Composer

Biography

Jeff Henderson (b. 1973) is New Zealand’s leading exponent of free improvisation and free jazz saxophone. He has traveled and performed extensively in New Zealand and internationally as a solo artist and with numerous musical projects and theatre companies.

Henderson is the founder of The Space (est. 1999) – an independent performance venue in Wellington, New Zealand dedicated to the presentation of new music, theatre and experimental performance. The Space has recently been renamed HAPPY and has moved into central Wellington As well as his work in improvised music and jazz Henderson is a composer who has written for theatre, dance and collaborative arts projects. He has performed with internationally renowned musicians Steve Lacy, Marilyn Crispell, William Parker, Evan Parker, Mark Sanders, Tony Buck, John Edwards, Steve Noble, Jim Denley, Mike Nock, Agus Supriawan and others. Current projects include Urban Taniwha with Richard Nunns and Marilyn Crispell, the Ortiz Funeral Directors, the Ecstasy Trio, Deconstruction Unit, Under Lili’s Balcony Theatre Company and numerous others. In addition to his work on reed instruments, Henderson also performs on piano, electric bass and assorted other instruments. Henderson has toured and performed internationally in Switzerland, France (1994), New York (1999, 2001, 2002), London, Woodstock (2001), Amsterdam (2002), Norway (2002) Sydney, Melbourne (2002, 2003) and has been invited to perform this year in Australia, Europe and New York. Currently he is Artistic Director of the Wellington International Jazz Festival, Artistic Director of the Bomb the Space festival, Director of The Space and runs two record labels: Spacecds and Open Music Envelope (with Tim Nees).

Selected original theatre works / performances / CDs
The Lunatic Cabaret – Deconstruction Unit/ NQQC 2003
Urban Taniwha w/ Marilyn Crispell, Richard Nunns Oct. 2002 NZ Tour
Zarathustra Said – Red Mole Theatre Company 2002
Grooves of Glory – Red Mole Theatre Company
2001, 2002
Ada – Under Lili’s Balcony Theatre Company, March 2001 Wellington – Henderson / Callwood / Sanders – Beyond Reason (ome01)
Agus Supriawan / Jeff Henderson – Improvisations 2000 (SpaceCDs)
Innocence of Light – Factory July 1999
The Abattoir – Under Lili’s Balcony Theatre Co. 1998
The Tower Under the Sky – Under Lili’s Balcony Theatre Co. 1999

[As a recipient of a 2008 Arts Foundation New Generation Award more information about Jeff Henderson can be found on the Arts Foundation website.]