Jazz at Leigh

Three Mahurangi musicians will be putting on an evening of jazz at Leigh Sawmill on Sunday May 15, from 5pm to 7pm.

Warkworth resident Terry Hicks has been playing piano professionally for over 45 years and has featured on the keys at a number of gigs around Mahurangi.

He will be joined by Leigh local Barbara Hamilton on double bass and Matakana resident Colin Jarvis on harmonica.

“Barbara is a classical piano teacher and is a great musician and Colin is a champion harmonica player,” Terry says. “He won a UK harmonica championship and he is a great showman – as a show-stopper he plays a tiny harmonica inside his month. Apparently there are only three people in the world who can do that.”

Terry has played international hotels and cruise ships and recently played as a guest pianist at Kitanos, one of the top five jazz clubs in New York.

He is looking forward to getting behind the newly renovated 1904 Bechstein Concert Grand piano at the Sawmill.

“They are top pianos – better than a Steinway in my opinion. Gratton Guinness, the owner of the Sawmill, is a piano enthusiast and he spent tens of thousands having it reconditioned. It took about nine months.”

The concert will be $5, with tickets at the door.