Creative Jazz Club presents The Troubles (Wgtn)

Lucien Johnson - sax
John Rae - drums
Patrick Bleakley - double bass
Daniel Yeabsley - clarinet
Jake Baxendale - saxes
Hanna Fraser - violin

One of the more exciting and unexpected developments in New Zealand jazz in recent times has been the arrival of The Troubles. Starting out as a trio, the group united the talents of saxophonist and composer Lucien Johnson, recently returned from years living in Paris; with John Rae, a Scottish-born drummer of the highest pedigree and a recent arrival to New Zealand; and stalwart Wellington double bassist Patrick Bleakley.

Taking over a residency at Wellington’s Happy Bar, the trio soon turned into a quintet with the addition of clarinetist Daniel Yeabsley, of Twinset fame, and Nick Van Dijk, New Zealand’s undisputed virtuoso of the jazz trombone. Rae and Johnson turned their attentions to composing for the group, unwilling to turn the gig into a jazz standards occasion, and a large original repertoire was quickly developed. Soon they were joined by a young string trio consisting of Tristan Carter (violin), Andrew Filmer (viola) and Charley Davenport (cello), all three of whom were very open to delving into unfamiliar territory. Wildcard percussionist Anthony Donaldson brought along his toolkit and anything else besides.

If that sounds a little highbrow for some tastes, the results were often quite the opposite. Led by Rae’s theatrical outbursts, the group took a quasi-anarchic approach to the meticulously composed music they were performing.

There is a sense that anything could happen, from the coarse to the sublime, from the emotive to the absurd.

CJC presents a featured jazz artist or international guest every Wednesday night in the basement bar in the scrumptious surroundings of 1885 Britomart in downtown Auckland.