Born at Worthing, Sussex, United Kingdom on 14th July, 1952, my early interest in music got me up to Grade 8 (Royal School of Music) piano exams, practical and theory by the time I was 14. Keft school two years later and toured UK and Europe with "Terraplane Blues Band".

Emitgrated to New Zealand in 1973 and two years later joined "Blerta" off-shoot "Rough Justice".

Formed own Jazz Trio "High Risk" based in Wellington and in 1981 joined "Rodger Fox Big Band". Played on two albums and toured Europe including performances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and London's "Ronnie Scott Club".

Composed and toured with Rock/Jazz Band "Bourgeois Zee" and taught music to an unemployed youth group for Social Welfare Dept. Promoted Jazz concerts for visiting German Jazz artists for Goethe Institute.

Returned to Wellington and undertook a two year residency in a top nightclub and worked as a studio musician (piano and keyboards).

Played and composed for own Jazz Trio resident at Wellington's Plaza International Hotel. Recorded and wrote R.N.Z. radio broadcast.

Was coaxed into moving up to Auckland in 1989. Played with Jazz Cabaret band "Wentworth Brewster and Co." Featured soloist on weekly live T.V. chat show "It's Only Wednesday". This led to a esidency with own Jazz trio at De-Brett's Hotel plus teaching and performing with "Hattie and the Hounds".

Formed Jazz Quintet Strange Fruit to perform exclusively original material and three years later released first solo album entitled "Strange Fruit". Nominated for Jazz Album of the Year at the NZ Music Awards. Performed at Auckland Jazz Fest, Waiheke Jazz Fest. and Taranaki Arts Fest. Composed and recorded Radio NZ programme.

In 1996 Strange Fruit Performed at Wellington Internation ARts Festival and tourned nationally. With the assistance of APRA I compiled and pumbished Kiwi Real Book with pianist and broadcaster Phil Broadhurst.

The following year it was back into the studio to record second album of self-penned songs Eavesdropping. Tourned nationally with Strange Fruit including performances at Christchurch Arts Festival and Montana Winter Jazz Series. Received funding from Creative New Zealand to publish a second volume of the Kiwi Real Book.

My compositions have been recorded and performed by the "Rodger Fox Big Band", Hattie St. John and Candy Alderton. They are also used as soundtrack for TV and get regular airing on National Radio and Concert FM.

This talented saxophonist/composer is highly regarded as a teacher in New Zealand and Japan. As a sought-after session musician he has toured with Shirley Bassey and John Rowles. Won Jazz album of the year at the 1997 Music Awards for his contribution to Blue Train's album "No Free Lunch".

Barbara Cartwright (vocals)

Barbara's singing style has been described by one music critic as "located midway between Billie Holiday and Ricki-Lee Jones". She has served her apprenticeship singing in hotel lobbies and restaurants and is now a firm favourite with New Zealand jazz concert-goers. Also has a career as a stage actor and appeared (as a night club owner) in the N.Z. feature film "Broken English".

Peter Scott (bass)

Since his arrival from the UK in 1998 (where his achievements included playing with Madness and Dr. John) Peter has been playing bass for high profile jazz/blues outfit Bluespeak. He joined Strange Fruit in 1987.

John Berryman (drums)

Always in demand, this talented and supportive drummer is a member of the London Bar Trio and can be heard on many National Radio jazz broadcasts.

John Key's Strange Fruit (1994)

	John Key	Piano and Synthesiser
	John Berryman	Drums and Percussion
	Barbara Cartwright	Vocals
	Matt Fieldes	Acoustic and Electric Bass
	Steve Sherriff	Saxophones and Flute

This album realises a long-time dream for John Key to capture his music on album. Key not only performs, he composes. So many jazz albums these days rely on old standards. Apart from Sonny Rollins' "Pent Up House", these are Key's originals. The variety of jazz sound on this album - from bebop to cool jazz to an acid-jazz style track - shows the versatility of Key and his experienced group and how difficult it is to pigeonhole them into one particular jazz mood. The album takes off with a roar with Key's driving bluesy piano playing and swinging bebop tune appropriately entitled Rough Riffin. It is reminiscent of the wonderful jazz of the late 50's. The mood then slows for a ballad One Step Ahead of the Blues which introduces the pensive singing of Barbara Cartwright. Seeing is Believing finds Cartwright in a Latin swing mode with a positive message re-inforced by Key's bouncy piano. Resaka de Corona keeps us in a toe-tapping Latin groove with an instrument driven along by Sherriff's sharp sax playing. The it's into the 90's for Corner Adorner with Berryman's funky drumming, Fieldes' electric bass and Key's synthesiser. Young jazz fans demand a dancing beat and funky grooves so Key says this is his dedication to that acid-jazz movement, noting with a smile that back in the 70's similar sounding jazz had a different name. A 60's feel hangs around Too Late for Love, a song about a one-night stand. After the lyrical version of Rollins Pent Up House, the band stretches out and Sherriff gets a chance to solo with his soprano on One Stop Drop.

It's hard work for a New Zealand jazz group to get their own CD out especially without help from major record companies. John Key's group has done it. They hope you enjoy it.

 

Soundsamples at:

http://www.mp3.com/strangefruit