Jazz Alchemy with the Cliff Leatherbarrow Quartet

Queenstown based multi-instrumentalist and composer / producer Cliff Leatherbarrow joins us with his band (three members from Queenstown, one from Auckland) to perform jazz standards, and tracks from his recently released album “Jazz Alchemy”. Leatherbarrow’s original music has recently been featured on the “Inside Out” program on RNZ, with curator Nick Tipping describing the record as a “very good album”. His music explores a variety of styles, including elements of swing, bebop, Latin, funk and rock fusion.

Cliff is a New Zealand born multi-instrumentalist and composer / producer who grew up playing guitar and bass and studied jazz at the New Zealand School of Music. He is joined by Alex Yevstifeev, originally from Rochester, NY, where he studied saxophone at the Eastman School of Music. On Drums is Will McClure, who has had a charmed career working with some of the greats, and playing on many recordings as a session player. Michael White completes the line up on Double Bass, an Auckland musician who performs jazz and popular music, playing in groups in such as “Supermodel”, who toured NZ, UK and Europe receiving significant commercial airplay

The Cliff Leatherbarrow is touring to promote Cliff’s new album and copies of the CD will be available for purchase at the show.

Timing: 6pm Doors Open, 7pm Set One, 8pm Set Two, 9pm Finish.

Cash Door Sales: $20 Adult; $10 concession.

Full Bios:
Cliff Leatherbarrow – Guitar / Composer / Producer
Cliff is a New Zealand born multi-instrumentalist and composer / producer. He grew up playing guitar / bass in bands, dabbled in Classical piano and Classical Guitar, and studied Jazz Guitar Performance at what became NZ School of Music. Later he went on to study Composition for Film and Television through ThinkSpace Education UK. Currently based in Queenstown, New Zealand and performing regularly with local groups, including the Queenstown Jazz Orchestra.

Alex Yevstifeev – Soprano Saxophone
Born and raised in Rochester, NY into a musical family, Alexander has had experience with both classical and Jazz from an early age. Always part of the school band as well as local jazz big bands, he grew up to study saxophone at the Eastman School of Music before switching degrees to Electrical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has however been continuously active in music performance. Alex moved to Queenstown in 2018 where he plays in several local groups including the Queenstown Jazz Orchestra. Alex also teaches saxophone locally through the Turn up the Music program at Te Atamira.

Will McClure – Drums
Is a pedigreed musician who has traveled extensively and lived for extended periods in multiple countries. Will has had a charmed career working with some of the greats, and playing on many recordings as a session player.

Michael White – Double Bass
Auckland based musician Michael White met Cliff in 2001 in Wellington where they completed music degrees in Jazz Performance. Over the past two decades Cliff and Mike have continued to work together performing as a duo or in trios around Aotearoa. Michael has been involved in numerous bands including Kiwi pop / rock group “Supermodel”, who toured NZ, UK and Europe, and released two original albums that had significant commercial airplay (2011, 2014). One produced by Greg Haver and recorded at Modern World Studio in Tetbury, England, and the other mixed by Reinhold Mack (Queen, ELO, etc.). While still a Wellington resident Michael performed regularly with the Latin American band “Garage Latino”, before he moved to Auckland where he joined “White Chapel Jak” – who are notable for touring NZ and playing major festivals, winning the best wedding band award and also getting voted best cover band on Jesse Mulligan’s RNZ show. Michael is currently teaching music at schools and privately.