Charley Chaplin in Kerikeri

It's extraordinary to imagine that here in New Zealand we can be but two to three times removed from the greats in history.

Julie and I attended a house concert on Wednesday night featuring Nigel Gavin (Guitar) and Richard Adams (Violin).

The venue was the Trussler Residence a stylish Mediteranian styled holiday house located in a landscaped exotic palm filled garden on the scale of a miniature Holywood mansion. The house was commissioned by a couple of wealthy internationals whose love of the arts leads them to open their home to the arts community.

The performance was most enjoyable something akin to an intimate evening listening to Al Demiola and Jean Luc Ponty. I exaggerate not! these guys can really play.

In the audience was none other than the great Russ Garcia with his lovely wife Gina.
Richard introduced a number early in the performance with a story about the writer "Smile" by Charley Chaplin. Richard impishly asked Russ if he had ever worked with Charlie Chaplin. Gina replied that he had regularly done so!

Later Nigel confided to the small audience that his mother who was living for some time alone in California was wooed by Charlie for some time, though by then his attention was unwelcome. "He's just too old for me" she said.

It occurred to me then how closely interwoven our relationships are.

I was invited to accompany Richard and Nigel for several tunes on my one string bass (which I have to confess I felt quite nervous about).

The audience was made up of well dressed, conservative looking folks, middle aged to elderly. My appearance with the string drum caused some consternation among them until the first notes sounded.
My response to music I had never heard before was informed by years of improvising with Nigel in the Jews Brothers Band. It wasn't long before I had the measure of what was being played and I settled in to the rhythm.

At the end of the first set we were surrounded by members of the audience who were astonished at the instrument I was playing. Russ Garcia himself came up and commented on the intonation that was possible though he was at a loss to explain how I could accurately pitch such a primitive thing.

By the end of the concert and after 3 encores the audience went home feeling very satisfied. Before Russ and Gina left Russ came up to us and he said, "You guys make me feel like a dinosaur, you've taught me a lesson in humility" High praise indeed coming from a man who has arranged music and worked with the likes of Frank Sonatra and Ella Fitzgerald!

If you can go and see Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams wherever they may be playing.

Harmen Hielkema

Joseph Herscher's Cream that Egg

Joseph is the son of Lin and Hershal of the Jews Brothers Band (of which I was a member for many years)
This YouTube clip demonstrate Joseph's extraordinary inventiveness and our equally exceptional sound track called "Bulgar," Track 9 on the Jews Brothers second album "My Yiddish Swing"

Underdogs Reunion Java Jive Auckland NZ

Here's a clip of a live unrehearsed performance I found recently on YouTube.
Featuring Archie Bowie on Vocals and blues harp, Mick Sibley on Guitar, Les Simms on Banjo, Ian Thompson on wash board and Harmen Hielkema on one string bass.

My dream bass

An early 1930s Alcoa aluminum bass, fully polished for the blinding stage effect:

How about this for a beautiful thing?
I want to build one & I intend to do so!

Julie & Harmen Live at Bishop's Wood Kerikeri, Northland

photo by Dimitri Edmonds

Julie Holton & Harmen Hielkema
Acoustic Guitar & Bass Duo.
Performing live at the Bishop’s Wood Restaurant, Kerikeri on Tuesday evening, August 5th 2008.

Julie Holton is a guitarist and vocalist with a beautiful, pure, true voice.
Julie was born into a very musical family on a farm in Kent. Her Grandmother, father and brother were all piano players. Julie’s brother Nigel went on to become a successful composer, musician and producer in Los Angeles.
Julie has played guitar and sung ballads since she was a teenager, busking and performing around the folk clubs and streets of London.
When she first settled in New Zealand Julie fronted a Dunedin Band “The Coast Roaders.” Julie has since continued to perform as time allowed around motherhood and a successful business career.
Julie’s son Eric (now living in London) continues this musical family tradition. Eric is an excellent songwriter, guitarist and vocalist in his own right.

Harmen Hielkema has a diverse background in music having played drums in Auckland bands professionally and semi professionally for 30 years. His father was a classically trained oboe player. Harmen is best known to the New Zealand folk scene for his skiffle bass playing and vocals. Harmen has performed and recorded with the “Gumdiggers Bush Band” the “Jews Brothers Band” and the dixie jazz band “The Blue Bottom Stompers.” He has also recorded and performed with the Ink Spots, Billy T James, Graham Brazier, Diane Ponzio, Nigel Gavin, Neill Duncan, Caitlin Smith, Lorina Harding, Eddie Rainer, Richard Watt, Shane Wills, Michael Young, among many others.

As a duo Julie and Harmen perform ballads from their repertoire of folk music featuring songs from writers such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, Carol King, and more.

