Wanganui Jazz Club

26/09/2026

The Whangnaui Jazz Orchestra to perform October Club Night
Our Jazz Orchestra needs no introduction to the Whanganui music community. Riwai Hina continues to lead the band from strength to strength and into uncharted waters as the orchestra prepares for five performances in three days at the Christchurch Big Band Jazz Festival over the Labour Weekend later in the month. This tantalizing project is the result of Riwai’s ambitions for the orchestra and his connections in the jazz world that come from a lifetime’s commitment to big band music.
On Saturday afternoon 3 October they will play at the opening of the Greenhaugh Estate outside Palmerston North as a conference venue before appearing at the Jazz Club’s monthly meeting at the St Johns Club on Sunday 4 October. And on Sunday 11 October they will be the guests of the Manawatu Jazz Club.
The full orchestra now numbers some twenty musicians and features tight ensemble playing, brilliant soloists and wonderful singers. A performance of the WJO has something for everyone.
This will be an historic month for the orchestra and the excitement is growing. This is ground breaking experience for our jazz community. Come and take part in this great adventure.
The orchestra is still raising money to fund the trip. Anyone can make a contribution – no matter how small – by visiting the givealittle website. All donations are much appreciated.
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-send-the-whanganui-jazz-orchestra
Whanganui is a remarkable town in many ways, and our jazz community is being recognised nationally for its vibrancy. Our Jazz Orchestra is a powerful expression of how making music together contributes to creating cohesion in our community .
We look forward to having you join us as we once again celebrate the great jazz tradition.
The Whanganui Jazz Orchestra performs
Sunday 4 October, 6:30 @ St Johns Club, 158 Glasgow Street
Members of the St Johns and Whanganui Jazz Clubs $15. Memberships available.

14/09/2026

A September IJD Jam Session to Welcome in Spring.
As the weather gets warmer, the sun shines longer and everything begins to bloom, Porridge Watson brings you a better excuse for socialising on a Sunday.
This month’s band will be a collective led by Dave Griffiths on bass, Michael Franklin-Browne on drums and Sanji Gunasekara on keys with Chris Salmon on guitar, Joe Kennedy and Ken Chernoff on saxophones and Riwai Hina on Trombone, with guest musicians and community participation provided by you.
Perform with the band or sing, clap and dance with the audience and keep Jazz a regular event on Whanganui’s social calendar.
The ongoing monthly International Jazz Day (IJD) jam sessions are made possible through the dedication of participating musicians, the continued growth and appreciation of the audience and the support of Porridge Watson’s owner, Tony Sundman, who forgoes a cover charge and will be creating mulled wine especially for the occasion.
Come out and meet up with friends, old and new and enjoy an afternoon of warm hospitality, camaraderie and musical adventure.
Sunday 20th September at 4:00-6.00pm @ Porridge Watson, 30 Drews Ave.

09/09/2026

THE PERFECT WAY TO END YOUR WEEK
This Friday, 8.30pm at PORRIDGE WATSON

26/08/2026

26/08/2026

The September Club night of the Wanganui Jazz Club presents “The Whanganui Jazz Collective”.
In classic jazz style, members of The Funk Rockets, The IJD Band and The Night Session combine talents to bring you a night of nostalgic standards for your speak easy, listening and dancing pleasure.
With Dave Griffiths on bass, Riwai Hina on trombone, Richard Singleton on trumpet, Joe Kennedy on saxophone, Fred Loveridge and Chris Salmon on guitar, Sanji Gunasekara on keys, and Michael Franklin-Browne on drumming duties.
The night will be punctuated by solo appearances from experienced and emerging local artists such as Hadleigh Shaw, Dan Fearn, Roger Brasell, Molly Burke, Kate Valentine, Brian Baker and Ken Chernoff. They will bring fun, dynamics and variety to the evening.
Come out for a night of exciting local music.
Sunday 6th September, 6:30 @ St Johns Club, 158 Glasgow Street
Members of the St Johns and Wanganui Jazz Clubs $15. Memberships available.
Photos courtesy of Jack Mischalski.

17/08/2026

An August IJD Jam Session to Take Away the Winter Chill at Porridge Watson.
The ongoing monthly International Jazz Day (IJD) jam sessions are made possible through the support of club owner Tony Sundman at Porridge Watson, the dedication of participating musicians, and the continued growth and appreciation of the audience. This community spirited event aims to keep Jazz a regular event on the calendar in Whanganui.
The music is about allowing for free expression and inviting the community to participate in the process. There is always a house band that invites local talent to participate, whether that means getting up and performing with the band or singing, clapping or dancing with the audience.
This month’s band will be a collective led by Dave Griffiths on bass, Michael Franklin-Browne on drums and Sanji Gunasekara on keys, Fred Loveridge, Chris Salmon and Brian Baker sharing guitar duties, Joe Kennedy on saxophones and Richard Singleton on trumpet. That sets the scene for other musicians to step up and ‘join the party’. It’s sure to be an entertaining afternoon.
The session hours this month will be from 4pm to 6pm. Thanks to Tony there is no cover charge, but there is a roaring open fire, and there will be a mulled wine created especially for the occasion. Come out and meet up with friends, old and new and enjoy an afternoon of warm hospitality, camaraderie and musical adventure.
Sunday 23rd August at 4:00pm @ Porridge Watson, 30 Drews Ave.

