South Island, Borders and a Damehood

Hello Boogie friends,

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to our show at the Frankston Arts Centre and also the Lomond Hotel in Melbourne. Both concerts were fabulous. I’m still on a high from the special musical moments with Nick Charles, he’s amazing to play with!

We go to NZ tomorrow for 2 concerts in Christchurch; this Sat May 18th at a private concert in Greendale, and Sunday May 19th at the amazing Halswell Estate.

We then move on to Hanmer for “88 Pianos I Have Known” on Friday May 24, before ending in my beloved home town of Greymouth on Sunday May 26th.

Our last concert for May is in NSW with the extraordinary rhythm and blues piano player Don Hopkins on Friday May 31st in Wollongong. This will be a blast!

Recently I wrote the music for a documentary called “Border Politics”, presented by Julian Burnside, about refugees around the world. It’s a brilliant, entertaining and informative film that has had great success in cinemas throughout Australia. The filmmakers have just released “The Burnside Interviews”, a series of 16 fascinating interviews with a fabulous range of people, prominent public figures and ordinary people. I would urge you to view these online at    Rymerchilds.com .

They are simply inspirational.

On a personal note, I’m so excited to be attending my sister Gaylene’s investiture at Government House in Auckland on Wednesday. To see my sister being made a Dame for her services to NZ film will be a once in a lifetime moment. She really deserves this and I cannot tell you how proud we are of her. Her 7 attendees have been encouraged by Gaylene to wear any of our own medalss and my friend Janice Wood has decorated this Maori kete especially for me to take. Isn’t it brill?

In blues and boogie,

Jan