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Natalie Slade - Musical Director / Vocalist
Singer songwriter Natalie Slade completed High School at the Newtown High School for the Performing Arts in Sydney and went on to Study Speech Level Technique with vocal coach Stephan Baker, and performance with the NSW government programme the ‘Talent Development Project’.
Her performance highlights are varied and include an appearance in Beijing with the Chinese Navy Band for 'IBM Jazz'; performances at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and The Opera House; and with big jazz names such as Erroll Buddle, Don Burrows, John Morrison, Doug Caldwell and David Helfgott.
Natalie can be heard on the Octagon CDs which are available for purchase here.
TryYou Tube for an example of a show Natalie recently produced for the city's Festival of Flowers.
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Doug Caldwell - Senior Musician
Billed as New Zealand’s favorite jazz piano player Doug has become an institution in the city of Christchurch.
Doug’s musical career as a professional pianist, composer and arranger, goes back sixty years and extends beyond the Pacific. Doug’s co-performers make for a list of legends and have included Henri Mancini, Ronnie Scott, Mavis Rivers, Nat Adderley, Georgie Fame and many more.
Over the years he has been celebrated for his contribution to Jazz in New Zealand, most recently by Queen Elizabeth in her birthday honours list (Member of New Zealand Order of Merit), 2006.
Doug can be heard on the Octagon CDs which are available for purchase here.
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Julia Guthrie - Vocalist
Julia is much more than a great Soprano. She is an entertainer with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (NASDA), A.T.C.L. Performance Musical Theatre and formal training in screen acting, speech & drama and dance.
She has appeared in a number of theatre productions for NASDA, the Court Theatre and Showbiz Christchurch. Productions include: The Great Storm of 1868, Chicago, Hunyak, Inangahua Gold, The Ship of Fools, Puss ‘n Boots, Cinderella, Cats, Guys and Dolls, Dante and The Birds ... amongst others.
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Malcolm Mc Neill - Vocalist
Malcolm McNeill has a way of getting inside a great song and handing it to you as fresh as the day it was written. That’s what President Clinton heard: not just a superb voice but also a natural interpreter.
Malcolm McNeill has long been considered New Zealand’s finest jazz singer. For over 30 years his unique artistry and intelligent approach have earned him the enthusiastic and loyal following of aficionados both in his own country and around the world. In England, singer Mark Murphy and composer/pianist/singer Richard Rodney Bennett helped Malcolm to get established in London. He formed a long lasting friendship and musical association with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth who regard Malcolm as one their “all-time favourite singers”. As well as touring the UK with their orchestra, he has performed at festivals in Holland, France, Italy, Bombay, Australia and New Zealand. He has toured Japan on several occasions, where his own song “ Melissa” was a hit.
Malcolm performs with all the major orchestras in New Zealand. He has been a soloist for Britain’s BBC orchestra’s, and has performed with the Symphony of Nice for a Gershwin festival in the south of France. He has recorded with the ABC orchestra in Sydney and in a concert recording for the ABC with Sir William Southgate and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
With 9 recordings to his credit - Malcolm is a top selling New Zealand artist. He is the only artist to have recorded a popular duet album with acclaimed Opera Diva Kiri Te Kanawa - for which he wrote the title song “HEART TO HEART”. The album made the American Billboard best seller list for a “cross-over” recording.
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Amie Bowie - Vocalist
Amy Bowie is a classicaly trained vocalist with a broad creative history.
s in theatre and film studies at the University of Canterbury, whilst continuing her professional songwriting career. So far Amy has achieved National success with her original songs, gaining air play on National radio and TV. Most impressively Amy has had one of her originals featured on a ‘New Zealand On Air’ compilation CD called “Kiwi Hit Disc”.
Amy Bowie is a classicaly trained vocalist with a broad creative history.
Amy has performed in major events such as the Coca Cola Christmas in the park, the ASB Starry Nights with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, as a chorus member for productions with the Canterbury Opera, and as a soloist in the Festival of Flowers concert in the Cathedral.
As an actress she has featured in various TV series, commercials, as well as doing radio and voice over work. She has also performed for a range of shows and improvised performances with the Court Theatre in Christchurch
Today Amy is completing her honours in theatre and film studies at the University of Canterbury, whilst continuing her professional songwriting career. |
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Richard Hore - Organist / Pianist
Richard is greatly admired in Christchurch. He is remembered from an early age as the first winner of the popular TV2 programme “Opportunity Knocks”. From this point he went on to perform all over New Zealand and further abroad. He was the guest performer for the American Theatre Organ Societies 34th annual Convention; has met and played with his heroes Tony Fenelon, Chris Powell, and David Johnston; and has won many prestigious awards including the “NZ Post Blind Achievers Award” for music.
He continues today and plays the Octagon’s manual pedal pipe organ at weekly recitals.
Richard can be heard on our latest CD which is available for purchase here.
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Stu Buchanan - Saxophone legend
Local Legend.
As comedian, performer and jazz extraordinaire he has travelled the world and played with the best.
Stu Buchanan is well known for his musical abilities. Recognised as one of the foremost saxophone players in New Zealand, his experience as a player, composer, arranger and conductor is second to none. He has worked with many overseas artists including Nat Adderly and Shirley Bassie. Stu brings entertainment with flare to any occasion.
Small Band Option:
Stu Buchanan can also put together a trio quartet or quintet with members of the big band. This makes for an ideal act for background for event or wedding.
Stu can be heard on our latest CD which is available for purchase here.
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Nola Mills - Harmonica
Very few girls play the jazz and blues harmonica, and even fewer play it like Nola can. Nola who started with local and national bands playing at Jazz Festivals around the country stopped for thirty years to raise a wonderful family. She has been back in music for ten years now and is active in radio, and live performance.
She plays it mean and she plays it sweet. She is the true 'Lady of the Jazz Harmonica'.
Nola can be heard on our latest CD which is available for purchase here.
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Bryan Cairns - Pianist
A musician who can play a number of instruments Bryan is concentrating on developing his piano skills.
Presently in his third year at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch Bryan performs weekly at Octagon Live ... when he is not involved in musical theatre productions.
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Hamish Oliver - Pianist
Hamish is a New Zealand-based composer, arranger, musical director and performer for television, film and theatre, and has a Masters degree in composition. He also lectures courses in digital audio software and music theory at Canterbury University, Christchurch Polytechnic, and the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand.
Hamish has toured internationally with Elaine Paige, Aled Jones and Hayley Westenra and performed on piano with Serj Tankian, Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Michael Barrymore, Christchurch Symphony, and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra among others. He features on the DVDs "Elaine Paige Live - Celebrating 40 Years on Stage", "Hayley Westenra Live in Concert", "Fiona Pears:Live at the Christchurch Cathedral", and Serj Tankian's "Elect the Dead Symphony " live concert DVD.
Along the way, Hamish has amassed experience in a huge variety of musical situations.
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Pieces of Eight
- at your service
There are 8 sides to the service team at Octagon Live and an essentail side is their ability to perform and entertain. The Octagon supports and employs musicians at every opportunity and customers are both surprised and delighted when their waiter downs plates and bursts into song.
Pieces of Eight is lead by Natalie Slade and Julia Guthrey and includes Sam Davison (Trombone), Hai Sue Kang (piano), Margo Gray (Trumpet), Lydia Harris (Violin), Shaan Antunovich (Vocals)
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