Oakley Grenell Presents ‘Live’ LP 20 Year Anniversary Digital Release
The year was 2006, and Grenell had previously graduated from CHCH Jazz School with a scholarship in Guitar Performance, after composing his final one-hour assessment, gained his Teaching Diploma and after helping set up the Music Academy at Aranui High School had moved to London. He expanded his musical reach and influence, performing both on guitar (Shepherd’s Bush Empire) and DJ sets (Neighbourhood, The Big Chill). While there, he was a regular punter at the Jazz Café and saw the words top acts. Inspired by The Cinematic Orchestra, he put together a supergroup of Ōtautahi musicians he had played with while at Jazz School and on one of his summer trips back, composed the songs for the Departure Lounge project. They performed as part of the Jazz Festival at a sold-out show at the Harbourlight, Lyttelton.
Soundman Tony Sheard captured the raw energy and performance talent of each member that night, and the LP solidifies itself as an important moment in New Zealand live music history – blending jazz, funk and roots into a record that still resonates two decades later.
The band includes Oakley Grenell (guitar), Chris Burke (tenor saxophone), Cameron Pearce (trumpet), Johnny Lawrence (bass), Nick Gaffaney (drums), Sum Suraweera (percussion) and Mara TK, aka Native Styles (turntables).
Originally released in 2006, this LP introduced audiences to the heart of Departure Lounge’s live sound and helped cement the band’s reputation as one of Ōtautahi’s most authentic independent acts.
Central Records art director and manager Hayley Dingwall put together the original CD cover from photos taken of the venue, and Grenell employed Grammy-winning Master Engineer George Lambert (Alicia Keys) to add the finishing audio tweaks to the 67-minute performance.
Twenty years on, Departure Lounge celebrates this release, available on all digital platforms for the first time ever and gives longtime fans and new listeners alike the chance to rediscover the record that started it all.
