POPULAR MUSIC FROM 1YA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 489, 5 November 1948, Page 15

POPULAR MUSIC FROM 1YA

More Local Performers Broadcast

HE time when the discriminating listener hastily switched stations when local artists were announced seems to be passing. In the field of serious music the National Orchestra has shown what a New Zealand group can do when given the opportunity and it is noteworthy that the orchestra has been judged on its-musicianship, without reference to "local performers." Similar remarks might be made of NZBS-pro-duced plays, and while they would probably not yet be true of New Zealand broadcasts of popular music, the day when they are seems to be not far away.

A growing number of instrumental and vocal groups broadcasting popular music is to be noticed in the programmes of 1YA-some of the artists have also been heard from southern stations as a result of NZBS-sponsored tours-and the officer responsible for arranging these recitals has observed that as the number of groups increases a competitive spirit is aroused with a resultant. continued improvement in the quality of

the broadcasts so that now some of the ensembles have reached the .standards set by overseas artists. The John MacKenzie Trio and the Musical Friends have, over the past year, been frequently heard on the air, and will continue to be heard, but with new groups coming forward it is possible to provide greater variety and ensembles now give one weekly quarterhour broadcast generally for a period of six weeks. Another group, The Knaves, are rapidly becoming known for their "old songs in new dresses"-some cut in the Spike Jones fashion-and have already been written of in The Listener. More recently listeners have been introduced to The Duplicats, consisting of Esme Stephens, Ena Allen, Dale Alderton, and a pianist, John Thomson, who give recitals of early popular tunes of the style of "If You Knew Susie" sung in a modernised form. Both The Knaves and The Duplicats have made recordings to be broadcast from the shortwave station Radio New Zealand. For those who like their popular music played rather than sung there is the Nancy Harrie Quartet, comprising Nancy Harrie, who plays the piano in a variety of styles, Mark Kahi (guitar), George Campbell (bass), and Wally Ransom (drums), Derek Heine’s Sextet, which has also recently joined- the ranks of local groups broadcasting from 1YA, is a five-men-and-a-girl combination. Besides Heine, who plays the clarinet in the Arty Shaw manner, there are Ray Gunther (guitar), Crombie Murdoch (piano), Neville White (bass), Neil Dunningham (drums), arid a vocalist, described as "the best beat singer in this country," Mavis Rivers. A further group, which will go on the air shortly, is a quartet broadcasting under the title of Jim Foley and his Folios. \ In addition, different local performers are heard each week in‘ the session "Around the Town," Auckland Competions winners being featured at present, and with another programme, "Accent

on Youth," 1YA is endeavouring to encourage young performers and give them microphone experience. About 25 per cent. of those auditioned are found to be up to the standard set for this session, and adequate instrumentalists have come forward, but local Mrs. Worthingtons whose children are learning singing seem to be strictly obeying Noel Coward’s injunction not to_ put their daughters on the stage, and for | this reason it has been difficult to provide a balanced programme, so that the session is not yet being heard regularly.