Jazz Notes
Get the latest news, updates and announcements from the Wellington Jazz Festival
19 Mar, 09
Congratulations and thanks!
The Wellington Jazz Festival would like to thank the artists, staff, crew and sponsors for contributing to an outstanding four days of jazz.
And what great audiences, thank you for coming. It was wonderful to have you there, enjoying the music, experiencing that Festival buzz and being part of a unique new Wellington event.
Stay tuned to our website for updates as to when to book your next jazz weekend in Wellington. We are already fine-tuning the dates for the 2011 Wellington Jazz Festival...
Two years is a long time between gigs, but the New Zealand International Arts Festival promises to deliver you some great jazz in 2010 to tide you over. So put the dates 26 February - 21 March 2010 in your diary now and keep an eye out for when the programme is released in November of this year.
19 Mar, 09
"The Town Hall has been transformed into a jiving jazz club..."
Reviews have poured in over the last week, as the wealth of artists that appeared at the Wellington Jazz Festival have given journalists plenty to write about...
"Youssef's quartet on stage confirmed jazz is a global genre, with the swinging sizzle of the rhythms perfecting assisting Youssef to wow the audience" - Dominion Post
"Nock and Houstoun the perfect pairing" - Dominion Post
"Tomasz Stańko is considered the 'Polish Miles Davis' and it is instantly apparent in the long notes this trumpeter holds. His tone is a direct descendant of Davis' work but, where Miles kept his ballads and funk workouts separate, Stańko's quartet starts off sombre and quiet, building to a bright, bulging sound... and the audience loved it" - Dominion Post
"An excellent Wellington Jazz Festival closed with another stellar performance, as the Brad Mehldau Trio showcases some exceptional skill and musicianship" - The Lumière Reader
"[Mélanie] Pain's entire performance was so beautiful, moving and unforgettable. Well-deserving of the standing ovation she received, I simply cannot recommend this woman highly enough" - Texture.co.nz
"At times it seemed the crowd were more on their feet than sitting down, such was the reaction to Roberto Fonseca and his equally expert group. And fair enough, too - they were genuinely exceptional, and thoroughly charming" - Texture.co.nz
More feedback:
I have had rave reviews from my clients who attended the events and I heard some of the outside performances in Civic Square on Sunday which sounded amazing! - Villa Maria
We had a wonderful time at various events - it was a truly fantastic festival - Mojo
The event was fantastic so congratulations to your team on delivering another interational quality event to Wellington - Sauce
The Jazz Festival has been a great experience for the Jubilation Choir thanks to your extraordinary team and the fabulous Wellington audience - Jubilation a cappella gospel choir
A very big thank you from all the staff and students here at Titahi Bay North School for enabling us to visit the Otis Taylor Blues workshop last week. Our students are seldom able to get to shows such as this - of many of them, it would have been a totally new experience. They certainly seemed to enjoy it, judging by their enthusiastic comments afterwards! It was so good for them to be able to participate in a little of Wellington's cultural life - Titahi Bay North School
19 Mar, 09
A note from Artistic Director, Lissa Twomey
What an extraordinary four days it was with some of the world's greatest musicians in such an incredible environment. Crowds flocked to the Civic Square free stage, the Mingus Big Band had the audience on their feet in the Michael Fowler Centre and if there was any more energy in the Pacific Blue Note, it would have simultaneously combusted!
Seriously, I couldn't have been more thrilled with the success of the new Wellington Jazz Festival - for me it was an absolute dream to see so many faces clearly in awe of the overall experience and musicianship from a wide range of talent on stage.
I've always maintained that if jazz music was more widely available it's dynamism and variety would be more apparent to a whole new generation of fans. Whether you were a new jazz fan, or like me have been a passionate jazz fan for years, thanks for being a vital part of the mix which made the Wellington Jazz Festival such a hit!
Lissa Twomey
Artistic Director
08 Mar, 09
Listen to Eric Bibb interview here
Listen to Eric Bibb talk about how being a musician is his destiny and that he dropped out of school to move to Paris and follow the path, because "nothing as captivating as ever come along".
In this interview with Amanda Peter of Christchurch's RDU radio station, Eric Bibb discusses everything from being given his first steel guitar at age seven (and being frustrated at not being able to get perfect sound out of it immediately!) to how much he enjoyed working with British entertainer and bandleader, Jools Holland.
Simply click on the arrow-shaped play button to activate the player below and listen.
You can see Eric Bibb live tonight at the Pacific Blue Note at 6pm. Click here to buy tickets.
07 Mar, 09
Listen to Tomasz Stanko interview
In this radio interview, Tomasz Stańko admits he has not written many compositions because they are like poetry and he spends so much time on just a few notes!
Mark Robinson from George FM Jazz has compiled an interview with Tomasz Stańko interwoven with his enthralling trumpet music. Simply click on the player below and listen.
You can see the Tomasz Stańko Quartet live tonight at the Pacific Blue Note at 8pm.
And if you are a fan of jazz (and who wouldn't be after this weekend's Festival!), then tune your radio to George FM Jazz - you can listen to them on the web!