WAYPEOPLE

LŌEMIS FESTIVAL 2025

SUNDAY 15 june 2025

Waypeople is a sonic and visual journey through ancient philosophical texts that are at once solidly pragmatic and profoundly mystical. With lyrics drawn from author Ursula Le Guin's poetic English language version of the Tao te Ching, eight artists explore traditional and contemporary music forms, composition, improvisation, shadow, light and ink as they guide you through ten movements, illustrating the themes of the unseen, unheard, unnamable Tao, “wu-wei” (not-doing), and true Power.

Music originally commissioned by and debuted at Wellington Jazz Festival 2023, Waypeople was a stand-out music experience at the Hannah Playhouse as part of NZ Fringe 2025. This new development incorporates live visual art for a multi-sensory experience of the Tao.

“It is rooted in jazz sensibilities, but it is more than that. It is in parts, free, mainstream, and ancient; where the echoes from Chinese antiquity are skillfully balanced against western melodic and harmonic structures … an entity complete unto itself.”

John Fenton - Jazz Journalists Association, International Jazz Competition Judge

Music by Jake Baxendale
Visual Art by Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant.
Featuring Jake Baxendale (woodwinds); Chelsea Prastiti (vocals); Jessie Ling (guzheng); Daniel Hayles (piano); Callum Passells (saxophones); Cory Champion (drums and percussion); Johnny Lawrence (double bass).

One night only!
Sunday 15 June 2025
Doors at 7:30pm

Tickets $27-$35 (+ booking fees)
Run time: 70 minutes

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