Delbert Anderson Quartet Review | Auckland Arts Festival

Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington. These are three (of many) jazz deities with Native American ancestry. Jazz is a genre of music born from the chaotic convergence of colonising cultures from Europe, transported African traditions and indigenous practices of the United States. Often its practitioners have been impoverished, fringe and minoritized. Yet it has been and still is most definitely appropriated, and today sadly has an elitist reputation that precedes it for many. Nevertheless, jazz is an inherently spiritual fusion of sounds that is eclectic and conflicted, yet somehow it works: much like the great human improvisation we call society.

The Delbert Anderson’s Quartet is a slick, expressive and captivating contemporary jazz band that I had the pleasure of experiencing at the Auckland Arts Festival. Band leader Anderson, who is of the Diné people (New Mexico) was insightful and fascinating. He explained how he interpreted the music of his culture through jazz in consultation with elders, with the hopes of engaging the next generation. Parallels have been drawn between Anderson’s style on the trumpet and Miles Davis. While I don’t have the technical knowledge to comment on that, their set list covered a range of styles varying from more funk-esk pieces to nearing the ambient.

They just dropped a live album the other week which really captures the energy of their live performance. Criminally, they only have 50 monthly listeners on Spotify, so give them a spin and support indigenous music! I recommend their tracks Iron Horse Gallup, To’tah and Opener. If you want to know more, our neighbours 95bFM interviewed Anderson the other day.

A worthy closing act for the last day of the Auckland Arts Festival. If you missed out this year, the festival will be back in 2026, so keep your eyes peeled for more amazing performances!

Craccum would like to take a moment to thank Auckland Arts Festival for their invitation to experience Delbert Anderson’s Quartet, presented by Auckland Arts Festival.