Presenter: Dr Aleisha Ward
Title: Saxophones sobbed out jazz: New Zealand's first jazz recording
Abstract:
How did New Zealand’s first jazz recording end up on film - and then disappear for decades?
In December 1930, New Zealand’s first locally produced jazz recording was captured not on record, but on film. Featuring Epi Shalfoon and His Melody Boys performing a jazz arrangement of the Māori song He Puru Taitama, the one-minute sound-on-film recording became legendary within New Zealand’s jazz community after being considered lost for decades. This session explores the fascinating story behind the recording, the court case surrounding the film, and what this rare piece of footage reveals about the emergence of jazz, entertainment, and popular culture in New Zealand during the early twentieth century.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover the story behind a remarkable piece of New Zealand music history: Learn how the country’s first jazz recording came to be made, why it became so significant, and how it was almost lost to history.
- See what one minute of film can reveal about a changing culture: Explore how jazz, film, Māori music and popular entertainment were intersecting in New Zealand during the early twentieth century.
Date:
This World of Music Workshop will run on Wednesday 11th November from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Venue:
We're pleased to be hosting this workshop at Symphonia Hall, an intimate performance venue in the heart of Auckland. With its exceptional acoustics and welcoming atmosphere, it provides a wonderful setting for music, creativity and shared learning.
About the expert
Dr Aleisha Ward
Dr Aleisha Ward is an award-winning writer, jazz historian, and lecturer in music history. She was the 2017 Douglas Lilburn Research Fellow and a recipient of the 2018 Ministry of Culture and Heritage New Zealand History Research Trust Award for her work on the Jazz Age in New Zealand. She is one of the first graduates of the Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) at the University of Auckland, holds a Masters of Arts degree in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers University, and a PhD in Music from the University of Auckland where she researched jazz in New Zealand 1920-1955.
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