MODERN New York jazz meets Swedish indie pop and European free improvised music, with jazz group Antipodes, coming to town this weekend before they head to New Zealand.

“Audiences,” they’re saying, will be “first drawn in by introspective, timbral improvisations and then set to foot-tapping with danceable beats, songlike melodies and fiery solos.”

Antipodes was formed after New Zealand saxophonist Jake Baxendale met Canberra-trained pianist Luke Sweeting at a jam session in Berlin in 2013. Their musical connection became immediately apparent and they began writing and performing original compositions together. Sweeting, now based in Sydney, is known for his work with jazz-improv group the Grey Wing Trio while Baxendale has been a force behind the Kiwi band The Jac and is part of the underground Wellington jazz scene.

After returning from their time overseas they set to work touring NZ and Australia with an expanded group in early 2014, producing several live recordings and garnering positive reviews from critics. Motueka-born guitarist Callum Allardice joined them in NZ and contributed a number of his own compositions. The new sextet also features Sydney musicians Simon Ferenci (trumpet) of Mothership Orchestra fame, and Sydney double bassists Max Alduca and Harry Day.

Between them the members of Antipodes have dozens of album credits, toured in NZ, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Denmark and performed with jazz heavies such George Benson, Ernie Watts, Mike Nock, James Muller and Steve Smith.

Antipodes will be playing at the revamped Ainslie Arts Centre as part of ‘Confluence’, a monthly concert series creating possibilities for “striking compositions, exciting collaborations and sonic delicacies” curated by Shoeb Ahmad of HellosQaure and Thomas Fell from Jazz at the Loft.

Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres present “Confluence: Antipodes”, at Ainslie Arts Centre: Main Hall, 8-10pm, September 19, tickets at the door $15/$10 concession and students or bookings to eventbrite.com.au