Jasmine Lovell-Smith Quintet

Wellington-based composer and soprano saxophonist Jasmine Lovell-Smith presents her original jazz compositions for a quintet featuring Jake Baxendale (alto sax/bass clarinet), Daniel Hayles (piano), Emma Hattaway (double bass) and Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (drums).

Jasmine’s music combines influences from jazz, classical, and folk traditions and has been described as “arrestingly wry and lyrical” (New York City Jazz Record), “honest, intelligent chamber jazz” (Jazz Times) & “[an] unashamedly rich tapestry of sound” (Dominion Post, NZ). Her musical career thus far has included time spent living in New York, Connecticut, and Mexico, and she has studied with composition luminaries including John Psathas and Anthony Braxton. In 2021 Jasmine released her third album Sanctuary, in collaboration with composer/saxophonist Jake Baxendale, for which the pair were finalists for the NZ Jazz Artist of the Year Award. This special WJC performance will see Jasmine’s quartet exploring melodic, contrapuntal musical landscapes containing ample space for creative improvisation.