Mat Fieldes & The Committee – a Jazz Event in Whanganui

The Wanganui Jazz Club & Whanganui Collegiate School are collaborating to bring yet another extraordinary jazz event to the River City. Jazz music in the 21st Century is as much about education as it is about group improvisation and virtuoso performance.

The Committee, a group of outstanding musician/educators, is the conception of bassist Mat Fieldes, one of Aotearoa’s finest performing artists. He has assembled a quartet with three other like-minded and gifted artists – Roger Manins on saxophone, drummer Ron Samsom and Dixon Nacey on guitar. All four are currently based in Auckland and have been playing together since Mat returned earlier this year from New York City where he has been based for the past twenty-five years.

The Quartet fly into town on Sunday 1 September. They will lead an afternoon workshop entitled ‘Jazz in the 21st Century’ at Collegiate from 2:30 to 5:00. Students from all over the region are invited to attend by first contacting Richard Ellsworth, Director of Music at the school. This visit is an exceptional opportunity for young students of all styles of music to learn from important international educators.

Then it is off to the St Johns Club where the band will perform for the Wanganui Jazz Club’s December meeting from 6:30 – 8:30. Their repertoire covers a wide spectrum of the music, from both traditional jazz and contemporary styles. This will be a fantastic evening of entertainment for our jazz club members and also for those who are new to the music.
All are welcome, with $20 tickets at the door. Jazz Club Members and students pay $10. Doors open for meals at 5:30, and memberships are available.