Auckland Jazz Orchestra with Murray Tanner

The Auckland Jazz Orchestra draws from a collective of Auckland’s best musicians in a once a month to rehearsal to explore the potential of a big band.

There is an ‘open door’ policy to composers and arrangers who are interested in writing for the band and it is the intention that this will generate local composition and repertoire.

Apart from this local input the group use rehearsals to test their collective skills on the big band repertoire from writers such as Thad Jones, Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer, Bill Holman and Sammy Nestico. Special projects centre on iconic big band greats like Ellington/Strayhorn, Buddy Rich, and Woody Herman.

Mike says.. “We have an opportunity to take a musical legacy and transform it through the New Zealand experience into a locally based creative force. The aim is for a contemporary originality. Big band jazz is a powerful art form, muscular and hard swinging, sometimes bluesy and boisterous, but also capable of lush harmonies and evocative beauty…”

During 2009 and 2010 the band has had guest conductors such as Dave Panichi (Australian trombonist and arranger (Ed Wilson; Buddy Rich, Bob Mintzer) and George Chisolm (well known jazz musician).

The Big Band has performed at Auckland’s Music in Parks and at the Auckland Jazz Festival featuring Caitlin Smith and currently features compositions and arrangements from Tim Atkinson, Mike Booth and Andrew Hall. Tim and Andrew are Massey graduates and Mike Booth returns to New Zealand after a long sojourn in the Netherlands where he was active in the jazz/ pop and big band scene.

Event listed by Boyd Thwaites

View their other events or contact promoter