If there's one band you should see live in the 60th Port of Tauranga National Jazz Festival line-up this Easter, it's Black Comet!

‘Black who?' you might think – well, listen up because you're about to get the lowdown on the newest, most mysterious but mind-blowing band formation Aotearoa has seen in recent years.

Black Comet is a five-piece led by frontman Laughton Kora – and their aim is pushing musical boundaries with a heavy galactic funk experience and groove-based narratives.

With Laughton – yes from band Kora – on vocals/guitar, Sam Jones on keys/sax, Poihakena Reid keys/sax/guitar/voice box, Stan Bicknell on drums, and Dan Antonovich on bass – Black Comet has a first and rare performance in the Baycourt Concert Series at 8pm this Sunday, April 9.

Prolific artists

So who is Black Comet? 'They're not normal musicians – I can tell you that for sure,” says fellow Kiwi musician and friend Shelton Woolright of Blind Spot, ‘NZ Idol' and Dead Beat.

'They're all absolutely prolific artists and musicians – they literally are aliens they are that good – so this Baycourt Series show cannot be missed! We're really lucky to have them at the jazz festival.”

Shelton suggests listening to the band's latest releases on Spotify. 'They're currently showcasing their new music and getting their band out there – performing at the jazz fest is part of this.” Shelton describes Black Comet as a 'very fresh, up-and-coming band with some familiar faces”. How does he describe their music? 'Other-worldly!”

Genre fusion

'It's fusion of all sorts of genres – it will take you by surprise because one minute you'll be thinking: ‘I'm listening to a rock group here' then all of a sudden it's really funky, then it's a bit dancy – so it keeps you moving, and keeps you guessing – but at the same time it's held together and sounds like one thing, its own thing – which is Black Comet. 'When you go see this live it will take you on a journey and you'll feel like you're at a festival listening to all different stuff but it's in one spot – it's really great!”

Shelton says every artist in the band it is at the top of their field. 'Me, being a drummer, personally I think Stan is out-the-gate! Laughton I've worked with him before and his skills are high quality but that voice – what the heck?

'That's why there's beautiful music breaks in their music too – to showcase the instruments and genres – and it shows they're not a one-trick-pony...it's them saying: ‘Hey, we're here to stay, we can do it all and we will do do it all – and we've got a bit for everyone'.”

Rumour has it Joel Shadbolt from L.A.B will jump up and play with Black Comet at Baycourt too...

Black Comet performs 8pm this Sunday, April 9, at Baycourt's Addison Theatre. Get tickets now at: jazz.org.nz or ticketek.co.nz