Kiwi composer and saxophonist Jasmine Lovell-Smith presents a set of new and reimagined chamber jazz compositions for a drummerless quartet featuring Tristan Carter (violin), Blair Latham (bass clarinet) and Johnny Lawrence (double bass).

Jasmine is once again based in Wellington after seven years spent living in the USA and Mexico. From 2010-2012 Jasmine lived in New York City, where she released two critically acclaimed albums with her quintet Towering Poppies, the most recent of which was hailed by New Zealand Musician magazine as “an intriguing intersection of avant-garde art music and chamber jazz.” In 2012 she moved nearby to Connecticut to complete an MA in composition with the experimentalist composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton. From 2014-2016 Jasmine lived in Morelia, Mexico, where she taught jazz studies and the saxophone in Spanish at the Universidad Michoacana. Jasmine is currently a doctoral candidate in composition at the New Zealand School of Music, working with composer John Psathas.

Jasmine Lovell-Smith Quartet
Featuring: Tristan Carter (violin), Blair Latham (bass clarinet) and Nick Tipping (double bass).
Date: Thur 29 Mar 2018
Venue: Pyramid Club, Level, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $15 General, $8 Members and Students with ID

Sartorial saxophonist Oscar Laven’s latest project is a suite of new original compositions inspired by the early works of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry. This concert features the talents of John Rae, Patrick Bleakley, Mike Taylor and Ayrton Foote playing new music seeped in charisma and spontaneity

Oscar Laven Quintet
Featuring: Oscar Laven (s), John Rae (d), Patrick Bleakley (b), Mike Taylor (T), Ayrton Foote (p).
Date: Thur 15 Mar 2018
Venue: Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $15 General, $8 Members and Students with ID

The world of songwriting is steeped in stories, people, places, and portraits. Join vocalist Lauren Armstrong and her quintet in a focused experience, as they embark on an exploration of the muses and preludes to some of the most captivating jewels of jazz songwriting. Accompanied by a peppering of original compositions from the band. 

Lauren Armstrong presents ‘Portraits in Sound.’
Featuring: Lauren Armstrong (vocals), Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (drums), Scott Maynard (double bass), Alexander Boulton – (guitar), Ben Hunt (trumpet) and Oscar Laven (bass clarinet)
Date: Thur 28 Feb 2018
Venue: Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $15 General, $8 Members and Students with ID

Wellington Jazz Cooperative is pleased to open its 2018 gig season with the Steven Barry Quartet featuring Steve Barry (piano), Jake Baxendale (alto sax), Nick Tipping (bass) and Shaun Anderson (drums).

Barry has a growing list of awards and nominations, including the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year, 2nd place in the National Jazz Awards and a finalist in the APRA Professional Development Awards.

Blueprints & Vignettes is the third album from Sydney-based, NZ-born pianist and composer Steve Barry. A product of his recently completed PhD at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the album synergises Barry’s parallel interests in jazz and 20th century classical music by juxtaposing intricate compositions and free improvisation, and reflects influences as diverse as Paul Bley and Elliott Carter.

Steve Barry Quartet
Featuring: Steve Barry (p), Jake Baxendale (as), Nick Tipping (b and Shaun Anderson (d)
Date: Thur 15 Feb 2018
Venue: Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki St.
Time: 8pm
Price: $15 General, $8 Members and Students with ID

2017 was a wonderful first year at WJC. The support has been amazing. We certainly hope you will join us in 2018 for another great year of Jazz!