Connoisseurs of high-energy, swinging straight-ahead jazz should check out the Osborne Bar on Thursday nights from 5th August to hear some of the best New Zealand jazz of this genre. Free admission.
Award-winning saxophonist and New Zealander Roger Manins is a rarity, a true find in Australasian jazz. Regarded as \\\\\an outstandingly gifted musician, with a warmly passionate sound, remarkable instrumental ability and total musical integrity. Roger Manins is also a composer, a lecturer in Jazz studies at the University of Auckland, as well as being musical director and co-founder of the Creative Jazz Club Aotearoa.
Hand-picked by Manins, the talented young band accompanying him will be PJ Koopman – Guitar; Simon Walker – Drums; Jo Shum – Acoustic Bass.
20 year old Peter Koopman and already with 5 years’ performing experience under his belt, including with NZ jazz statesmen Brian Smith, Frank Gibson and Roger, says his guitar influences emanate from Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, Jim Hall and James Muller. He says “he is privileged to be able to work with Roger Manins again.”
A University of Auckland jazz graduate Simon Walker has performed with Kevin Fields, Kevin Haines, Alan Brown and Roger, along with being a session musician for, amongst others, The Mamaku Project. He is under the spell of drummers Ron Samson, Elvin Jones, Ed Blackwell, Jeff Ballard, Mark Guiliana and Jim Black.
Hailing from Hong Kong and a NZ resident for 13 years, another University of Auckland jazz graduate Jo Shum, has performed with Tim Beveridge, the Dan Sperber Complex and with country singer/songwriter Lauren Thomson. She is swayed by her teacher Alberto Santarelli and jazz bass giants Ron Carter and Oscar Pettiford.
