Just nominated for the best New Zealand Jazz Artist 2019 (in the top three), Antipodes are “a great blowing band with dense heads, occasional free and floating segments, room for solos and some great grooves” (Canberra Jazz) this is music drawn from diverse influences’ modern New York jazz meets Swedish indie pop and European free improvised music. Audiences are first drawn in by introspective, timbral improvisations and then set to foot-tapping with danceable beats, songlike melodies and fiery solos.

Formed in 2013 after Baxendale met Sweeting at a jam session in Berlin their musical connection became immediately apparent and they began writing and performing original compositions together. Sweeting from Sydney is a pianist known for his indelible work with jazz-improv group the Grey Wing Trio. Saxophonist Baxendale, a key force behind the burgeoning Kiwi band The Jac, is one of the most energetic forces coming from the underground Wellington jazz scene. Having extensively toured Australia and New Zealand, Antipodes are back, featuring the nationally celebrated kiwi guitarist-composer Callum Allardice, double bassist Max Alduca and the hard-grooving Sydney drummer Tim Geldens.

MUSICIANS:
Jake Baxendale – saxophone
Luke Sweeting – piano
Callum Allardice – guitar
Max Alduca – double bass
Tim Geldens – drums