You could drop the needle on any spot and find satisfying, thoroughly involving music. - London Jazz News
After releasing their recent album to a sold-out crowd at the Wellington Jazz Festival, the Elegant Calamity Orchestra makes its return to the Rogue and Vagabond! Led by flamboyant saxophonist Oscar Lavën, the Elegant Calamity Orchestra drawing together a vibrant collection of all-star musicians from various backgrounds under one roof, drawing influence from early American swing, blues, classical music, french cinema, spiritual jazz and 50’s bar-walking rock and roll saxophone.
Prepare to be swept into a surreal, cinematic world by the Elegant Calamity Orchestra; strings, woodwinds, brass, virtuosic percussionists and a deep-digging rhythm section, combining kaleidoscopic orchestral colours with the dangerous spontaneity of a small group. A momentous performance not to be missed.
9pm Downbeat.
The Ensemble:
Oscar Lavën: tenor saxophone
Bridget Kelly: clarinet
Calvin Scott: oboe
Daniel Yeabsley: alto and bass saxophones
Patrick Hayes: bass clarinet
Michael Taylor: trumpet
Michael Costeloe: trumpet
Kaito Walley: trombone
Tristan Carter: violin
Ana Henderson: violin
Nicholas Denton-Protsack: cello
Rafael Ferrer-Noel: percussion
Mikey Trujillo: percussion
John Rae: drums
Ayrton Foote: piano
Patrick Bleakley: double bass
About Oscar Lavën:
Oscar Lavën is an acclaimed saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has performed/recorded internationally with many artists/ensembles including Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Lalah Hathaway, Gregg Bissonette, James Carter, Perter Erskine, Robben Ford, John Beasley's Grammy award winning MONK'estra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Rodger Fox Big Band, Tony Lindsay, Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra, Royal New Zealand Air Force Jazz Orchestra, Rhombus, The Wellington City Shake Em On Downers, and more. His albums 'Questions in Red' and 'Elegant Calamity' received international acclaim with another soon to be released. A lover of jazz and blues, Lavën is also a busy classical performer on bassoon in orchestras, chamber groups and as a soloist, and also teaches in the jazz programme at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University.
Oscar Lavën plays Selmer Paris saxophones and clarinets, and is a Thick Records NZ recording artist.
