AUCKLAND JAZZ and BLUES CLUB
BIRKENHEAD RSA OCTOBER 20 2026
Miho Wada – saxophones and flutes
Pascal Roggen – violin
Drew Hutchenson – guitar
Geoff Fitzpatrick – electric and acoustic bass
Albert Lee – drums.
This concert was an international musical journey … melding together many musical influences.
In the 1990s I was discussing Japanese Latin jazz with Herald critic Graham Reid….we both agreed the Japanese musicians could be more daring than the Latin originals that influenced them. This is what I expected from this concert and I was not disappointed.
Miho opened playing flute in the style of the flutist in the “Afro blues quintette” showing a great sense of swing…. Pascal showing an Eastern European influence (thinking about a recording of Russian Gipsys playing in the style of the Hot club de France)… this musical contrast is original and brilliant.
The title track “Bumpy Road” showcased Mihos latin influences then featured Drew Hutchenson soloing funky like Scofield …walking between jazz and rock.
“Fancy Tango” with Miho’s latin, and Pascals Eastern European inflences itwas like Russian gipsys dancing the tango on the Argentinian pampas. Drums and guitar …. a rhythm like dancers.
Miho talked about singing call and response with the birdsong of a Tui. “Tui song” Like early morning birdsong…. drums and bass sensitive ….guitar blues, violin like a bird soaring into the air
“The big ocean” Miho on flute laying down a timeless feeling… Drew taking a John McLoughlin influenced side trip …. Pascal as expressive as Grappelli Geoff laying down a funky Jaco Pastorius/Stanley Clarke groove.
“Towards the Sun ”Miho on sax referenced the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Drew’s solo drawing from Eric Gale and Chuck Berry, while Pascal played a funky Don sugarcane Harris influenced solo.
The second set opened with Geoff rocking like Ray Brown on the bass…Albert Lee laying down a crisp rhythm ….Drews Gabor Stazabo influenceon guitar working in well with Pascal’s Russian Gipsy soul… Miho vocal scatting leading into flute…. like Rio sunshine.
“Flying south was about recording at Sun studios… southern music redefined as something else …. Miho’s flute playing has a purity that I cannot spot any obvious flute influences (maybe a lot of Latin American flutists), Geoff lays down a funky Stanley Clarke groove … inspiring Miho’s spirited tenor sax dance. Pascal and Drew bring out the southern feel well …Eric Gale influenced guitar meeting Pascal’s Don sugarcane Harris style violin… powerful drum storm driven from Albert.
“Easy Rider” was a surprise …Miho soloing on sax using an overblowing technique similar to the Italian Carlo Actis Dato …. like roaring down Route 66 on a classic Harley Davidson.
A Japanese pop song with jazz side trips,….then going out on a tour of Latin America with Jimi Hendrix and Russian Gipsys.
GT
