Becoming Dragon: a Jazz Journey

Part personal storytelling, part TED talk, internationally-acclaimed psychologist, author, playwright, presenter Dr Frances Steinberg imparts wisdom from her seven decades of pursuing a "Life on the Way" accompanied by the amazing Jellyrolls--Ben Wilcock (piano), John Rae (drums), Patrick Bleakley (bass), Dan Yeabsley (sax/horn). The piece is a multimedia, theatrical, musical journey, interwoven with pearls from psychology, martial arts, and philosophy, culminating in concerns about what modern life is doing to our brains and capacity for creativity.

Frances Steinberg: Despite Frances’ love of theatre extending across six decades, including serving as choreographer and performer for the Martial Arts Theater Company in America in the 1980s, she spent the majority of her professional life as a psychologist, martial artist, acupuncturist, interactive learning designer, international presenter, and author of more than 12 professional books, 3 novels, 7 online guides, and an illustrated storybook. Since returning her creative focus back to theatre, she has generated four plays–Routine Magic (shortlisted for the Adam NZ Play Award in 2019), Magic Routine, The Home for Forgotten Metaphors, and Old School–the Musical.

Ben Wilcock: Ben is a pianist and composer from Hamilton, NZ. He began his career as 'on stage pianist' in the award winning show 'The Pickle King' (Indian ink) which won multiple awards including a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. After an extended period playing in the UK Ben returned to NZ to perform and record with Bella Kalolo, including her Without the Paper and Time and Space releases, with performances at Glastonbury, Java Jazz, Sydney Arts Festival and New York's Ella lounge and Rockwood Music Hall. During this time he also toured with Aaradnha, Louis Baker and more recently with American Blues legend Chris Cain.

John Rae: recorded his first album at the age of sixteen with acclaimed Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith, and has subsequently recorded over 30 albums as a leader and side man. From 2000-2003 John was the drummer for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and in 2005 was awarded a prestigious ‘Herald Angel’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. John was appointed as musical director and composer for a specially commissioned and choreographed modern dance piece Off Kilter, which was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre in 2010. He moved to New Zealand shortly after, where he is now a much beloved larger than life figure within the Wellington jazz scene, particularly as the front man for The Troubles. In 2016 they premiered John’s Where the Wild Clematis Grows, commissioned for WW100 commemorations at the Edinburgh and Auckland Jazz Festivals. Other recent commissions include North to the Apricots (2016) for New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Wellington Jazz Orchestra and Happy for the Royal New Zealand Air Force Concert Orchestra.

Patrick Bleakley: one of the most sought after bass players in New Zealand since the 1970s. His baptism of fire came through meeting iconic musician and actor Bruno Lawrence who soon inducted Bleakley into his band Blerta. During the 70s he played with several other well-known groups such as Mammal, Rough Justice and Spatz and was for a time in the quartet of leading Australian saxophonist Bernie McGann. Bleakley took a break from music before he returned to playing bass in the 1990s, touring with Lawrence and pianist Jonathan Crayford in the band Jazzmin. He has also played as part of The Razorblades, Sanctus and Village of the Idiot

Dan Yeabsley: Dan is a graduate from the Wellington Polytechnic Conservatorium of Music.
He is a multi-instrumentalist and with each band he appears to play a different instrument! He regularly plays with: The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, Fat Freddie’s Drop, The Troubles, Jelly Rolls Trio (Ben Wilcox & John Rae), and Twinset (with twin brother Chris.)