15 February 2010 - 0 Comments

New Zealand's biggest combined jazz and blues event comes back with a bang in April, starting with a concert honouring one of jazz's all-time greats.

Popular Australian brass musician James Morrison will open the New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival on April 5 with a Tribute to Louis Armstrong - an opening concert that is guaranteed to get the Christchurch festival started on the right note.

Other international acts confirmed to perform over the six days of the festival include legendary pianist and key player in the rise of jazz/rock fusion, Brian Auger.

With over 20 studio recordings, a Grammy nomination and 10 albums charting in Billboard's Hot 100, Auger is a true original who injects his music with fire and passion. He will perform his Oblivion Express show in Christchurch for one night only.

Young UK singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner and Seattle trumpeting sensation Thomas Marriott will also make their debut appearance at the festival, which, as always, features a strong line-up of Kiwi jazz and blues musicians.

"It's always great to welcome top international acts to the festival but the festival is also about promoting local musicians. We've got some fantastic talent right on our doorstep and the likes of Jennine Bailey and Harry Harrison always prove very popular with the crowds," says festival director Jodi Wright.

The last two days of the festival will see jazz and blues taken to the lanes of Christchurch. After the success of last year's inaugural one-day Taste Jazz and Taste Blues event, organisers have expanded the event to two days.

On Saturday April 10 and Sunday April 11 food and music lovers will be able to enjoy the café lifestyle of Christchurch's Poplar Lanes precinct or browse the boutique shops while listening to live blues and jazz in what has become one of city's most popular gathering spots.

"After the success of our one-day Taste Jazz event last year, we wanted to offer even more opportunity for people to relax and enjoy the music and atmosphere. We're sure a whole weekend of Taste Jazz and Taste Blues will appeal to many," Jodi Wright says.

Thanks to www.jazzfestivalnz.com for this story.

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