Rhythm resides deep in the spirit for drummer and composer Myele Manzanza. Raised in New Zealand by a Congolese master percussionist father, Manzanza has developed a singular voice that bridges jazz, electronic music, hip-hop, and African rhythm, all unified by a visceral, embodied sense of groove.

“I was raised around rhythm and always understood it as a physical relationship,” he says. “It moves you in every way.”

He first emerged as a founding member of the genre-blending group Electric Wire Hustle, and quickly became a fixture in forward-thinking music circles. Collaborations with Detroit electronic music icons Theo Parrish and Recloose deepened his understanding of dance music’s rhythmic roots, while performances and mentorships with New Zealand artists like Jonathan Crayford, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Nathan Haines & Imon Starr, as well as international artists like Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Omar, Ashley Henry, Ron Trent, & Kaidi Tatham have cemented his reputation as a versatile, in-demand player with an unmistakable feel.

Now based in London, Manzanza has become a vital presence in the city’s jazz and electronic scenes. Since 2021, he has hosted the monthly Late Late Show residency at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, serving as both bandleader and connector for an ever-evolving roster of improvisers and collaborators.

As a solo artist, Manzanza has steadily refined his voice across multiple acclaimed releases. His four-part album series Crisis & Opportunity captures the evolution of his sound through different phases of musical inquiry. ‘Vol. 1 - London’, a vibrant showcase of diaspora-influenced jazz featuring some of the UK’s brightest talent, earned him Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards. ‘Vol. 2 - Peaks’ spotlighted the global network of New Zealand jazz talent, while ‘Vol. 3 - Unfold’ returned to his roots in beatmaking, merging electronic production with live performance.

His most recent release, Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 4 - Meditations (2023), presents a stripped-back acoustic trio featuring bassist Matt Penman and pianist Matthew Sheens. Reflective and refined, the record won Manzanza a second Jazz Artist of the Year award at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards, affirming his place as a leading voice in contemporary jazz.

Manzanza is also a co-founder of lvdf, a cross-cultural quartet with Italian bassist Michelangelo Scandroglio, UK saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, and pianist Maria Chiara Argiró. The project continues his lifelong pursuit of musical exchange across borders, both geographic & cultural.

Throughout his work, Manzanza remains committed to music that moves both body and spirit. Following in the footsteps of Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and Karriem Riggins, he continues to blur boundaries between genres and generations, always in search of deeper expression.

“I’m always finding new ways to express myself,” he says. “It’s all about moving forward”

03 SESSIONS // Original and improvised music from Ōtautahi and beyond.

$38 early bird
$43 GA
$48 final / on the door (all exc. bf).

Presale via Humanitix or cash/EFTPOS on the door. 03 Memberships are available at ko-fi.com/03sessions

Myele Manzanza

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