Teacher musicians go to top of the class

Teacher musicians go to top of the class

Auckland’s DOG is the winner of the 2015 Best Jazz Album for the self-titled debut album at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga.

Dubbed a jazz super-group, DOG comprises four of New Zealand’s most renowned jazz musicians, composers and educators: Kevin Field (piano), Roger Manins (saxophone), Olivier Holland (bass) and Ron Samsom (Drums). They are all music lecturers at the University of Auckland.

Self-titled album Dog has been described as a thrilling and vibrant recording, filled with innovative tracks and improvisation.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan says DOG’s album is a reflection of New Zealand’s world-class jazz scene.

“A wealth of talent and experience went in to creating the album. DOG are masters of this difficult craft and I congratulate them on recording an exceptional album which is well deserving of a Tui.”

The other finalists for the 2015 Jazz Tui were The Jac for Nerve and solo artist Jonathan Crayford for Dark Light, both from Wellington.

The announcement of the 2015 Jazz Tui was made at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga. The festival has been running for more than 50 years and attracts more than 60,000 jazz enthusiasts during the Easter break.

Recent previous winners of the Tui for Best Jazz Album
• 2011 – Reuben Bradley for Resonator
• 2012 – Rodger Fox’s Wellington Jazz Orchestra for Journey Home
• 2013 – Nathan Haines for The Poet’s Embrace
• 2014 - Nathan Haines for Vermillion Skies

For more information on DOG - vup.victoria.ac.nz/dog/

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