Jazz workshop free for local students

TEAM: Lauren Nottingham and Mark Donlon will host a contemporary jazz concert on November 30. PICTURE / SUPPLIED

The Whanganui Jazz Club and the music department at Wanganui Collegiate have come together to host a contemporary jazz concert in the Prince Edward Auditorium at 7pm on Thursday, November 30.

The Lauren Nottingham/Mark Donlon Project is visiting 10 cities in New Zealand and Australia, and we are so pleased they have decided to perform in Whanganui. As well as the evening concert, the band is presenting an afternoon workshop, free to local students.

Lauren Nottingham is a young New Zealand singer and jazz graduate of the New Zealand School of Music, recently returned from living in Berlin. As well as travelling around Europe as a member of the award-winning New Zealand Youth Choir, Lauren is the lead singer of NZ Math Rock/Jazz Fusion band MultiPlayer, which released their debut album Once The Show Begins last year.

British pianist, composer, conductor and educator Mark Donlon moved to New Zealand in 2013 to join the faculty of the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University, Wellington where he is a senior lecturer in jazz. Among the many credits to his name, Mark was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2017 in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the music profession.

Mark Lockett on drums and Chris Beernink on bass complete the lineup.

The afternoon workshop kicks off at 3.30pm at the music department at Collegiate. Students and teachers are invited to meet the musicians and watch them set up and create the soundscape with the sound engineer in the auditorium, listen to the sound check and some of the music, ask questions ... a real life workshop.

The music is representative of the exciting fusions of people and music that occurs in jazz today. Lauren Nottingham and Mark Donlon will present a compelling programme of jazz spanning genres, languages and cultures. Their collaborations last year saw the release of Donlon's album Shadowbird (Fuzzymoon Records UK), with Lauren featuring on vocals. From German Gypsy-Jazz to re-interpretations of songs by Madonna and David Bowie, and also original tunes from ifShadowbirdnf, this dynamic international collaboration is not to be missed.

Tickets are on sale now at the Royal Opera House and on their website.