Jazz trio to play Sarjeant series

ABACUS: Michael Franklin-Browne (left), Dave Griffiths and Angela Crawford.

The Abacus Trio, a local jazz combo, will play this Sunday as part of the Musicians for the Sarjeant series.
Abacus began in Wanganui nine years ago, when jazz pianist Angela Crawford decided to form a jazz trio, seeing a need for small jazz combos in the city. Formerly the keyboard player for the well-known band Jazz Connexion, she left a 14-year association with the group to form the trio. From its inception, Abacus has been kept busy with corporate dinners, Jockey Club events at the racecourse and many café bar residencies around the city, as well as festivals, birthday and wedding gigs as part of their ongoing work, as well as the occasional riverboat functions. She is also the keyboard player for the River City Big Band.
Angela spent three years studying Jazz at Wellington Conservatorium of Music [part of Massey University] which is now the NZ School of Music. This gave her a thorough grounding in all aspects of jazz, both performance and theory. As patron and one of the founder members of the Wanganui Jazz Club, she has seen jazz flourish in the city and become an integral part of the vibrant music scene here.
Dave Griffiths is a multi-talented musician, an ex-collegiate student, who has studied piano, guitar and bass, teaches guitar and bass at Wanganui schools, and tutors at the UCOL music school. He is equally adept at playing all genres of music, but over the last two years has become a very talented double bass player, as part of Abacus. Dave has spent nine years playing music around Queensland, returning home two and a half years ago. This experience has made him into a very experienced musician. He is the guitar player for the River City Big Band.
Michael Franklin-Browne, a top drummer originally from here, returned to the River City from Auckland two years ago. He teaches music around several schools in the city and is helping to run the UCOL music school. Mike is both a rock and jazz drummer, and makes the transition from one to the other with consummate ease.
These three musicians have backed top international vocalists, from both New Zealand and Australia, and enjoy the different and many genres that jazz offers. They welcome the opportunity to play this fund raising concert in the Musicians for the Sarjeant series. They will be joined by singer Denise McNeill and guitarist Fred Loveridge for the occasion.
Abacus Trio
At Sarjeant on the Quay
Sunday, June 26 at 4.30pm.
Gallery members $9, non-members $12.