THE Q-TEES and the Jazzmen

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 949, 18 October 1957, Page 22

THE Q-TEES and the Jazzmen

BY

MAURICE

DICK

ANYONE who walked in on the Q-Tees and the Jazzmen at rehearsal when they are in the middle of one of their lighter efforts, in which vocalists change places with musicians, might be pardoned for wondering what good could ever come out of that lot. Not that the music suffers too badly, for ‘the Q-Tees are a versatile group; but none of the songs as rendered by the Jazzmen could be expected to make hits. When they get sorted out and settle down to serious application to their

task, the Q-Tees and the Jazzmen quickly emerge as

EE EEE one of the most talented groups in New Zealand, and with comparable speed they are’ also becoming one of the most popular. One night recently, when four Hit Parades were being heard from various radio stations round the North Island, all four numbers on an extended-play Viking recording made by the Q-Tees were being played. It was their first record and within a month of its issue in July over 1000 fans had bought copies. ; This new Palmerston North group came together a few months back to see how far a New Zealand combination could go in competition with overseas artists. Some of them were strangers at the first rehearsal, but they quickly settled down to serious work and started getting results. The only real future in this country for a vocal group which takes its singing seriously is in radio and records, and with the first effort already a success, a second disc due in October, and several more broadcasts to do before Christmas, rehearsals are occupying so much time that the Q-Tees are too busy to take on concert work. So broadcasting and recording it is to be, and with this in mind the Q-Tees and Jazzmen are steadily compiling equipment for their own studio. Some of the tunes they are currently working on have already made hits, others ure being made popular by the new twist they are receiving. The styles of overseas artists are not slavishly copied. The recordings are similar, but an endeavour is made to give each tune a distinctive trade mark where the

arrangement can be altered to advantage. The nine members of the group are versatile. Leader is Nepia Tawharu, whose pleasant light-baritone voice has been heard on radio and records, and who is featured regularly as vocal soloist with the Commanders Orchestra at Palmerston North’s Astoria Ballroom. He also plays a very good string bass and guitar. Rangi Tawharu, middle and top harmony as required, who is being groomed for future solo work, is another good

Dass player and a man who enjoys himself with a clar-

~% "ees §6inet. Basil lawnharu, top harmony, is an accomplished pianist, guitarist, and bassist, and capable with most stringed instruments. His many musical ideas, especially in harmony, are invaluable in such a group. Middle harmony is Arthur ("Smoky") McGrath, who is studying the saxophone on ‘the side, and bass harmony comes from Jack Tawharu, also a rhythm guitarist. No wonder the music is good when these boys take over the instruments. Among the Jazzmen, who are artists in their own right and will be broadcasting later, there is also a variety of talent. Pianist Allan Brabyn doubles on pipe-organ and piano accordion, and led his own septet for several years. He has had a lot of -experience in profegsional and amateur light orchestras. Percy ("Nick") Nicholson, tenor sax and jazz-guitar player, was solo guitarist for several years with Martin Winiata’s outfit, and has fronted his own ensembles on and off for about 15 years. He has: made hundreds of broadcasts, the first when he was six years old, and is well known as a player with terrific drive whether on sax or guitar, And he plays the string bass, too. Youngest in the group is string bass. player Terence Tawharu, who is also studying clarinet and guitar and general theory. He has a solid beat and impeccable sense of pitch. On the drums is Bill Pearson, who currently leads his own swinging dance combo alternating at the Astoria Ballroom. A young drummer, he has a lot of potential. The manager, public relations, publicity, general business and odd-job man (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) where an extra is needed to bang the cowbell or round out the bass harmony is Wally Chamberlain, who also provides deep-voice monologues if required. Composer-actor-singer and ‘a radio announcer, his wide experience of stage and radio presentation is most helpful. He wondered for years what. would happen if a really versatile New | Zealand vocal group and a snappy instrument section were thrown together and given thorough rehearsal and the right technical treatment, believing that these things were the essential difference between the home-grown product and the iniported. The Q-Tees and the Jazzmen are not looking for wonders, but they hope within 18 months to be on a par with most of the overseas recording groups. Their name, by the way, is not to be confused with "cutie." For one thing, Nick Nicholson, a former Rugby representative forward, is 15 stone. The tunes they are working on come from various sources, including some of the 20 odd "pop" type numbers Wally Chamberlain himself has written. They fool about with any old thing for a while, then someone ‘says, "Let’s get down to it," and away they go on the number set down for that rehearsal. Not infrequently there is a brief holdup while Allan Brabyn and Nick Nicholson "just re-write the music" or a conference is held to discuss ways and means of improving some part of the arrangement. No suggestion is tossed out until thoroughly examined and everybody has a free hand to criticise. These combined efforts to work things out are sending the Q-Tees and the Jazzmen to the top.