Acker Bilk Looking Forward To N.Z. Tour

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 10

Acker Bilk Looking Forward To N.Z. Tour

[From th« London Correspondent ol ’The Press”)

LONDON. Dec. 5. Mr Acker Bilk, of Somerset, is a very shy person, which is rather surprising since he is a world-famous clarinettist and a colour-fully-attired leader of a celebrated band, which is tremendously excited at the prospect of touring New Zealand shortly. To get Acker Bilk’s reactions to his impending Dominion visit I tracked him down last evening in “the little pub around the corner” from the 8.8.C.’s Embankment studios, where they were scheduled to commence rehearsals for a new show. Acker Bilk, wearing what he subsequently described to me as a "hairy coat that I like” was sipping a whisky, trying to rinse from his tonsils some of the vile London fog which had caused him and his bandsmen on a flight back from Ireland a little time before to be diverted to Gatwick from -the closed London Airport. Were there fogs like that in New Zealand? No? That pleased him and the bandsmen. Was it possible to see a lot of sun in New Zealand? Yes? That also pleased him—and the bandsmen. Was March a good month to visit New Zealand? About the best? “I told you it was a fabulous place,” said Acker Bilk to the world in general.

•’Somebody I was talking to in the States told me it was. I think it was Lonnie Donegan. Whoever it was knew what he was talking about.” Then there were questions about scenery. climate, people. licensing hours—answers to this drew glances of sheer incredulity—Maoris, and Maori music. The talented young men who. in spite of the regard in which they obviously hold their leader, thoroughly enjoy teasing him. revealed a knowledge of Maori music and singing that was interesting, to say the least There were technical ana, for the layman, quite unanswerable questions about Maori harmonising technique. Which were the Maori “centres” of New Zealand and would Maoris evince interest in the bands’ concerts? Were Maori girls attractive? “We'll be giving Neu’ Zealanders our full repertoire," said Acker Bilk. "We’ll give them ’The Stranger’ CStrancer on the Shore’)» “Creole Jazz.’ ‘Buona Sera,’ "That’s My Home.’ ’Lonely,’ ’White Cliffs of Dover’—in fact the lot.” A , These men have travelled extensively through Europe and Scandinavia, playing to packed houses. Acker Bilk not long ago visited the United States for a television show. “Thev seemed to like us, he said, grinning shyly, and tugging self-consciously at his tufty chin-beard.