Roots, Rock, Reggae – and Internet - Make Bamboo Reunion

8 January 2011

The seven founding members of Bamboo, the ‘70s band with a long following and a repertoire of rock, reggae, soul and swing, are practicing, ready for a reunion gig on Sunday, January 30 at Auckland’s Kings Arms.

But their preparations for the concert are taking place over the internet, using the latest technology from MP3 soundtracks to Skype to work out arrangements for their old hits and learn new original songs before they come together to rehearse at Montage studio in Grey Lynn.

“We haven’t played together for 31 years and the band members have all gone on to pursue different careers and live in different places. But we are still bound together by our love of music. This reunion will bring together a gumbo of musical influences and experiences with a concert of some of the old favourites with fresh arrangements and also new original compositions,” says lead vocalist and songwriter, Hamin Derus.

In the line-up for the 30th January 2011 gig will be Hamin Derus on vocals and percussion, Wayne Baird on guitar and vocals, Dave Maybee on guitar and vocals, Liam Ryan on keyboards and vocals, John Dodd on bass and vocals, Mike Abbot on drums, Bud Hooper on percussion and guest saxophonist Walter Bianco.

“We are out to prove Abbie Hoffman got it wrong on at least two counts when he said the 60’s were gone, dope would never be as cheap, sex never as free and the rock and roll never be as great. The 60’s are back and rock and roll is alive and well,” said Hamin.

Bamboo was a feature of the Auckland scene in the seventies, playing a mix of reggae, R & B, soul, swing, cajun, rock and country. John Dix wrote in his book ‘Stranded in Paradise’ that “Aside from the punk/new wave outfits, who had their own fans, there were others who reached a large audience, notably Bamboo, a reggae-influenced group that had grown out of Chappaqua…”

It was the inclusion of reggae in its repertoire, long before reggae entered the mainstream NZ consciousness that attracted the interest of the Maori and Polynesian political activists of the day. Bamboo was invited to perform at fundraising events for Bastion Point and the King Cobra club in Ponsonby as well as the main music festivals of the era, including Nambassa. Bamboo was the opening act for Charlie Gray’s Island of Real café in Airedale Street and a frequent fixture at the legendary Gluepot.

Now, for one night only, Bamboo plays the King’s Arms, Sunday, 30 January 2011 at 9:00pm. Door charge: $20.00 cash.

The show is sponsored by Wah Lee, Auckland’s original Chinese emporium and purveyor of exotic foods, medicines, goods and bamboo products.

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Hamin Derus, lead vocals and percussion
He began singing at an early age as the azan singer for his village mosque, calling people to prayer. Malaysian born, he returned to Kuala Lumpur following the disbanding of Bamboo and ran a bar and restaurant before starting a successful television production company specialising in award winning game shows and subsequently a mobile telecommunications company. He returned to NZ in 1989 to take up NZ citizenship. He formed Mango Crazy, a loose unit of session musicians with whom he toured Malaysia in 1994. He has recorded two albums, ‘Sweet Reggae’ and ‘Up above my head’.

Wayne Baird, guitar and vocals
After Bamboo, Wayne went on to play with Hattie and the Hotshots, The Sonny Day Band, The Neighbours, Trudi and the Exceptions and Rick Bryant’s Jive Bombers. He leads a popular seven piece horn-driven, jump swing band, The Alibis that has recorded two albums, ‘Guilty’ and ‘On the Rocks’.

Dave Maybee, guitar and vocals
Raglan-based where he has a recording studio, Dave is a much sought-after music tutor, session guitarist and record producer. A multi instrumentalist he has played for Rick Steele, John Grenell, Midge Marsden, Patsy Riggir, Al Hunter and Sonny Day to name a few. He formed the Legendary Raglan Mudsharks with Sid Limbert and later joined Ritchie Pickett as part of the Ritchie Pickett & the Inlaws band and toured NZ and Australia to promote their award winning album ‘Gone For Water’. He has toured with The Warratahs for their final NZ concerts, produced the highly regarded 2003 ‘live’ album ‘The Harbourlight Sessions” with the Coalrangers and also played in California, Texas and Nashville as guitarist and recording producer with the late Kimball Brisco Johnson. He also recorded the highly acclaimed album, ‘Acoustic Spirit,’ with fellow Raglan musician and ace fingerstyle guitarist Peter Skandera with whom he works extensively.

Liam Ryan, keyboards and vocals
Liam was a member of the short-lived Flying Doctors with Mike Farrell. In 1983 he joined the successful band, The Narcs. Nelson-based, he is a well-respected music educationalist and a much in demand session keyboardist. He played with Robben Ford, Charlie Musselwhite and Long John Baldry when they toured NZ. He often plays with the Midge Marsden Band and leads the Tauranga based Torch Song Band. He is one of the prime movers of the Tauranga Jazz Festival. In 2007 he released his solo album ‘Mississipi 2 Mauao,’ a fusion of down beat electronica, hip hop grooves and Pacific blues and has another album to be released shortly.

John Dodd, bass and vocals
A successful and highly respected music teacher, John formed the Flying Doctors with Liam Ryan and Mike Abbot before both he and Liam joined the Midge Marsden band. He is a member of a well-known Dunedin blue-grass band, The Chaps that arguably has the reputation of being the band with the longest history of retaining the same lineup in NZ. The Chaps has toured Europe and recorded two albums with the third in the making. John also plays bass for the Southern Sinfonia and The Whirling Eddys, a R & B band.

Mike Abbot, drums
Mike has played with a who’s who of NZ music and is a sought-after session drummer. He played with Dave Maybee in The Smokestack and John Dodd and Liam Ryan in the Flying Doctors. He currently drums for The Alibis and The Midge Marsden Band.

Bud Hooper, drums and percussion
Bud has a long history of drumming for some of the country’s well-known bands and singers including Midge Marsden and The Country Fliers and Beaver and the All Star Band. He leads an Afro-Jazz percussion band, Gahu that has recorded an album entitled, ‘Shell Money’.

ENDS

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