From busking to the big stage, a teenage jazz band ready to take on the world
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ROSA WOODS / Stuff
High school students Nico Buhne, Max Ware, Miro Holland, Jack Harris, Louis Holland, Harry Lentell and Theo Thompson compose Mel Stevenson
Is the jazz band “Mel Stevenson” named after a doctor who saved one of the band members after he slipped on a banana peel and got stung by an electric eel?
Or has another limb been abducted by aliens and both words marked on its foot?
The teenage group members might tell you where the name came from, but they should probably kill you afterwards.
Founding members Louis Holland, 15, his brother Miro Holland (14) and Jack Harris, founded the group about six years ago, after meeting at the Wellington Music Center.
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“Miro and I used to play at Harborside Market,” Louis said. “And then we invited Jack, and then we started training at Jack’s.” “
ROSA WOODS / Stuff
The group started about six years ago and has grown to include all seven members over the years.
Over time, the group grew and now has seven members, with Nico Buhne, Max Ware, Harry Lentell and Theo Thompson having joined the top three.
And while the students are all still in school (six at Wellington High, with Theo at Hutt Valley High School), the group moves on.
He recently performed at the Wellington Jazz Festival and won several awards at the 43rd National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga, Louis, Miro and Nico winning all top prizes for their mastery of their respective instruments.
As for the Jazz Festival, Louis, Jack and Theo spent three hours performing between Mel Stevenson and their second group Crumbly Jack.
ROSA WOODS / Stuff
The group performed at Gardens Magic and the Wellington Jazz Festival. Now they have a long term goal of playing WOMAD.
The group also performed at the Gardens Magic in the Botanical Gardens, where 1,000 people showed up for their performance.
“The nervousness is gone, and all we need to work on is have some fun for the audience,” Nico said. “Our theme is to have as much fun as possible.”
In the long term, the group’s goal is to play WOMAD in New Plymouth. In the short term, their goal is to work on original pieces.
“Enough for an entire album, I hope,” said Louis.
People can keep an eye out for upcoming concerts on the band’s Instagram page, @melstevensonband.
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