Oscar Lavën’s New Angles in Jazz

After a sell-out debut last year, tenor saxophonist Oscar Lavën returns to Hanover Hall on August 3 to perform a selection of originals and standards with some of Dunedin’s finest musicians. Lavën is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished jazz instrumentalists and soloists - he performed for many years as the lead tenor in the Rodger Fox Big Band, as well as recently releasing a critically acclaimed album titled “Questions in Red”, which was performed at the Dunedin Jazz Club in 2023.

Lavën is in town to adjudicate the Dunedin Youth Jazz Festival and considering that he plays all the saxophones, clarinet, bassoon and trumpet to a professional level, he should have some advice to pass on to our young players! Lavën is a jovial character who enjoys collaborating with different musicians and this spirit of adventure will be expressed at the featured artist concert to close the Dunedin Youth Jazz Festival. For this event, he will be joined by double bassist Simon Eastwood, who is currently the Mozart Fellow at the University of Otago, as well as seasoned regulars Bill Martin (piano) and Carl Woodward (drums).

Oscar has a big sound and he easily fills Hanover Hall with his tone alone. He is influenced by all the great tenor players - including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and Ben Webster - but has developed a unique sound that was captured on the album “Questions in Red”. For this concert, he will be presenting a range of repertoire that explores these influences, as well as presenting some original compositions that will be fresh to local audiences.

Hanover Hall is a licensed venue with a cash bar.

Personnel:

Oscar Laven (tenor saxophone)

Bill Martin (piano)

Simon Eastwood (double bass)

Carl Woodward (drums)

Timings: 7 pm doors open, 7:15 Small Combo Winners (DYJF), 7:45  Set One, 8:30 break, 8:45 Set Two, 9:45 Finish.

Full Bio:

Oscar Laven is an eclectic saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist based in Wellington, New Zealand. A frequently appearing personality in the Wellington jazz scene, Laven is a busy full time performer, composer and teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree in jazz and classical performance from the New Zealand School of Music. He has performed/recorded internationally and across the country with many ensembles including the Oscar Laven Quartet, Laven-French Quintet, his big band The Neo Hot Jive Orchestra, The Royal New Zealand Airforce Band, Orchestra Wellington, The Rodger Fox Big Band, New Zealand School of Music Big Band, National Youth Orchestra and Youth Jazz Orchestra, Black Spider Stomp, The Wellington City Shake ‘Em On Downers and many others.

Links:

Questions in Red

https://www.thickrecords.co.nz/questionsinred