Jazz reo new musical language for big band fans

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Moeawa Fransen Lisa Davies | Jazz reo new musical language for big band fans

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Otautahi Māori jazz band Ngā Reo Tīoriori is taking a reo Māori set to this Sunday’s Christchurch Big Band Festival gala concert.

Bandleader and pianist Lisa Davies says they’ve translated jazz standards and arranged them for an expanded band.

She says it’s an extension of what they’ve been doing in the practice room.

“When it’s a small band getting together there’s a few of us who speak te reo Maori so just having a place where we can not just perform in te reo Maori but when we are at practice we can korero Maori, we can learn some new language,” Davies says.

Kaiwaiata for Sunday’s concert include Sam Hitchens, Byllie-Jean, Henare Kaa, Lisa Tui and Kate Taylor.

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