The Hannah Griffin Quartet
April 13 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Hannah Griffin Quartet
13 April 2025
Doors open 4.15pm.
The Hannah Griffin Quartet performs standards and originals. Their music is always focussed on creating a deep feeling and a beautiful sound.
Vocalist Hannah Griffin and composer and pianist Norman Meehan have been collaborating for more than 20 years, often performing poetry as song. However, they are more than happy to play what Louis Armstrong once called ‘the good old good ones.’ To do so they’ve formed a band with two of Wellington’s finest jazz performers, Blair Latham and Andrew Laking.
Hannah Griffin trained as a jazz vocalist in Christchurch and Wellington, where she now lives. She has performed extensively in many contexts, and recorded albums with composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick van Dijk, with Rosie Langabeer’s large ensemble Zirkus, as well as with Norman and Blair. New Zealand Musician magazine said: “Hannah sings with such elegance and ease that you can’t help but listen to the often tender words. Her phrasing is superb and the balance between lyrics and performance is perfect.”
Saxophonist Blair Latham plays all the reeds and whilst based in Mexico performed extensively in the Americas. An award-winning composer, Blair is perhaps best known for performing original music with local groups including The Noveltones, Devil’s Gate Outfit and Fire Waltz.
Bassist Andrew Laking has covered a lot of ground. Training as a jazz musician here in Wellington he went on to a successful international career in Ireland, touring the world with Gráda performing traditional and contemporary Irish music. As Artistic Director of Lōemis festival he’s pretty busy, but still works regularly with guitarist Justin Firefly Clarke, Toby Laing (trumpet) and others.
As well as his work with Hannah, pianist Norman Meehan tours and records with Hayden Chisholm and Paul Dyne in their group Unwind. He is the author of Serious Fun: Mike Nock’s life and music, and New Zealand Jazz Life.