Join us for the Rodger Fox Big Band in Concert series, presented by the Wellington Jazz Orchestra Inc at Whirinaki Whare Taonga, with two magnificent performances on Thursday 2nd - Friday 3rd June!

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FRANK MEETS PEGGY AND THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA SOUND:

“Frank meets Peggy” is the working title for a new project which involves the writing, arranging, producing and staging of a theatre show celebrating the songs of The Great American Songbook, seen through the eyes of three iconic artists from the era - Franks Sinatra and Miss Peggy Lee, accompanied by the sound of the Count Basie Orchestra.

A show set in the grand era of a style of music that has never lost its lustre, woven together by a moving narrative, original musical arrangements, imagery and snapshots of the day. A witnesses the true era of swing.

Frank Sinatra - ‘The Chairman of the Board’, ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’, ‘The Voice’ defined the Great American songbook with songs like “Come Fly With Me”, That’s Life”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “Mack the Knife”, “I've Got the World on a String”, “You Make Me Feel So Young”, “My Way”, “The Lady is a Tramp” and “New York New York”. You will hear all your favourite Sinatra tunes – brought to life through the outstanding talents of Mr. Eugene Wolfin.

Add to the mix, songs of the incomparable Miss Peggy Lee such as “Fever”, “Love Me Or Leave Me”, “Black Coffee”, “Is That All There Is”, “Manana” and “I Don’t Know Enough About You”. Performed with love and affection by Ms Erna Ferry.

Accompanying these world-class vocalists is the sound of the Count Basie Orchestra, performed by New Zealand’s own Rodger Fox Big Band.

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REIMAGINED! THE RODGER FOX BIG BAND PLAYS SIR DAVE DOBBYN:

With Sir Dave Dobbyn’s blessing, Rodger Fox gathered the best New Zealand and international arrangers and, together with the assembled talents of the Rodger Fox Big Band, produced a stellar recording of some of this country’s best-known songs.

Sir Dave Dobbyn said, “I'm struck by the punch and enthusiasm of the band for these fun arrangements. Great players plus Rodger Fox's big sound makes for a wild ride. I'm glad Rodger had a ball with the tunes as a source to let fly freely, Stretch that riff man. Go Rodger.”

Reimagined! features guest artists the likes of renowned drummer Gregg Bissonette, who has played with Maynard Ferguson, Santana, and the Ringo Starr All-Starr Band; Saxophonist Bob Sheppard - Steely Dan, Chick Corea and Mike Stern; Trumpeter Wayne Bergeron – Maynard Ferguson and Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band; Bass Trombonist Bill Reichenbach – Buddy Rich Big Band, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and 1000’s of movie scores; Guitarist Josh Smith - Joe Bonamassa; Trombonist Francisco Torres – Musical Director Poncho Sanchez; and Guitarist Larry Koonse - Mel Torme and Bob Mintzer.

Rodger says Sir Dave Dobbyn is one of our music icons, a stalwart, leader and supporter of the diverse New Zealand music scene.

“His music is evocative, not just of New Zealand's beautiful landscape but also of the national spirit and he’s a timeless social rebel, as applicable today as he was when he first burst onto the scene in the late seventies."

“The flowing lyrical nature of his music lends itself to being ‘reimagined’ in a jazz idiom. Jazz is fast and fluid, moody and introspective, sophisticated and, at the same time, accessible, adding a new dimension to Sir Dave Dobbyn’s music."