Together Julie & Harmen are propieters and hosts of Waima Lodge Guesthouse in the south Hokianga District of Northland.

Waima Lodge specializes in excellent quality accommodation, food, acoustic music and original art. Julie and Harmen serenade their guests from time to time and they also host house concerts featuring professional musicians on a regular basis.

We look forward to seeing you on
Tuesday evening 5th August at Bishop’s Wood Restaurant State Highway 10 Kerikeri.

See www.waimalodge.co.nz of phone 09 405 3808 for further information.

Diane Ponzio House concert at Waima Lodge

Diane Ponzio plays Waima Lodge
We have international New York City based singer song writer and C. F. Martin Guitar clinician, Diane Ponzio presenting a house concert at Waima Lodge in our living room.
This will be a very special event with an exceptional artist and performer in a very intimate setting.
Link to Diane's website. http://www.dianeponzio.com/

Venue and booking info:

Waima Lodge Guesthouse
2465 State Highway 12
(Situated midway between Kaikohe and Opononi)
Off street parking available.
Saturday August 30th
7.30 P.M.
Bookings essential (no door sales due to limited seating)
$15.00 per person (visa and mastercard accepted at + 5% booking fee)
Phone Harmen or Julie 09 405 3808
email info@waimalodge.co.nz

Harmen's Discography

The Jews Brothers Band: Live at Gerhard's Cafe, 1996
Eclectic mix of Klezmer & skiffle. Traditional Hebrew tunes and songs.
This album sold platinum numbers in NZ & NZ's first CD Rom release.
Harmen features on tea chest bass and backing vocals.
To hear the Jews Brother Band go to: http://jews-brothers-band-search-downloads.kohit.net/_/





















The Jews Brothers Band: My Yiddish Swing, 2000
After touring the first Album, this emerged. Live and studio recordings of original material penned by Linn and Hershal & Nigel Gavin. The first JBB albunm to feature Neill Duncan on saxaphones, percussion, backing vocals & production.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals.





















The Jews Brothers Band: Too Much Talent, 2004
Who are the J.B.B.? Cast of thousands album.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals.





















The Blue Bottom Stompers: But is it Folk?, 2001
This recording came off the one track mixing desk at the Auckland Folk festival.
The title asks a valid question. Maniacal Gumbo Jazz.
Harmen on one string bass & vocals. Engineered by Mark Austin, Harmen concept, Harmen & Neil Duncan co producers.





















Richard Watt's debut album, "Songs from Down the Line."
New Zealand songwriting at its best and most original.
I'm particularly proud of my involvement on this project. Produced by my old friend Nigel Gavin.
Harmen Hielkema: One string Bass.

By Tim Page on "Songs from down the line" Artist: Richard Watt

From first chord, this album presents itself as distinctly Kiwi. The more I listened to it, the more I found it embedding itself in my consciousness. Subject matter ranges from the laid back Nirvana is Near (watching cricket on tele) and Prayer Flags, to poignant narratives of the Tangiwai and Wahine disasters respectively, Powered Flight is a beautifully crafted portrayal of Richard Pearce's story, told from his point of view. There's an underlying NZ railway theme, which continues into the artwork. Images of kiwiana are resplendent, such as "whitebait-frittering the day away", or using no. 8 wire to mend the world. The style is largely folksey, although Earthquake Road makes a foray into a rockier sound. Contributors include Caitlin Smith, Aaron Coddel, Harmen Hielkema, Jason Orme and Nigel Gavin, who also wore the producer's hat. Watt alludes to himself as 'an old geezer', and obviously this is the product of many years of songcraft. The quality of both musicianship and recording is superb, the songwriting is thoughtful, intelligent and absent of cliché.
For album details and playlist go to: http://www.marbecks.com/detail/detail.lsd?catalogID=298659






















D.T.H. Cutting Room Floor. 2003
Skiffle album of unreleased original material from the creative muse of Tim Herauld & Dorland Bray. Fantastic songs.
Harmen on one string bass & drums.






















Graham Brazier: East of Eden, 2004
I played Tea chest bass on track 6 "Winter of Discontent" arguably the best track on the album. Harmen on one string bass.
MP3 play list is here: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/7405/east_of_eden.html






















Lorina Harding: Clean Break, 2005
The Jews Brothers Band was invited to play on a track "Table # 7"
Lorina decided to re record the track with my tea chest bass and both cuts made it to the CD
This album went on to win the Folk category at the prestigious New Zealand Tui Music Awards. Harmen on one string bass.
For MP3 downloads and playlist go to: http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/18366/clean_break.html;jsessionid=
9F9B971ADD0A557D7E5FBF79F5F310FD