26 January 2009 - 0 Comments

Legendary international jazz musicians and an outstanding homegrown selection have been added to the final programme of the new biennial Wellington Jazz Festival 2009.

Musicians from Cuba and Brazil to Tunisia, France and New Zealand feature alongside six headliners from North America and Poland, such as Mingus Big Band and cool trumpeter Tomasz Sta!ko, first announced last month.

Speaking on 21 January at the launch of the final programme, Wellington Jazz Festival Artistic Director, Lissa Twomey said, “The diversity and breadth of talent is unprecedented for a jazz festival in New Zealand.”

“Some of the world’s finest players, the majority playing in New Zealand for the first time, will hang out in Wellington in venues with audiences, thinking, feeling and talking jazz.

With this wide programme blending soul, blues, R & B, funk, Latin, gospel, traditional and contemporary jazz, we are sure to attract a new generation of jazz fans.”

The Wellington Jazz Festival runs from 5-8 March. More than 75 international artists from 11 countries along with over a hundred New Zealand musicians will present a total of 24 shows and workshops in a jazz hub centered on Civic Square. A specially built jazz club Pacific Blue Note in the Wellington Town Hall will showcase jazz around the clock, and a free series of jazz shows is planned for an outdoor stage in Civic Square.

Representing Cuba, charismatic pianist Roberto Fonseca is bringing forth percussive Afro-Cuban beats and rhythms when he performs with his quintet at the Pacific Blue Note. Fonseca took over as pianist with Buena Vista Social Club, succeeding Ruben Gonzelez, and toured the world with Cuban legends Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo before launching a solo career.

The music of Tunisian vocalist and oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef mixes Islamic Sufism with electric jazz; larger than life Ed Motta from Brazil is a virtuoso composer and musician with soul chops and a love of food, wine and comics, while ‘naughty but nice’ chanteuse Mélanie Pain from French folk-popsters Nouvelle Vague, will perform music from her debut solo album My Name.

Pulling the catch on deep Pacific dub soul flavours are local luminaries Fat Freddys Drop - dropping by for an intimate session at the Pacific Blue Note that will include long player tunes sourced from forthcoming sophomore album the Big BW.

The winner of the Tui Award for New Zealand Best Jazz Album is to be announced during a Trans-Tasman triumph, The Bernie McGann & Roger Manins Australasian Project. The two renowned saxophonists - Australian national treasure Bernie McGann and Kiwi saxophonist Roger Manins - will be joined by Australian guitarist Carl Dewhurst and Kiwi’s Paul Dyne on bass and Reuben Bradley on drums.

Rolling out the barrel, Boogie Beats features Kiwi ‘Queen of boogie woogie piano’ Jan Preston in collaboration with inventive swing drummer Michael Maass from Germany.

Another extraordinary match up will be Nock plays Houstoun plays Nock, featuring classical pianist Michael Houstoun and jazz legend Mike Nock crossing paths and repertoire. Houstoun will play compositions by Nock, while Nock himself will draw on jazz standards, improvisation and his own pieces.
Jazz diva Whirimako Black is set to perform songs in Te Reo Maori and English notably a pick of M!ori songs from the WWII era. Accompanying her in concert are Joel Haines (guitar) Oliver Holland (bass) and Ron Samsom (drums).

The Wellington Jazz Festival is proud to present a series of free jazz concerts on the Civic Square Free Stage. The three free events kick off with The Wellington Groove featuring freewheeling acts The Nok and Fertility Festival and established funk boogaloo exponents The Eggs accompanied by dazzling songbird Lisa Tomlins.

The second free gig is the Big Band Bash. The roaring sounds of the NZ School of Music Big Band, under the musical direction of Rodger Fox and featuring special guest US saxophonist Bob Sheppard will entertain the people alongside Tui Jazz Award winners the mighty 18-piece Vaughn Roberts Big Band.

The third installment of free jazz buzz in Civic Square is Sunday Jazz in the Square featuring the devilish Hot Club Sandwich, Gypsy jazz quartet Nouveau Manouche, Mike Nock’s Creative Electronic Trio and rising soul jazz singer LA Mitchell.
On the Sunday morning of the Festival, it’s time to wake up and raise the roof at the Pacific Blue Note with Sunday Morning Gospel - an upbeat serving of good time gospel from the 32-strong Jubilation a cappella Gospel Choir and guest soloist Jackie Clarke.

New York’s 14-piece all-star Mingus Big Band was the first headliner act confirmed to play the Wellington Jazz Festival. The Big Apple institution is a creative force keeping alive the spirit and legacy of the late great composer and bass player, Charles Mingus.

The other international artists already confirmed for the Wellington Jazz Festival are thought-provoking bluesman Otis Taylor; vibraphonist and pioneer of jazz/funk Roy Ayers; sublime jazz, classical and rock pianist Brad Mehldau; blues troubadour Eric Bibb; and the ‘Polish Miles Davis’ trumpeter Tomasz Sta!ko.

Otis Taylor will inspire the young in a captivating public workshop Writing the Blues for Children that will teach 5 – 10 year olds about the origins of the Blues and how to find their own voice - he believes everyone has a story to tell no matter how old. Free-jazz pioneer Tomasz Sta"ko, one of Europe’s most original jazz artists, will host a Masterclass session open to local musicians and general public.

Rolling into the midnight hour on the first three nights of the Wellington Jazz Festival is After Midnight, a surprise freestyle jam session for the nocturnal at the Pacific Blue Note. The midnight marauders taking to the stage will be announced daily after midday on Festival website www.jazzfestival.co.nz. Entry to After Midnight is free for ticket holders from a performance held that day, or $25 on the door.

Wellington Jazz Festival 2009 is supported by Wellington City Council and managed by the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Wellington Jazz Festival
5-8 March 2009
Tickets On Sale 22 January 2009
Available at Ticketek, or online: www.ticketek.co.nz

For daily information and updates, visit www.jazzfestival.co.nz

Thanks to www.jazzfestival.co.nz for this story.

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