Pōneke/Wellington saxophonist and composer Jake Baxendale’s 'Waypeople' - commissioned by the 2023 Wellington Jazz Festival - is an amalgam of ancient wisdom and lyrical jazz, inspired by a powerful and poetic translation of the classic Chinese text the Tao Te Ching.
Jake found it difficult to deal with the enforced inactivity of the lockdown periods, and this text, translated by American author Ursula Le Guin with the help of Chinese scholars, introduced him to the principle of “doing by not doing”, or “contentment in stillness”. It was such a profoundly transformative step for Jake that he was inspired to write this work, Waypeople, using excerpts of Ursula Le Guin’s poetic and rhythmic version of the Tao Te Ching as its text.
Composer and saxophonist Jake Baxendale performing at Meow for the 2023 Wellington Jazz Festival Photo: 2023 Wellington Jazz Festival, Nick George
This was a new direction for Jake, who’s been involved with New Zealand jazz groups like The Jac and Antipodes, because it was the first time he’d ever set words to music. Another major step he took in this performance was including the guzheng, a 21-string Chinese zither.
Jake was joined by Jessie Ling on the guzheng, singer Chelsea Prastiti, saxophone player Callum Passells, pianist Daniel Hayles, bassist Johnny Lawrence and drummer Cory Champion.
Jessie Ling playing the guzheng at the 2023 Wellington Jazz Festival Photo: 2023 Wellington Jazz Festival, Nick George
Produced and engineered by Steve Burridge and mixed by William Saunders for RNZ Concert
Recorded at Meow, Wellington on 28 October 2023
Videos by SOUNZ with audio by RNZ Concert
