It’s a ‘Boy Oh Boy’ for the Seth Boy Trio
The second gig of the Soundscape Series at The Bond Store was on Saturday night, July 26. It featured the Seth Boy Trio, with Leonardo Coghini, pianist, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, drummer, and Seth Boy, bassist. How did it go? Here’s an eye and ear witness report.
Not knowing what to expect, you enter. The chosen space at The Bond Store is relatively small; it’s intimate, you decide, for those in the process of positioning themselves throughout the cafeteria-style seating. There’s a sort of carnival atmosphere. Creatively strung light bulbs, posters, a bookcase behind the stage, and giant blow-up creatures hanging from above facilitate that impression.
You can feel this is going to be better than good. You’ve done some research before turning up. The members of the trio are graduates of and teachers at the New Zealand School of Music. In various guises they’ve featured in glowingly reviewed gigs.
They take the stage. We hush.
Seth’s introductions for the first set are as brief as possible: “First song.” “Second song.” “Now the third song.” “And now the fourth.” “Fifth song.” “Sixth song.” The audience is amused. The musical intros, in contrast to the spoken ones, are extended, clever and attention-grabbing. The pieces, overall, are captivating, cool, and toe-tapping. Changes of pace and harmonies are intriguing us. The players are communicating with each other, and us, through notes, chords and timings. Wow factors are sparking the atmosphere. We’re witnessing high talent. The solos – keyboard, double bass, drums – are superb. They are accompanied with thought and respectful flair. They draw instant handclapping and voiced praise. The outros are subtle fade-out grooves. They ease us back to reality from a magical cosmos. The applause, again, is willing and warranted.
The first of two sets is completed and we’re thirsting for more. The bar is a few steps away so at least a physical thirst can be satisfied – maybe a gin and tonic or limoncello, a speciality of The Bond Store – while we stall our desire for the music. Pizzas and artisan bread are food for jazz-focused reflections. There’s also a chance to have a quick word with a readily available Seth and other members of the band. We confirm the titles of the tunes that have comprised the first set: ‘It Could Happen to You’, ‘Tūtira Mai, Ngā Iwi’, ‘Killing Me Softly’, ‘Do It Again’, ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’, and ‘Tenor Madness’.
“Is it easy to make it as a musician in New Zealand?” you ask Seth. The shake of head is expected. However, you know that if you’re as talented and well-recognised as 27-year-old Seth, you’ve been accepted as a key member of the New Zealand Air Force Band and have a teaching role at the School of Music. There are also plentiful gigs for the various configurations you have formed – the Seth Boy Trio, groups of nine or so from time to time, and a Seth Boy Orchestra with his compositions played at a Wellington Jazz Fest. He says he also works from time to time as a barman at a pub in Wellington but that’s not because he has to nowadays. He just likes the variety and the company. Go back a handful of years, however, and things, as for many a muso, weren’t so rosy. He worked at McDonalds, did some maths teaching at a high school, and assembled spring rolls for a down-town Vietnamese restaurant. Now, he knows he’s making it, step by step, gig by gig, and composition by composition. Seth is on a lifelong journey.
It’s time for the second set. It is introduced, unexpectedly, by Leonardo. Clearly, he has something important to say and he is searching for the right words. The trio wants to pay tribute to Chris Faiumu (aka Mu and DJ Fitchie), a founder of Fat Freddy’s Drop, whose sudden death is shock news.
Hesitatingly, with deep feeling, Leonardo explains that they will offer a version of ‘Brothers and Sisters’, a piece that Mu played back in the ‘90s when he had a group called Bongmaster. “We’ll try our best with it,” he says. They do. A poignant and deeply reflective phase of an otherwise joyful evening is provided. The tribute is greatly appreciated. It will be remembered.
Following ‘Brothers and Sisters’, the set comprises ‘There Is No Greater Love’, ‘‘You’ve Got a Friend’ (Carole King and James Taylor would love it), ‘Spooky’, ‘Fools Rush In’, first contemplative, then segued to a rousing up-tempo version (it would have brought Elvis back into the building), and finally, an improvised thank-you song.
To finish, Seth leaves us with something of a surprise. “We didn’t meet up before this gig,” he says. “Just listened to each other. My kind of music.” Our realisation, then, is that these talented musicians are superb improvisers. Elsewhere, you might find Leonardo at a grand piano playing Mike Nock’s ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ with orchestral accompaniment. Hikurangi, for his part, is a much-sought-after drummer, percussionist, bandleader, composer, and teacher. Away from his drum set, he’s a software engineer. We’re delighted that Seth has brought them together on this occasion for our untainted pleasure. It’s been a privilege.
What feelings did the owners of The Bond Store have about the occasion? “We absolutely loved their performance,” says Chris Barber. “Jazz has never been the go-to genre of Bec and myself, but wow! The talent of these musicians is incredible. So, the best way to put it from our perspective, this must be one of the most understated groups we’ve ever seen. It’s like, we are just okay. But, actually, they are simply amazing!”
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