JUNE HAYES – VOCALIST
June Hayes is returning to the Auckland Jazz & Blues Club from ‘music hibernation’ in the North, armed with her ‘songbook’ of classic jazz, and a fantastic line-up of musicians. Her musical journey has taken her on some interesting creative collaborations as an entertainer, producer of music events, songwriter, recording original music, and studying the History of Jazz. She has performed with numerous highly acclaimed New Zealand musicians, and international musicians including drummer Martin Drew, and bassist Andy Kleindert. In 2018 she produced the very memorable Matariki Starlight Jazz Concert, featuring a stellar line-up of Kiwi jazz artists, including Whirimako Black.
While songwriting seems to have overtaken performance these past couple of years, and with four successful children’s books with music out in the world, June has just completed writing, recording and another collection of music entitled Whenua, Aroha, Mārama (Land, Love, Light). This limited edition EP - almost seven years in the making, is an eclectic mix of original music and powerfully penned lyrics produced and mastered at Orewa’s Manuka Studios.
BEN FERNANDEZ – PIANIST MMus, BSC, DCS, PGDMM
Ben Fernandez is a classically trained jazz pianist, composer and arranger based in Auckland. He has a Masters Degree in Music majoring in jazz performance from the University of Auckland. He also has degrees in Physics, Computer Science and Business Management. Ben has performed at concerts and events in over 25 countries and is an award-winning composer for jingles, TV shows and movies. His music is available on itunes, Spotify, Amplifier, GooglePlay, etc. Ben is also an educator and conducts regular workshops on improvisation in New Zealand and overseas.
CAMERON McARTHUR – DOUBLE BASS
Since graduating from the University of Auckland with a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance in 2012, Cameron has been contributing to the Auckland music scene, performing with artists such as Roger Manins, Ron Samsom, Nathan Haines, Kevin Field, Carolina Moon, and many more. As well as live performance, Cameron has recorded with New Zealand artists such as Anita Schwabe, Mark Donlon, Michal Martynuik as well as with the Auckland Jazz Orchestra, Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes and the Neutrino Funk Experience.
RON SAMSOM - DRUMS
Drummer and composer Ron Samsom has lived Auckland New Zealand since 2003, collaborating with top international jazz artists and coordinating the Jazz Studies Programme at the University of Auckland. The word diversity best describes Samsom’s approach to improvisational-based music and a keen interest in many genres has lead to an explorative musical career. An example of this approach is the jazz quartet ‘DOG’, which received the Jazz Tui award for Best Jazz album 2015 NZ music awards. Other recent performances with visiting international artists include Marc Isaacs (AUS), Florian Ross (GER), Chris Cody (FRA), Carl Lockett (USA), and Jef Nev (BE).
LEWIS McCALLUM - SAXOPHONE
Lewis McCallumm is one of New Zealand’s most exciting and innovative musician, who
at a young age was awarded Best Saxophonist and Best Young Jazz Musician at New Zealand’s National Jazz Festival, and has now gone on to play with some of the biggest names in music: Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, Peter Urlich, Hollie Smith, Opensouls, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Batucada Sound Machine, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and has toured China with Elaine Paige.
Lewis is also a well established producer, having created two albums of his own original music: Wake (2007) and Syntheology (2010) which was released in Japan on the label Wonderful Noise.
Members = $5
Meals available before concert. Full bar service.