Wellington Jazz Festival: Words Take Flight

Composers Norman Meehan and Jasmine Lovell-Smith present a selection of their song settings of poetry from New Zealand and further afield, expertly interpreted by vocalist Hannah Griffin, with support from bassist Paul Dyne and drummer Reuben Bradley.

Norman Meehan is a New Zealand pianist and composer. His music is currently focused on song settings of poetry in projects he pursues collaboratively with New Zealand vocalist Hannah Griffin. The primary focus of their work in recent years has been an active collaboration with New Zealand’s inaugural Poet Laureate, Bill Manhire. Their recordings have been released by Rattle Records and Victoria University Press.

Saxophonist/composer Jasmine Lovell-Smith has recently returned to Wellington after seven years based in the USA (New York and Connecticut) and Mexico, during which time she released two albums with her quintet Towering Poppies and completed a Masters degree in composition, studying with experimentalist composer Anthony Braxton. Jasmine's music has been described as “arrestingly wry and lyrical” New York City Jazz Record, “honest, intelligent chamber jazz” JazzTimes and “[an] unashamedly rich tapestry of sound” The Dominion Post.

Wellington Jazz Festival is on from June 7-11.