Piano Women

For the third year in a row, NZ’s finest women singer/pianists join forces to bring an exciting evening of original songs, plus material from That Great American Songbook... arranged their way! All three women are accomplished songwriters and prolific recording artists, as well as highly experienced performers around the globe.

They will each present a 40 minute set as bandleader, with the highly accomplished Aaron Coddel (bass) and Steve Cournane (drums) accompanying each of these formidable artists. This concert was jam-packed in 2018, so get there early to grab a table!

Caitlin Smith is perhaps the most unsung heroine of NZ singers. As a vocal coach she has helped many popular NZ artists in their rise. As a performer, she is renowned for her clarity and vocal range, and expressive performances that cut to the heart of a song.

Julie mason is very familiar to Auckland audiences,having featured at the Auckland Jazz & Blues Club since its inception in the 1980’s, with a wide range of musicians. Now with over 40 years professional experience under her belt- from Australasia & the South Pacific to Europe and North America, she brings a new maturity to her vocal interpretations of familiar, and less familiar, material. She has also been prolific in her songwriting of late, and will showcase some originals also in her set, along with songs written by other singer/pianists such as Nat King Cole/ Sarah Vaughan/ Diana Krall.

Linn Lorkin was the first woman to play electric keys in NZ, Linn was on demand in Auckland in the 70s playing a Fender Rhodes in various combos, including a band with Tama Renata, Howie Morgan and John McGuire. She went on to play piano with her own trio at Ronnie Scotts in London followed by eight years on the New York piano bar scene.

It was in New York that she began her prolific song-writing. She returned to NZ in 1985 and has co-created several outstanding bands together with eighteen albums. Her solo show "Hey, Piano Bar Lady!' won Best Cabaret at the 2013 United Solo Festival in New York and was recently reprised at Auckland Writers Festival, 2018.