Tenor saxophonist Louisa Williamson admits she has been lucky with her timing.

The promising young Taupō-raised musician is about to come in on beat one yet again – appearing on Saturday with L.A.B at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton.

Trained in jazz, but knowing a musician’s lot, Williamson, now based in Wellington, wasn’t going to turn down L.A.B keyboardist Miharo Gregory – a friend though mutual muso acquaintances – when he suggested she join in when the band were looking for a sax player.

Since that first connection about a year ago, she has played onstage at such venues as Wellington’s TSB arena, as well as in the studio, and is working with the band on its fifth album.

Luck seems to have been following her around – though being adaptable helps.

While her fellow music students at the New Zealand School of Music last year were hamstrung from collaborating in ensemble work due to Covid-19 restrictions, Williamson was able to continue completing a Masters in Jazz Composition from her Brooklyn flat.

Having finished her Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Jazz Performance in 2018 she could commiserate with the cohort that had to Zoom it in.

“Obviously jazz is a performance degree and a lot of it is about combo, playing with other people.”

Williamson handed over her thesis just as venues were looking to welcome musos and audiences back.

Things fell into place for the second half of 2020 – though wider plans to head overseas this year were disrupted.

Because she hadn’t been practising as much while completing her thesis – she had to look ahead to just being an active member of the Wellington scene and looking at recording her own album of jazz.

“But also to build my repertoire and portfolio to potentially apply for things overseas.”

She has been lucky already in establishing international contacts through being selected as the first New Zealander, in 2016 – her second year of study, to participate in the prestigious Jeunesse Musicale Jazz World Orchestra.

Williamson, selected from over 120 applicants, rehearsed with the band in Germany under trombonist, composer and arranger Luis Bonilla before a brief tour of Europe.

“That was awesome. It was so cool that I can’t actually believe I did that.”

She caught up with three JWO band members in New York in January 2020 while there with the Rodger Fox Big Band – recording an album at Bunker Studios.

“It was really cool to catch up with them. The band was mostly Americans and Europeans with a few others scattered in.”

She has kept in touch on social media, agreeing that these are all possible entry points if and when she gets overseas.

“It is a lot to do with ‘who’ you know.”

And … timing.

That Rodger Fox trip to record in New York and visit New Orleans for a jazz educators conference got back at the end of January last year before Covid-19 really hit.

“That was also perfect timing, I remember getting back to Auckland Airport and seeing the first few cases starting to be talked about.”

Because of Covid, she, like many other musicians, had a series of gigs cancelled last year but she’s now back gigging or in the studio, with L.A.B, Trinity Roots, Louis Baker, Mara TK, and Lord Echo, saving and still looking overseas, but not making too many definite plans.

“I am happy in the meantime.”

And now Creative New Zealand has made some funds available for her to record her thesis composition which will happen in December with a big band of her “favourite musicians.”

Knowing Williamson's luck, it will be out just in time for Christmas.

Credit: Stuff.co.nz