Oscar Laven is an eclectic saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist based in Wellington, New Zealand. A frequently appearing personality in the New Zealand jazz scene, Laven is a busy full-time performer and composer, with degrees in jazz and classical from the New Zealand School of Music. He has performed/recorded internationally and across the country with many artists/ensembles including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, James Carter, John Beasley’s Monkestra, The Rodger Fox Big Band, Robben Ford, Lydia Pence, The Wellington Mingus Ensemble, his own 19-piece big band The Neo Hot Jive Orchestra, The Wellington City Shake ‘Em On Downers, and many more.
For this WJC event, Oscar will be presenting a suite of original quintet works inspired by the younger works of Ornette Coleman & Don Cherry.
