The Wellington Jazz Festival is set to energise with its largest line-up in over five years.
The Wellington Jazz Festival is a monumental celebration of jazz, showcasing an exciting mix of local talent and multi-GRAMMY Award-winning international artists.
One of the new venues for 2024 has been St Michael’s Church in Kelburn. It presents four distinct jazz sessions, all of which are Koha entries.
Experience the dynamic Luka van Rensburg Quintet with Ferd & Friends, a family-friendly evening of uplifting jazz, local saxophonist Alex Trask’s Imaginary Folksongs, Oscar Lavën’s Swingtet’s tribute to iconic New Orleans Swing, and Umar Zakaria’s Aslibop Project, blending bebop with traditional Malay melodies.
Longstanding venue partners Rogue & Vagabond, Bedlam & Squalor and Meow, and festival friends Capital Blues at Jack Hackett’s are also set to amplify the festival’s offerings.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to announce an exceptional and wide-ranging City Line-up. With an impressive number of new venues joining us this year, it’s a testament to the powerful and vibrant jazz scene here in Pōneke,” said Festival Co-Director Dolina Wehipeihana.
Some performances across these venues include Sunday Jahzz! at Meow with a selection of adventurous music ensembles at the cutting edge of New Zealand Jazz.
At Rogue & Vagabond, Thabani Gapara will present Dzindza, blending traditional African rhythms with contemporary jazz for a captivating live experience. Prolific, boldly innovative harpist, composer, and singer Esther Swift will explore ritual, connection, isolation, and the natural world in her performance with a pedal harp and voice at Bedlam & Squalor.
Audiences can also enjoy free Late Night Jam Sessions hosted by Capital Blues Inc. at Jack Hackett’s every day of the festival.
Festival goers won’t miss Auckland’s Wāhine in Jazz making their Wellington debut at the iconic Raglan Roast on Abel Smith Street.
The festival will extend its reach beyond the city borders to the Kāpiti coast with a show in Raumati. Jess Deacon will perform jazz standards with a fresh twist, vocalese, and original compositions. Crash Bandihoot will take over the Abandoned Tap Room in Petone with their raucous New Orleans street-style brass band music.
“I’m really looking forward to enjoying the local sounds on offer. We have such a rich base of musicians in Aotearoa, and it will be hard to get to everything given the sheer volume of artists participating and a packed schedule of events,” said Festival Co-Director Tama Waipara.
“It’s exciting to see many past commissioned artists performing across the 2024 programme including Riki Gooch Pirihi, Cory Champion, Seth Boy, Umar Zakaria and Anita Schwabe to name a few. I encourage you to dive into the programme and join the action. With over 50 venues involved, the city will be buzzing.”
The City Line-Up includes the previously announced First Release acts, including Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding.
Jazz icon Rodger Fox will be honoured with a special performance by The Rodger Fox Big Band (Opera House), and for the first time in eight years, Fly My Pretties returns with an innovative show led by Barnaby Weir & Laughton Kora at The Great Hall, Massey University.
At San Fran, Alexander Flood (AUS) and his all-star band will deliver a high-energy set, and Louisa Williamson will debut her composition, The Chasm Where We Fall Into Each Other at San Fran.
The Wellington Jazz Festival programme will be held from the 16th to the 20th of October.
