'May you be surrounded by friends and family, and if this is not your lot, may the blessings find you in your solitude.”

If you're reading this on Friday (September 21), it's Leonard Cohen's birthday, so how could I not start with a quote from the man?

This week though is about music releases from the Bay, which seem to follow a famine or feast model – right now we're hitting a feast bit.

Within less than a week I've received not one, not two, but three local releases – two albums and a single track.

So before I get onto that single track, which is rather wonderful, let me just make quick mention of the two albums in lieu of reviews which will come in the near future.

First up is the new one from The Shirleybyrds, the collaboration between singer/songwriter Shirley Rider and singer/guitarist Graeme Hardaker, recorded at Tim's studio in Welcome Bay, The Colour Field. The official launch is still a couple of weeks away but if simple but sparkly retro-pop sounds like your bag then mark Sunday, October 13 on your calendar. It'll be at Vinyl Destination on Devonport Road. Details to follow, along with the album review.

Second up, and I only got hold of this yesterday, is the album I planned to do a ‘speed-listen' to and review today. But the minute I put it on that seemed kinda unfair.

The Whittakers

The Whittakers are an unassuming local five-piece folk band, fronted by singer/songwriter Richard Grautstuk and singer Mitz Amores. They also both play guitar and mandolin.

The band used to have Alison Fitzpatrick singing, playing piano and fiddle but after her return to Scotland Robbie Laven joined with his usual array of instruments (fiddle, tin whistle, banjo, lap steel, acoustic and electric guitars and percussion!).

She has now returned, although it is Robbie playing on the album, 'A Slice of The Whittakers'.

This was also recorded at Tim's, featuring 15 songs, around half of them Richard's.

If you want to catch The Whittakers, their next gig is a modest outing at tomorrow's (Saturday, September 22) Farmer's Market off Cameron Road at Tauranga Primary School. Catch them from 8.45am-noon.

And the new single! It's a release from keyboard wiz Liam Ryan, well-known from The Narcs and, locally, the Torch Songs Band, who is currently gigging with The Midge Marsden Band and his own electro-jazz unit The Blue Riders.

Liam, in collaboration with ace trombonist and esteemed band leader Rodger Fox, has produced a bright and breezy slice of electro-jazz called 'Caribbean Cruise'. It's now on Spotify and digital platforms and is the first track from four pieces Liam will release as an EP early next year.

Christchurch days

The track pays homage to The Caribbean, a local juke joint/bar in suburban Christchurch where Liam grew up. He describes it this way: 'It was a classic New Zealand suburban 60s milk bar – the Church Corner hangout for the Villa Maria girls after school. It was action-packed, and had the best jukebox in the area. 'Caribbean Cruise' was a jam piece I wrote while in Christchurch band Night Musique in the 1970s but sadly the band never recorded.”

In its new incarnation the track features Ryan on Rhodes piano, Moog synth and programming, with Rodger Fox on trombone and Steve Garden (from esteemed Kiwi music label Rattle Records) on drums.

In an exhibition of how the internet is changing the process of recording music, the project came together at Ryan's Anam Cara studio in Waihi, while Steve Garden's drums were recorded at Garden Shed studio in Mt Eden and Fox's trombone was captured at Studio 11B in Mount Maunganui.

The track was then mastered by Mike Beever in Nelson. It's a smooth-grooving instrumental, summery and spritzy and well worth a listen.

And let's finish the same way as we started: 'When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig. That's about all you can do.”

Thanks Leonard.