Bay of Plenty born jazz drummer Lauren Ellis is set to return to Tauranga for the first time in three years.

She is scheduled to perform with her American band, the Lauren Ellis Quartet, in Tauranga on the back of the Wellington Jazz Festival, and will be holding free jazz workshops for secondary school students later this month.

Regarded by her mentor, American jazz drummer Peter Erskine as 'one of the finest drummers and musicians on the scene right now”, Lauren has been making big strides in the Los Angeles music community.

Lauren left to California in 2019, after being awarded a full scholarship and teaching assistantship, where she gained a masters degree at the University of Southern California's Thornton School.

Her upcoming performance will explore contemporary jazz written by Lauren, along with original pieces by other members of her group.

"A lot of the music is brand new and hasn't even been debuted in Los Angeles yet so we are really looking forward to sharing it," says Lauren.

Lauren Ellis performing at Bruce Mason Centre. Photo: Juan Pablo Pontoriero.

Described as a 'culmination” of pieces the group has worked on, they will be drawing upon 'new creative influences and experiences while living and studying in one of the most diverse music scenes in the world”.

The drummer was educated at Otumoetai College before heading to Wellington to do a four year music degree, and performed with the Rodger Fox Big Band for nearly 10 years before being offered her scholarship.

Lauren says music has always been a "large part" of her life, with her professional career spanning 15 years.

When asked why she chose to study in California, Lauren says to get a masters in the United States was 'always her plan”.

'It was something I always wanted to do, but I became busy pursuing a lot of great opportunities in Wellington I put it off,” says Lauren.

Photo: Ewa Ginal-Cumblidge.

'Peter Erskine was my top and only choice, so I contacted him directly, and he offered me a position in the Master's program as well as a teaching assistants job.

'You don't pass on an opportunity like that, so I'd say it worked out pretty well! My decision wasn't so much influenced by the location, rather, the person I wanted to study with – Peter.

'It was a bonus he just so happened to teach at USC, which has a world-class jazz program and faculty, and is conveniently right in the heart of an exceptionally musically diverse city, Los Angeles."

Lauren says connecting with other musicians and audiences is her favourite part of performing, and her band has had a variety of influences when it comes to inspiration.

'All four of us come from such different backgrounds, yet as most musicians do, we've all spent a serious amount of time learning from the history, traditions, and culture behind this black American art form.

'We are heavily influenced by the pioneers of this music such as Cannonball Adderly, Mary Lou Williams, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock, as well as modern day legends such as Wynton Marsalis, Teri Lyn Crringotn, and Christian McBride.

'We also aren't limited exclusively to jazz, many of us are frequently playing RnB, funk, afro-latin, pop and indie styles of music.”

Photo: Ewa Ginal-Cumblidge.

Lauren says the band decided to come to New Zealand to host workshops, and offer young musicians the chance to be exposed to music at a high level.

'There are great opportunities for young students to be involved in jazz education in New Zealand, largely at many of the high school jazz competitions and festivals and we owe a lot of that to Rodger Fox.

'Rodger and many others have continued to work hard over the years to ensure these experiences are available to younger players, including myself when I was younger!

'Outside of tertiary education, there just isn't enough man power to make more opportunities like these ongoing or frequent due to a lack of resources. The few jazz educational programs that are on offer aren't in every city and often come at a high cost.

'With the help of Creative New Zealand, I've been able to offer the workshops for free which means students have access to high-level jazz education without the hurdle of cost.”

Upon returning to New Zealand, Lauren says she is most looking forward to seeing her Wellington friends, some of which are amongst the best musicians she knows.

'We call came up through university together and have been very tight-knit since then. The relationships you form during those years become lifelong.”

Lauren and her band will be in New Zealand from October 15 to October 30.

From Monday, October 24, to Saturday, October 29, they will be heading to Tauranga to host workshops at Tauranga and Rotorua schools.

'Our show is on Tuesday, October 25, at the Graham Young Youth Theatre at Tauranga Boys College. We're also playing a show at the Creative Jazz Club in Auckland on Thursday, October 27.”

For tickets to see the Lauren Ellis Quartet live in Tauranga, visit eventfinda.co.nz.