Jasmine Lovell-Smith

Jasmine Lovell-Smith is a kiwi soprano saxophonist and composer who has recently returned to Wellington after 7 years living in the USA and Mexico. Her music has been described as “arrestingly wry and lyrical” (New York City Jazz Record), “honest, intelligent chamber jazz” (Jazz Times) & “[an] unashamedly rich tapestry of sound” (Dominion Post, NZ).

Between 2010 and 2012 Jasmine was based in New York City, where she formed her quintet Towering Poppies, with whom she has released two albums. In 2012 she moved nearby to Connecticut to study towards an MA in composition with the experimentalist composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton. More recently she relocated to Morelia, Mexico, where she had the interesting experience of teaching jazz studies and the saxophone in Spanish. Jasmine has returned to Wellington to pursue a DMA in composition at the NZSM, and she is excited to be sharing her original compositions with a Wellington jazz audience once again

Jasmine Lovell-Smith
Featuring: Norman Meehan (p), Paul Dyne (b), Reuben Bradley (d), Jasmine Lovell-Smith (s)
Date: Thurs 23 Feb 2017
Venue: Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $10 General, $5 Members and Students with ID

Breakfast of Champions

Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why…

Jake Baxendale (saxophone) James Paul (guitar) and Cory Champion (drums, no relation) perform some free-flowing meditations on their own themes, and any others that might occur. Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Paul Motian or Radiohead might have a hand in proceedings, indirectly of course – or they may not. Songs and improvisations blur into one another and provide a springboard into the next soundscape.

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”

Breakfast of Champions
Featuring: 
 James Paul (g), Cory Champion (d) and Jake Baxendale (s)
Date: Thursday 9 Feb 2017
Venue: Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $10 General, $5 Members and Students with ID