COVID 2 Level 2 restriction apply.

Fresh from headlining at the 2021 Wellington Jazz Festival, Umar Zakaria is a Tui award-winning New Zealand bassist and composer filled with hope for the future. His music unites diverse musical traditions to inspire communication and cooperation across boundaries.

Umar has given performances across Europe, Asia and the USA alongside Myele Manzanza, Norio Maeda, Snorre Kirk and Ben Wendel among others. He is a student of legendary jazz bassists Cecil McBee and Lynn Seaton as well as NZ’s own Paul Dyne, and received the 1st runner-up prize at the BASS2014 International Jazz Bass Competition. He was named ‘Best Jazz Artist by Recorded Music New Zealand in 2018 and was awarded a scholarship to attend the renowned Banff International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music the following year under the artistic direction of Vijay Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey.

Having developed a reputation for emotionally stirring performances, Umar now seeks to share heartfelt original music with his trio to audiences across New Zealand and internationally, spreading a message of courage and unity through the powerful sound of the double bass.

The Umar Zakaria Trio features Duncan Haynes on piano and Luther Hunt on drums, presenting a vibrant programme of American jazz classics as well as original pieces based on Malay influences and Kiwi experiences.

Umar Zakaria Trio
Date: Thur 30 September 2021, 7.30pm
Venue: Lovebite, 2 Forresters Lane

Unfortunately, tonight’s concert has been cancelled due to Covid Level 4 restrictions.

Melbourne/Wellington-based guitarist and composer Jamie Pye brings an exciting quartet lineup to Lovebite this September. Having studied at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, as well as soon completing his post-graduate studies at the New Zealand School of Music, Jamie looks forward to sharing his music in Wellington for the first time. Drawing inspiration from a host of contemporary jazz composers and bandleaders such as Brian Blade, Aaron Parks, Kendrick Scott and Mike Moreno, as well as folk artists such as Ben Howard and José González, Jamie too hopes to convey an honest sense of storytelling and narrative throughout his compositions.

Jamie Pye Quartet
Featuring: Jamie Pye (G), Ben Stewart (P), Umar Zakaria (B) and Lennox Grootjans (D)
Date: Thur 16 September 2021, 7.30pm
Venue: Lovebite, 2 Forresters Lane
Price: Tickets available on Eventfinda.co.nz

Due to Covid level 2 restrictions this concert has been proposed

As a regular member of the Rodger Fox Big Band, Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and Julie Lamb Outfit, as well as playing with many shorter projects including twice touring Europe with the JM Jazz World Orchestra, Frank Talbot is a stalwart of the local scene. 

Having completed jazz and classical training at the New Zealand School of Music (as well as hobby playing heavy metal guitar), Talbot incorporates a range of styles and influences into his music. In the intimate setting afforded by the WJC he’ll be presenting a variety of exciting, emotional, intense and sombre moods including some brand new works accompanied by some of Wellington’s finest musicians.

Joining Frank will be Ayrton Foote (p), Phoebe Johnson (b) and Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (d)

“New Zealand produces many good tenor players and judging by Talbot’s confident performance, he will go from strength to strength” – John Fenton, Jazz Local 32

Frank Talbot Quartet
Date: Thur 2 September 2021, 7.30pm
Venue: Lovebite, 2 Forresters Lane
Price: Tickets available on Eventfinda.co.nz

Unfortunately, tonight’s concert has been cancelled due to Covid Level 4 restrictions.

Fresh from headlining at the 2021 Wellington Jazz Festival, Umar Zakaria is a Tui award-winning New Zealand bassist and composer filled with hope for the future. His music unites diverse musical traditions to inspire communication and cooperation across boundaries.

Umar has given performances across Europe, Asia and the USA alongside Myele Manzanza, Norio Maeda, Snorre Kirk and Ben Wendel among others. He is a student of legendary jazz bassists Cecil McBee and Lynn Seaton as well as NZ’s own Paul Dyne, and received the 1st runner-up prize at the BASS2014 International Jazz Bass Competition. He was named ‘Best Jazz Artist by Recorded Music New Zealand in 2018 and was awarded a scholarship to attend the renowned Banff International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music the following year under the artistic direction of Vijay Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey.

Having developed a reputation for emotionally stirring performances, Umar now seeks to share heartfelt original music with his trio to audiences across New Zealand and internationally, spreading a message of courage and unity through the powerful sound of the double bass.

The Umar Zakaria Trio features Duncan Haynes on piano and Luther Hunt on drums, presenting a vibrant programme of American jazz classics as well as original pieces based on Malay influences and Kiwi experiences.

Umar Zakaria Trio
Date: Thur 19 August 2021, 7.30pm
Venue: Lovebite, 2 Forresters Lane

Since returning to Wellington two years ago after living abroad in Edinburgh, Mike has proved to be one of the city’s most prolific and exciting trumpet players. Over the course of his career, he has played music with the likes of The Wellington City Shake-‘Em-On Downers, TOI, the Rodger Fox big band, Louis Baker, and The Black Seeds, as well as writing music for the RNZAF Jazz Orchestra, The Arthur Street Loft Orchestra, and the Loemis Winter Festival.

Joining Mike for this fantastic concert  will be Thomas Friggens on drums, Ayrton Foote on keys, Phoebe Johnson on bass and Jake Baxendale on sax

Mike Costello Quintet
Date: Thur 5 August 2021, 7.30pm
Venue: Lovebite, 2 Forresters Lane
Price: Tickets available on Eventfinda.co.nz