Roger Manins

Jazz Saxophonist

New Zealand saxophonist and composer Roger Manins, grew up in the Awhitu Peninsula, picking up the saxophone at the age of 12. Manins moved to Sydney in 1994, where he based himself for much of his musical career, and left for New York in 1996, immersing himself in the creative hub of the New York scene for several years. Returning to Sydney, Manins grew to emerge as a powerhouse in the ebullient Australian scene, winning the Australian International Jazz Awards Title (saxophone) in 2002 at Wangaratta.


Manins forges a deep sense of respect for tradition with passionate, New York inspired, consummate ideas that are tempered by an openness to change. His voice carries a tenderness and authority that has the ability to unite the generations of jazz lovers – from listeners of Billie, Pres and Parker, to Ornette, Coltrane and Lovano.


Manins brings a unique Trans-Tasman perspective to New Zealand jazz and currently performs throughout Australasia and the Pacific regions. He is recorded on roughly 30 jazz albums with many of Australasia’s leading artists.


"Manins himself has an incredible palette to draw from. Drenched in classic Coltrane/Coleman prose he launches like a futuristic Sonny Rollins into the saxophone effortlessly juxtering twisted abstract lines with dark soulful blues" - Nigel Patterson