Janes chocolate chip cookies and Milo. Playing together now for over three years they have formed into well-balanced instrumental and vocal trio, driven by Steve’s banjo playing and Justin’s sympathetic and innovative mandolin ornamentation. Gary’s contribution on guitar and bass pulls the whole thing together into the tight unit that is the Porthillbillies. They play a range of songs and tunes from toe tapping, recognisable standards to some obscure songs from other genres that are given the Port Hillbillies once over.

The Mike Bickers Boptet was formed to play the great sounds of the cool small groups. The band captivates audiences wherever they play with their warm audience rapport and their interpretations of the 1950’s influenced small group jazz sound. Music by Gerry Mulligan, Shorty Rogers, Miles Davis as well as small group arrangements of some of the great swing and bop numbers of the era as played by the Dave Pell Octet, Miles Davis Nonet, Gerry Mulligan Tentet and Shorty Rogers’ Jazz Giants – as well as interpretations of some more modern songs. The Boptet features a number of well-known Christchurch Jazz musicians: Mike Bickers (trumpet and flugelhorn) Mike Kime (double bass) Lana Law (baritone and alto sax) Jody Keehan (alto sax and vocals) Allan Hawes (tenor sax and clarinet) David Wallace (tenor and bass trombone) Katie Martin (piano and keyboards) Louie Moverly (drums)