04 February 2009 - 0 Comments

Tickets are now on sale for the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival in Christchurch.

This year’s festival features some 115 jazz, blues and funk artists from around New Zealand in a series of concerts designed to appeal to all ages and music tastes.

The festival starts on Easter Monday, April 13, and provides the perfect excuse for people to extend their holiday weekend so they can stay in Christchurch for the duration of the seven day festival.

"If you like jazz and love the idea of having a get-away in a city that is chock-full of art galleries, restaurants, bars, boutique shops and live music venues then Christchurch is definitely the place to be in April," says Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince.

A new event designed to appeal to food and music lovers has been added to this year’s festival schedule. Taste Jazz, in conjunction with The Press and Zest, will be held on Sunday, April 19, and offers the opportunity to sample gourmet food and wines while enjoying music from top acts in the relaxed atmosphere of the north quadrangle of the Arts Centre.

Arts Centre director, Ken Franklin says Taste Jazz and the other 34 events throughout the week are designed to make live jazz music accessible to all.

"Taste Jazz, set in the Arts Centre’s beautiful north quad, will be a perfect opportunity for people to get out and experience live jazz while soaking up the relaxed, vibrant atmosphere surrounding this festival."

The Jazz, Funk and R&B Series at the old Legends Bar (Bedford Row) is another new addition to the festival. It will feature five great shows presented by the best of our local and national jazz and blues talent including: Daniel Kennedy and band with a tribute to Tom Waits, the Alan Brown Trio, Oval Office, Solaa and Departure Lounge.

The Blind Boys of Alabama are the headline act for this year’s festival. Also performing are Midge Marsden and Harry Harrison, the Nairobi Trio, Peter Urlich and Band, Jennine Bailey and Emma Pask, who has been described by legendary jazz musician James Morrison as "the greatest gift to Australian jazz vocals in the last decade".

For the full artist line-up and ticketing information go to www.jazzfestivalnz.com.

Thanks to www.jazzfestivalnz.com for this story.

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