Current Projects

I'm involved in a (large) number of creative projects based in New Zealand in Auckland & Wellington, and Australia.

If you would like to enquire about booking any of these groups, send me an email on roger.manins@gmail.com

2024: August Update:

QUICKDREW CARIBINAS: Double Quartet: Jeff Henderson/ Roger Manins - For set 1 we performed my ‘Hipflask Suite’. We had my quartet on one side of the Room and Jeff’s on the other. I am still buzzing from this gig. There’s video footage of the whole concert (coming soon), and below I have embedded the last tune of the set ‘John Scon’ ( my most popular tune ever..). Stay tuned: I am aiming to release this gig!

Musicians:Roger Manins /Jeff Henderson -Saxophones, Kathleen Tomacruz/Michael Howell-Guitars, Mostyn Cole, Eamon Edmundson Wells- Bass, Chris O’Connor,Tristan Deck- Drums

Below- Hip Flask Suite :

The Hipflask Suite: 1: Gods Gonna Get You and Send You to Hell. 2:Hip Flask, 3: Empty Hip Flask, 4: Medium Up Marnis, 5:John Scon Roger Manins & Jeff Henderson - saxophones Mostyn Cole & Eamon Edmundson-Wells - Double basses Tristan Deck & Chris O'Connor - drums & cymbals Michael Howell & Kat Tomacruz - guitars Compositions: Roger Manins

Michael Howell/ Roger Manins Duo: ere is a taste from a 2023 recording downstairs in my studio. In this group I’m playing mainly the alto sax. We get together regularly and usually just improvise freely.

Roger Manins Jonathan Crayford Duo: It was amazing to play in such an intimate situation with Pianist Jonathan Crayford

Heres an excerpt from our recent performance, June 9 2024

Other Projects on the boil

Manins/ Johnson/ O’Connor ( or Samsom): Trio with prepared Piano sax and drums. Sometimes with Ron Samsom and sometimes with Chris O’Connor. I love this group. Haven’t recorded this one properly yet but its powerfull stuff!

ROGER MANINS SOLO SAX

I performed my first solo sax concert in July at the Audio Foundation. This was the culmulation of 22 practice improvised recordings at my home studio: I need to figure out how to go about it! For this recording I played sopranino, Conn High Pitch Tenor, Conn 10M Tenor, Selmer Tenor and Alto saxophones. I have been really inspired through exploring this means of expression! The following tracks: Track #2: 1930’3 Selmer Radio Improved alto, joined by the 1930s Beucher Sopranino saxophone. Track #4 is recorded on the Conn New Wonder HIGH PITCHED Tenor. Its tuned somewhere between 450-457 HZ ( Not 440HZ like most instruments today). I also play the original Conn mouthpice which came with the horn ( early 1920’s) I think its a fascinating sound! Im keeping on with the solo sax playing- it has been super rewarding to find out what i can do with my strengths and weaknesses..

Roger Manins / Michael Howell / Mostyn Cole / Tristan Deck

GRG67

We’ve got 3 albums out!

https://grg67.bandcamp.com/

Roger Manins / Mike Nock

‘2 Out’ Duo

In 2015 Mike Nock released ‘ 2 Out’, the culmination of a long association and friendship. This project is still active- we are available for concerts but always need a lovely piano! In this ensemble we explore the old standards. It is a joy and privilege to play with Mike and makes me happy!

have a listen here: https://fwmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/two-out

Roger Manins / Caro Manins / Ben Wilcock

Flounder

My wife Caro Manins is a wonderful singer and I love Ben Wilcock's piano playing. He loves to play and really swings, and he is great! I have put this band together to travel around NZ and play at Jazz Clubs and festivals and do something with my wife! It’s really new—we have our first gig coming up soon .

We will be exploring fun standards to start with but see how it develops. Oh—I love flounder – not just to eat but they make me laugh ‘ they may be down but they are always looking up!!’

Roger Manins / Kevin Field / Ollie Holland / Ron Samsom

DOG

This group comprises of myself, Olivier Holland ( bass), Ron Samsom on drums and Kevin Field on Piano. We all lecture at the University of Auckland and are really lucky—really fortunate that we have a great musical chemistry, like each other, can play music and run a Jazz course together.

We play compositions from all of us- It’s a collaborative effort. We released a CD called DOG in 2015 which won the NZ jazz album of the year award.

Still more groups...

Around New Zealand and Australia

Wellington

ROGER MANINS TRIO

This is WELLINGTON-based and features Reuben Bradley on Drums and Nick Tipping on Bass. We go hell for lather in this band. Saxophone trio—think Sonny Rollins at the Vanguard to start with.

Wellington

THE BUSH TRIO

This band — I love this one. Its very ‘loose’ and can go anywhere musically. It features drummer John Rae, Myself and Patrick Bleakley on bass. We love playing together and are ready.

Auckland

ROGER MANINS QUARTET NZ

This band really is about playing originals and standards in a saxophone trio or quartet. It currently features Ron Samsom on Drums and Cameron McArthur on bass. We are currently looking for a residency around Auckland. We go out as a trio too—and a DUO ( as a duo it’s usually myself and Cameron or Pianist Jonathan Crayford)

Australia

ROGER MANINS QUARTET/TRIO

The Australian version? Not quite. Featuring Brett Hirst on Bass, Adam Ponting on Piano, myself and Toby Hall on drums we play my own music– Sort of an Australian version of GRG67 but not quite as difficult ( a bit less rehearsal seeing I live in NZ, and slightly easier tunes…) Lots of fun and good energy. We either play my original music or standards. It’s a great group for a festival ( actually they all are..)

Wellington / Auckland

A LOVE SUPREME /
COLTRANE’S SOUND PROJECT

2016 saw me performing the album ‘ A Love Supreme’ and ‘ Coltrane’s Sound’ at the Wellington Jazz festival. I can tell you it was a lot of work for me - in particular. When I was asked to do this and initially thought ‘I can’t play a Love Supreme!...It’s so special!—who am I???’ but then I thought that perhaps this was a bit selfish.. Played for the right reasons and with lots of preparation we had an amazing concert in Wellington. The same went for ‘Coltrane’s Sound’ . An extremely hard album to pull off for different reasons. Following this success both albums were performed for the Auckland Jazz Festival 2016 . One set each with a 20 minute break between them. This also was a success and I would like to continue performing this project. It also features Reuben Bradley on Drums, Eamon Edmundson Wells on Bass and Matt Steele on Piano.

Australia

HIP FLASK

I have released 2 albums with this band and it has a great chemistry. It again features Adam Ponting on piano AND Stu Hunter on Hammond Organ, Brendan Clarke on Bass and Toby Hall on drums. In this band we play groovy tunes but we also love to explore interesting textures and concepts. It’s a lot of fun and we have a history that goes back to 2000 when we formed. It is Sydney based and you can check out Hip Flask 1 and 2 for an idea of our music.

Other groups I love to play in...

Led by others, but equally fun and challenging

LA LUNA and the Gadjos

This is one of my wife Caro’s groups. It's French Manouche Gypsy Swing - 2x guitars, bass, tenor sax and vocals. This is a very accessible band- people love to hear it performed and is based out of Auckland

NEUTRINO

This is Ron Samsom’s group featuring Ron.me, Cameron McArthur on bass and Hammond organist Grant Winterburn. This band does not mess around. Expect high energy and intensity Jazz Funk. Ron is the composer—we play what he writes, and it’s good. The NEUTRINO CD is available on RATTLE records.