03/08/2026

THE NIGHT SESSION, Featuring Brian 'the Saxman' Omundsen
Mike MacAuley on bass, Sanji Gunasekara on keys, Rohan Goodsir on drums.

" An evening of swing, style, and seduction...

Step into a world of velvet nights, sparkling cocktails, and irresistible rhythms as the Night Session presents the unforgettable sounds of glamour nights gone by.

From sultry jazz, to exhilarating swing classics, to the unmistakeable groove of the bossa-nova; this is an evening of elegance, romance and music that makes it impossible to stay in your seat.

Perfectly paired with a vodka martini (shaken, not stirred); a sazerac, or maybe a manhattan, The Night Session invites you to a sophisticated, smooth, and "saxy" affair that you won't forget.

Dress to impress; bring that special someone, and prepare to dance beneath the lights. "

20/07/2026

The Future of Jazz comes to Whanganui
It is always a pleasure to welcome the formidable talent always on show when some of the finest student musicians in the country come to perform for us. Te Kōkī Big Band One is the advanced jazz ensemble class of the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington, where developing musicians hone their skills through regular rehearsals, recording sessions, and numerous gigs in Wellington and throughout the country.
The band is assembled through audition of NZSM jazz and classical students, and is made up of the standard jazz orchestra format of 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 5 saxophonists, and rhythm section, as well as featured vocalists.
This year the band will be led by the accomplished bassist Seth Boy who is standing in for the band’s Musical Director Daniel Hayles, currently on paternity leave. If you have never heard this student band perform, you are in for an astonishing treat. This year’s performance will feature the music of the great Duke Ellington, and you will be swinging to the beat of a master who has inspired generations of musicians.
The jazz programme at the NZSM, Wellington makes an enormous contribution to the jazz community in New Zealand. Each year the graduating class produces another wave of accomplished young musicians who take their place in the musical scenes throughout the country.
We invite you to come out for an evening of entertaining music and joyful sounds with a performance by a group of young, talented musicians. They are sure to light up the stage and get your feet tapping!
Sunday 2 August, 6:30 @ St Johns Club, 158 Glasgow Street
Members of the St Johns and Whanganui Jazz Clubs $15. Memberships available.

16/07/2026

IJD Jam Sessions Take Away the Winter Chill
The monthly IJD (International Jazz Day) jam sessions continue thanks to both the patronage of club owner Tony Sundman, the enthusiasm of the musicians who participate and the appreciation of an audience that continues to grow.
The music is about allowing for free expression and inviting the community to participate in the process. There is always a house band that invites local talent to participate, whether that means getting up and performing with the band or singing, clapping or dancing with the audience.
This month’s band band will be a collective led by Dave Griffiths on bass, Michael Franklin-Browne on drums and Sanji Gunasekara on keys. They will be joined by ‘usual suspects’ Chris Salmon on guitar, young Joe Kennedy on saxophones and Richard Singleton on trumpet. That sets the scene for other musicians to step up and ‘join the party’. It’s sure to be an entertaining afternoon.
We have moved into winter hours this month with the session from 4pm to 6pm. Thanks to Tony there is no cover charge, but there is a roaring open fire, and there will be a mulled wine created especially for the occasion. Come out and meet up with friends, old and new and enjoy an afternoon of warm hospitality, comraderie and musical adventure.
Sunday 19 July at 4:00pm @ Porridge Watson, 30 Drews Ave.

27/06/2026

JULY CLUB NIGHT
Sunday 5 July, 6:30 @ St Johns Club, 158 Glasgow Street
Jazz Masters to Whanganui
The Wanganui Jazz Club connects our jazz community to the national jazz scene, and we welcome musicians from all over the country to our monthly club nights. That is one of the hidden benefits of taking part in the great jazz project. You can’t help but extend your attention from local to national and onto international stages.
Case in point is the July club night as we welcome the Ben Wilcock Trio to the stage. Pianist Ben Wilcock, drummer John Rae, and bassist Patrick Bleakley deliver a compelling performance bridging traditional jazz with modern innovation. The trio will highlight original material where structured arrangements flow effortlessly into spontaneous improvisation. They balance these contemporary compositions with classic jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, reinterpreting beloved bebop and swing melodies with their signature modern energy and rich harmonic interplay.
Both Ben and John are key contributors to the Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra, with John the Musical Director. The project grew out of the lobbying for a New Zealand Jazz Orchestra supported by the government that was the dream of Rodger Fox. It is an exciting development and one that we support. Check out their website:
https://www.aotearoajazzorchestra.nz/
Ben is key to the success of the Rotorua Jazz Club and Patrick has played with just about anyone you can think of. These three musicians are essential to the national jazz scene – not to be missed!