Live at Freida's Margolis
6 August 2026
Live Review by Music Journalist: Paul Marshall
A world-class Japanese jazz collective turns a quirky Auckland bar into the hottest ticket in town.
Review by Paul Marshall
Some concerts happen on grand stages beneath dazzling lights. Others unfold in rooms so intimate you can hear the musicians breathe between notes. On one of Auckland's coldest winter nights, ROUTE14band proved that world-class music doesn't need a concert hall, it simply needs four extraordinary musicians and an audience willing to surrender to the moment.
Freida's Margolis in Grey Lynn is one of those venues that feels like a secret you're almost reluctant to share. Once a butcher's shop, its original tiled walls and hanging meat rails remain proudly intact, giving the cosy bar an industrial charm that somehow feels effortlessly cool. It's the kind of place where Auckland's hipsters, artists and trendsetters gather over quality wines and beautifully crafted cocktails, and by 7pm, an hour before the advertised start, the venue was already bursting at the seams. Every table was occupied, the bar was three deep, and there was an unmistakable buzz that suggested everyone knew they were about to witness something special.
Then came the night's first unexpected performance.
As owner Mike stepped forward to introduce the band, the venue's fire alarm suddenly erupted into life with a deafening mechanical wail. For a brief moment it genuinely felt choreographed, as though the evening was opening with some avant-garde theatrical flourish. Within seconds it was silenced and ROUTE14band calmly started as if nothing had happened.
All four musicians appeared wearing matching white T-shirts emblazoned simply with their name: ROUTE14band Japan. It was understated, charming and completely unpretentious.
"We hope you like it," smiled trumpeter and bandleader Chihiro Yamazaki in her warm Japanese accent.
"We are very happy to be back here... Our original arrangements, so please enjoy."
That simple introduction perfectly summed up the evening. No ego. No grand speeches. Just music.
Founded in 2010, ROUTE14band has built an international reputation for blending jazz, fusion, classical and rock influences into what they call their "Singing Instruments" sound. Their résumé is extraordinary, including multiple appearances at SXSW, performances throughout Japan, Korea, Canada and repeated visits to New Zealand's Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival. Yet despite those impressive credentials, they remain refreshingly approachable on stage.
Opening with 夜空 (Yozora), translated as Night Sky, the band immediately established the emotional depth that has become their signature. The haunting opening trumpet melody briefly hinted at the solemnity of The Last Post, before gracefully evolving into something unmistakably their own. It was cinematic, delicate and beautifully paced, drawing the room into complete silence before gradually building into soaring melodic passages.
Yamazaki's trumpet tone is simply breathtaking. Technically flawless yet emotionally expressive, she possesses the rare ability to make every phrase feel conversational rather than rehearsed. Throughout the evening she wasn't merely playing the trumpet, she was telling stories through it.
Behind her sat drummer Satoshi Yamashita, whose subtle dynamics were a masterclass in the art of restraint, proving that less can often say far more than sheer volume. His grooves never demanded attention, yet every beat carried weight and purpose, quietly anchoring the band's sound. But when the spotlight shifted squarely onto him, Yamashita unleashed a series of breathtaking drum solos, blending precision, power and flair to a rapturous response from the crowd.
Keyboardist Hana Takami added shimmering harmonic textures that often felt orchestral, while bassist Koji Yamamoto quietly delivered one of the evening's finest individual performances. His use of ghost notes, melodic fills and adventurous playing high up the neck transformed what could have been simple accompaniment into an essential melodic voice. Jazz bass often lives in the shadows; tonight it danced confidently in the spotlight.
One of the night's most engaging traditions quickly became apparent.
Whenever a solo reached its conclusion, Yamazaki would theatrically point toward the audience, signalling that the improvisation had landed. Instantly the room erupted with cheers and applause. It wasn't rehearsed; it was simply infectious. Every solo became an event, every ovation part of the performance itself.
A standout moment arrived with their inspired interpretation of Sting's classic "Englishman in New York." Rather than simply covering the song, ROUTE14band reimagined it through their own unmistakable musical language. Midway through the piece, sensing the audience wanted more, Yamazaki casually held her trumpet in one hand while motioning to the band to "go around again." They extended the arrangement, stretching the groove and allowing each musician another opportunity to explore the melody. Judging by the audience reaction, nobody wanted it to end.
What makes ROUTE14band so compelling isn't merely their musicianship, although that alone would justify the admission price. It's their generosity as performers.
Yamazaki, in particular, has an instinctive understanding of today's audiences. Every time she noticed someone filming with a phone, she'd step closer, point her trumpet directly into the camera or lean into the frame, creating the kind of spontaneous moments destined for Instagram and TikTok. Then, almost immediately after finishing the phrase, she'd flash a huge smile at the person filming as if to say, "We're sharing this together."
It never felt manufactured.
It simply felt joyful.
By the final song of the first set, phones were held aloft throughout the venue, not because people were distracted, but because everyone wanted to capture a memory they already knew would be difficult to explain later.
Perhaps the evening's greatest triumph was its value.
The $15 door charge bordered on absurd.
In an era where concert tickets routinely stretch into three figures, seeing musicians of this calibre performing from just metres away felt almost surreal. Judging by conversations around the room afterwards, most patrons would happily have paid three times the asking price and still walked away convinced they'd received exceptional value.
There are gigs where you admire musicians.
Then there are gigs where you genuinely enjoy spending an evening in their company.
ROUTE14band delivered both.
Their smiles never disappeared. Their enthusiasm never wavered. Every member performed as though they genuinely loved being in New Zealand and genuinely appreciated every person who had chosen to spend a winter evening with them.
Sometimes the biggest concerts leave the smallest memories.
Sometimes the smallest rooms create the biggest ones.
On this freezing Auckland night inside a converted butcher's shop in New Lynn, ROUTE14band transformed Freida's Margolis into one of the warmest places in the country.
And for those lucky enough to squeeze inside, it was nothing short of magical.
ROUTE14band
- Chihiro Yamazaki – Trumpet
- Satoshi Yamashita – Drums
- Hana Takami – Piano/Keyboards
- Koji Yamamoto – Bass
Set List:
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
Photography by Paul Marshall
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