Multi-instrumentalist Jhan Lindsay describes her sound as "quite soulful jazz ballads". Her original songs convey quintessential New Zealand themes such as a tribute to the victims of the Canterbury Quakes and her love of the New Zealand landscape. It is these motifs coupled with her unmistakable voice that make her one of the leading original jazz/soul artists in New Zealand today. Her talent was noticed early on when she won ‘instrumentalist of the year’ at the 2003 Battle of the Bands. On finishing secondary school she relocated from Auckland to Wellington to study music and joined live dub/drum and bass outfit ‘Project.’ She contributed several original songs to this line up as well as playing saxophone and sharing lead vocals. On leaving ‘Project’ she embarked on her journey as a solo originals and jazz artist. She continued to study achieving a Bachelor of Music from NZSM and a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching. In November 2015 she released her first album ‘Jhan Lindsay and the Chattelains’. The album received positive reviews and its release was profiled by New Zealand Musician Magazine and The Dominion Post. The moody and transcendent atmosphere she achieved on this album was due in part to her unique arrangements for strings and the calibre of its contributors. Jhan followed this offering up with a jazz sampler released at the end of 2016. She has been invited to play at several New Zealand music and jazz festivals including ‘Tora Tora Tora Festival’, The Martinborough Jazz Festival, The Wellington Jazz Festival and The Manawatu Jazz Festival. She has also collaborated with many well known New Zealand musicians and composers including Riki Gooch, Jody Lloyd and Mike Hogan on projects such as a musical response to Colin McCahon’s seminal work ‘Walk’; performed at Te Papa Tongarewa in February 2014. She also played saxophone on Dark Towers re-release of Outlook for Thursday featuring Dave Dobbyn and contributed vocal tracking for recordings by Trillion. Jhan continues to play regularly with several line ups including ‘Jhan Lindsay and the Chattelains’, ‘The Jhan Lindsay Trio’, and ‘The Jhan Lindsay Quartet’ throughout New Zealand.
"Jhan's music is intimate, captivating and emotionally confident. Her distinctive voice has a naturally full quality and her live performances are always a special event."
"We booked Jhan Lindsay as a solo artist in 2016 and had the pleasure of having her on our line up for TTT Coastal Music Festival for the first time.
It was an absolute treat - Jhans smooth unique pulled back style is lovely listening music and we find ourselves playing Jhans album and the TTT recording often.
We have since gone to listen and see Jhans full band show, the Chattelaines. Again what a beautiful sound and performance with some very accomplished musicians. Love all the strings...
We will be definitely trying to book the full band at the next TTT - Easter 2018."
“One of the best and most engaging public programme I ever produced at Te Papa was a musical response to Colin McCahon’s seminal work Walk (Series C). Jhan facilitated her students from Taita College, in collaborating with other established musicians including Jhan and composer Riki Gooch. Described by visitors and curators alike as being magic."
Red Gates Te Papa
Jhan Lindsay and the Chattelaines
Jhan Lindsay hosts open mic night
The Jhan Lindsay Trio
Jhan Lindsay Jazz Band
Jhan Lindsay Jazz Trio