The quartet is made up of MacKenzie on drums, Calum Dundas on guitar, Frank Talbot on saxophone, and Wynton Newman on bass.
They are all students of the New Zealand School of Music and have been playing together for the past year.
As well as studying, the quartet has worked with professional American musicians including Dick Oatts, Tom Warrington, Joe LaBarbera and Chris Cain.
Talbot and MacKenzie have been playing with New Zealand's leading big band, the Rodger Fox Big Band, throughout the summer.
MacKenzie is a former Western Heights High School student and is studying jazz performance at Victoria University.
"Being a part of the Western Heights High School jazz band was really a turning point for me and my musical journey to date.
"I was introduced to the jazz genre by my former teacher, Paul Sanders, and it all took off from there.
"Very early on, I met Rodger Fox who since then has kept an eye on me and made sure I was going to attend the New Zealand School Of Music where he teaches. I am now fortunate enough to have been playing in his band this summer," said MacKenzie.
The quartet will play a range of sub-genres of jazz from early 1930s swing music right through to modern tunes.
What: Sam MacKenzie Quartet
Where: Arawa Lounge, Rotorua Racecourse
When: Sunday, 5.30pm
Tickets: $15 adults, $2 juniors, door sales only.
