Heather Webb is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in Ōtautahi, Aotearoa. Her professional practice spans jazz, contemporary music, theatre, pop, orchestral performance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. She works as a recording artist, composer, bandleader, session musician, and educator.
Webb leads Parallax, an ensemble exploring the intersection of astrophysics and jazz through composition and improvisation. This project formed the basis of her Master of Creative Practice research, which investigated phenomenological approaches to translating astrophysical concepts and data into music. Parallax is available in full on RNZ, alongside an interview with Bryan Crump.
Webb recently worked as Creative Communicator for the Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory, developing creative approaches to interpreting and communicating the cultural, environmental, and scientific significance of the catchment.
As a performer, Webb has collaborated with artists and ensembles including Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Delaney Davidson, Merk, Rutene Spooner, Terrible Sons, and Darren Pickering Small Worlds, and has performed at jazz and arts festivals throughout Aotearoa. She was named among RNZ’s Top Women in Jazz in 2021.
Webb has composed for film, theatre, and commissioned projects. Her work has appeared on Rattle Records, including a contribution to Shiko, which was featured in RNZ’s Best of NZ Jazz. Graham Reid described is as “evocatively atmospheric,” noting its “leisurely confidence which is both gentle but often on the precipice of unresolved tension. It’s a standout.”
Webb holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and a Master of Creative Practice (Distinction). A dedicated teacher, her practice is informed by extensive professional experience across performance, composition, improvisation, and contemporary music.
