Some genre bending in action. Photo: Supplied
The publicity for the gig talks about two musical worlds colliding, but Nick Tipping from jazz band The Jac and Bridget Douglas from the contemporary classical ensemble Stroma see their combined concert in a more collaborative light.
The groups will share the stage for two gigs in one night in Wellington's Hannah Playhouse on Wednesday 19 February.
Ahead of those gigs, Tipping (who when not playing bass hosts Days on RNZ Concert), and Douglas (who when not playing from Stroma is the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's Principal Flute), joined RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump.
It's not the first time the groups have shared a concert, but is the first time they've performed together for the entire gig.
Bridget Douglas Photo: supplied
Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan and Jayne Joyce
For Douglas, the concerts are a chance for her to embrace the freedom - but also face the fear - of playing music that's not written out on a page.
For Tipping, joining with Stroma gives The Jac the chance to tap into the technical prowess of some of Wellington's finest classical musicians.
Both believe they're better artists for opening themselves up to a different approach to making music.
More importantly, the music sounds great.
The shows will begin with "A Gathering" by The Jac guitarist Callum Allardice, who managed to get string players from the NZSO and Orchestra Wellington to help form a special 40-piece jazz band, when he released his 2023 album Cinematic Light Orchestra.
There will also be world premiere performances of pieces by Justin ‘Firefly’ Clarke ("The Curious Flight of the Fledgling Chalkydri"- a creature from Greek myth that has 12 wings and the head of a crocodile, which flies around the earth waking up the birds before dawn) and UK-based composer Lucy Mulgan ("In opera this'd be an overture but it's not so it isn't").
If the music is anywhere near as good as the titles, listeners will be in for a fusion-powered treat.
