Mark Donlon (senior lecturer in jazz at New Zealand School of Music) brings a vibrant band of  leading jazz musicians to Christchurch's studio venue, Orange Studios.

Mark has performed with artists such as George Coleman, The Machito Orchestra, Maceo Parker, Dave Valentin, Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone, to mention a few. He has also had a significant involvement in Afro-Cuban music and Latin Jazz, performing with leading international figures from that idiom in the USA and Europe.

The music will be a mix of original music and re-inventions of music from the jazz tradition. There will be new originals and arrangements, along with some music from his more recent albums.

Mark Donlon Quintet will feature: Mark Donlon on piano, Louisa Williamson on saxophone ( is currently making her presence strongly felt as one of New Zealand’s most outstanding new young jazz-saxophonists), Luca Sturney on guitar, Lance Philip on drums and Seth Boy on bass.

"A fabulously gifted pianist." (Manchester Evening News - Alan Brownlee).

"Brilliant, focused playing." (The Times – Alyn Shipton).

"Streaming up-tempo freedom, at times suggestive of the implacable precision of early Paul Bley... Donlon’s take on ‘My Foolish Heart’ and ‘Recorda Me’ was a revelation."  (The Guardian – John Fordham).