Sulco d’Alma are one of the most exciting musical groups in Wellington. Playing a unique style of latin funk, it draws heavily on the influence of south american samba music and a unique disco jazz group from Brazil from the 1970s called Azymuth. The material for this gig is a collection of transcriptions by genre-defying extraordinaire, Thomas Friggens.
Guitarist Justin Firefly Clarke is a composer who has won awards at festivals in Europe and collaborated with world-class performers from all over the globe. Locally he is known for producing the Woolshed Sessions and Jess Chambers as well as featuring with Fly My Pretties, Fat Freddy’s Drop and with the NZSO. He is a masters graduate of the New Zealand School of Music and has degrees in jazz guitar and classical composition.
Drummer Thomas Friggens straddles multiple musical worlds effortlessly and often simultaneously. He has been an integral member of a wide variety of bands, including Brockaflower, John the Baptist and The Balkanistas, and regularly works with New Zealand’s premier percussion group Strike. Thomas is joined by some of the finest musicians in the country and guarantees Sulco d’Alma Performance is an event not to be missed!
On percussion is Andreas Lepper; a highly respected, experienced musician (percussionist). Apart from playing in a number of bands of various genres, he spends most of his working hours as a music tutor for a wide range of percussion and music therapy groups. rFor Andreas, it’s all about inclusion, connection and joy. He’s convinced that music is not only a path to self-expression and creativity but also a way to bring diverse people together. Originally from Germany, Andreas came to New Zealand in 1982 not knowing that he would become a well-known musician and mentor in Wellington’s local music scene. His passion for music inspires him to share his knowledge and guide others, especially people who experience mental illness or people with learning disability or a physical disability. “My pupils are a constant source of joy,” he says. “They are always enthusiastic, full of ideas and really happy to be part of the session. That means a lot to me as their teacher. “Apart from the fun of playing drums, you can really see the non-verbal communication within the group. Teachers, participants and family are all involved in this musical experience. It’s just fascinating.”
Bassist Jacqui Nyman grew up in Dunedin and moved to Wellington to do the NZSM jazz degree on guitar. Jacqui graduated in 2012. Since then she has been involved in a variety of eclectic music projects and loves playing all kinds of music but at the moment particularly, salsa, cumbia, old Jamaican ska, afrobeat, jazz and funk.
On keys Daniel Hayles is a brilliantly talented and unique piano and keyboard player, performing regularly in a variety of styles and settings. Daniel was classically trained in his home town New Plymouth and has a post-graduate diploma in jazz piano at the New Zealand School Of Music. Currently Daniel is in an Artist Teacher at the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) in Wellington and is an arranger for Rodger Fox's New Zealand Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, and a number of New Zealand and international clients.
