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Hot Club Sandwich

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Music we hold — on our catalogue

The majority of our Wellington CD collection is available from our Te Awe Branch in Brandon St, or able to be reserved for free from our Distribution Centre in Johnsonville.

We say:

Hot Club Sandwich began in the early ’90s when singer/guitarist Andrew London and pianist/bass player Terry Crayford recorded some songs for Radio NZ in the ‘Hot Club’ swing style popularised in the 1930s by gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. Such a splendid time was had that a few gigs were booked with a variety of instrumental soloists providing the Sandwich ‘filling’.

The turning point came about 10 years ago when London began writing whimsical songs about rugby fans, television evangelists, politicians, weddings, male insecurities, technophobia, youth culture, household appliances, pretentious socialites, coffee, and various other issues of concern to your average middle-aged, middle class Kiwi bloke. There are scorching improvised solos, finely-crafted three-part vocal harmonies, tight arrangements and infectious swinging rhythms. HCS have played Arts and Jazz festivals all over Australasia and have released eight CDs and a live DVD.

Andrew London, Terry Crayford and James Tait-Jamieson talk about history of ‘Hot Club Sandwich’…

Their 2004 album, Toasted, rated a four star review in Downbeat USA, and their songs have been used in feature length movies (Second Hand Wedding, No Petrol! No Diesel!) and year 13 Correspondence School English Courses. In 2010 they were flown by the New Zealand Embassy to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, to present a slice of Kiwi culture to an international audience. One of these shows represented their 1000th live performance….

Cover image

Cover image

Cover/Text sourced from Amplifier. Used with permission.


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