Te Kōkī Big Band

Te Kōkī Big Band joins us in 2026 for W:ELLINGTON on 30 May, 7:30pm at the Michael Fowler Centre.

Te Kōkī Big Band One is the advanced jazz ensemble class at the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM), where developing musicians hone their skills through bi-weekly 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.

NZSM’s Big Band One has performed in concert with some the world’s leading jazz artists such as Eric Marienthal, Tom Warrington, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse, Karrin Allyson, Adam Schroeder, Alex Sipiagin, Bennie Maupin, Dick Oatts, Jim Pugh, Bob Sheppard, Bill Reichenbach, Clay Jenkins, and Jon Papenbrook. Their current director, carrying forward the passion and vision of the late great Dr. Rodger Fox, is Wellington bassist Seth Boy.

Big Band #1 has recorded several albums:

• Run For Cover (2009)
• Funk City Ola (2010)
• Midnight Voyage (2011)
• I Wish (2012)
• Awright Awright (2013)
• Too Cool (2014)
• Dr. Feelgood (2015)
• Slingshot (2016)

The NZSM Big Band won the prestigious Tui for Best Jazz Album of the Year in the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards in 2009 for Run for Cover.

You can hear some tracks from these albums by clicking on the audio players here.