Jazzman Michael ignites the passion

100515MPjazzman COOL: Michael Smyth is behind Wanganui Jazz Club. PICTURE / MARCO PERRY

Jazz fans are passionate, and when they find themselves escorting non jazz-loving spouses or friends to a local jazz club it doesn't take long for these acquaintances to realise the passion and creativity that fuels this music.
Michael Smyth's jazz passions have run deep into the jazz scene - fascinated by the look and sounds of a clarinet as a youngster, as was his father who had a great love of music and often carried this clarinet to parties on the off chance someone could play it.
Mike's recent year-long "skirmish" as he describes it, with the big C and chemotherapy, left his love of jazz even more intact as he continues to negotiate his Jazz Club duties along with The River City Big Band, The River City Trad Band, The Young and The Restless Band and Irish Band Muirsheen Durkin.
Between all of these commitments he still finds time to teach as well.
Busting out the banjo in the Trad Band and guitar with some of the others has been a passion of Michael's deep involvement with rhythmic playing for some time, and when Trad Jazz is in the picture it simply can't exist without those big chunky driving banjo chords.
An environment and showcase of jazz from the finger-snapping sounds of the '60s scene or the hipper-than-thou tunes of jazz blue-chip standards, were a few of the ideas Mike had as he became more and more involved with our local Jazz Club.
Then, as now, jazziness signifies cultural sophistication and as well as a desire to present a range of jazz at the right venue for a decent price, featuring artists from around New Zealand. He also wanted to promote local jazz artists and cites many as the equivalent to the big name attractions. Students studying experimenting with jazz are also given quality stage time and regulars at the club will always enjoy watching the progression of local young jazz talent.
Considering the short, swinging rhythmic phrases that jazzmen call "riffs", the complex harmonies of modern jazz or the difficulty actually playing beboppers' chromatically inflected flatted fifths, it's a surprise that Michael is a farmer and remains a farmer, albeit retired. He tells me his wife Felicity is really the farmer, a person of the land and also an accomplished classical pianist. I'm imagining there would have been very productive stock on that farm with all that musical vibe.
Of course jazz is American and infiltrates high-end hotel lounges to cafes, Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and now that elegantly wrought and deep emotional "Cool" composition and culture seems to have spawned an explosion of interest in this immaculately crafted music.
Thanks to Michael and his like minded team at Wanganui Jazz Club, jazz is back for a well-deserved second life.¦ Wanganui Jazz Club nights are on the first Sunday of the month at the RSA, 170 St Hill St, Wanganui at 6.30pm. http://www.wanganuijazzclub.org