‘Matariki Starlight Jazz Concert’ is being presented as part of Auckland’s Matariki Festival 2018 programme of events. Its purpose is to be a ‘kick-start’ fundraising event towards supporting the ‘bigger picture’ cause – the ‘™Wahine Walk for Wellness – Footsteps supporting the ripple effects of mental wellness’ Project: a walk for our Nation designed to help raise funds to further support existing, or to create new support networks within Communities that enable the ‘Caretakers’ of the mentally unwell to reach out and connect, draw strength from, and support others who are walking a similar journey.
Matariki Starlight Jazz Concert blends both Pakeha and Māori artists together in an exciting program of music sung in Te Reo Māori and English. Every musician featured in the concert has donated their time for the cause. Each has their own experience related to mental un-wellness to some degree.
Head-lining the Matariki Starlight Jazz concert is Whirimako Black.
Whirimako has performed all around the world on numerous projects including the internationally successful One Giant Leap Album celebrating cultural diversity. She has produced numerous solo albums, has featured on numerous collaboration albums alongside some of world music’s biggest names. In recent years she has moved effortlessly into the jazz genre performing great jazz standards in her own unique and sultry style and Māori interpretation. She is an award winning songwriter and artist having achieved Best Māori Album and Best Jazz Album at the NZ Music Awards and a coveted Silver Scroll award in song writing for Best Māori Composition.
Other artists include Allana Goldsmith, June Hayes, Makareta Umbers, Julie Mason, Phil Broadhurst, Denis Hepi, Maria O'Flaherty. Support musicians include Kelly Kahukiwa, Neil Williamson, Ben Fernandez, Kevin Field, Ron Samsom, Olivier Holland, Aaron Coddel.
