Waypeople

Music about letting go of ego, embracing contradiction, and finding flow.

Wellington-based saxophonist and composer Jake Baxendale unites some of Aotearoa and Australia’s leading jazz and contemporary musicians for Waypeople, a luminous new album inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s translation of the Tao Te Ching.

Drawing from jazz and Chinese classical music, Waypeople is music about letting go of ego, embracing contradiction, and finding flow. Rooted in the Taoist principle of wu-wei – doing by not doing – the ensemble performs with collective trust and lyrical storytelling, moving seamlessly between meditative intimacy and free improvisation.

Across ten pieces, journey through the Tao's many voices – mystical, playful, rebellious. Folk-like melodies give way to open, spacious arrangements that feel at once familiar and distinct. From the tender ‘Mindful of Little Things’ to the explosive ‘Being Different,’ the ensemble transforms the timeless Taoist philosophy of harmony, balance, and paradox into sound. The result is a work of shimmering beauty, grounded in jazz but alive with the rhythm of ancient poetry and the pulse of everyday life.

Praise for Waypeople

'Baxendale shapes a musical space where composition and improvisation move side by side...the ensemble feels fully alive, horns circling, drums gathering force and the guzheng scattering bright cascades of notes through the music.' – 13th Floor

Tickets

Standard $45 ($40 Concession)

Please note, seating in the Primrose Potter Salon is General Admission.

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

Artists

Jake Baxendale alto saxophone, bass clarinet
Chelsea Prastiti vocals
Jia Ling guzheng
Cheryl Durongkisitpul alto saxophone
Luke Sweeting piano
Maximillian Alduca double bass
Tim Geldens drums