Wait almost over for jazz aficionados

April 3, 2012

Wait almost over for jazz aficionados

The countdown is almost over for jazz aficionados, with the start of the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival now just days away.

Tickets have been selling strongly for the Christchurch festival which had to be cancelled last year because of the quakes.

“A lot of people in Christchurch are really into jazz music and they missed the festival last year so they’re really hanging out for their jazz fix,’’ says festival director Jodi Wright. “We’ve managed to assemble a great line-up of musicians and we’re really looking forward to giving people a chance to kick back and relax with some live jazz and blues.’’

International stars performing at the festival include Australian jazz trumpeter James Morrison, who will be performing a tribute to the legendary Duke Ellington with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and German jazz great Klaus Doldinger.

Kiwi singer and songwriter Annie Crummer will make her debut appearance at the festival, where she is promising to give audiences a sneak preview of material from her new CD, Project Annie.C.

The festival will also feature a special concert honouring the contribution women have made to jazz over the years as well as a show celebrating Christchurch’s jazz icons.

“The festival programme provides for shows at night and during the day so there are lots of opportunities for people to discover the joys of live jazz. There are still tickets are available for many of the shows so it is not too late to secure a seat,’’ Ms Wright says.

The GeoDome in North Hagley Park will be the venue for many of the concerts during the festival, but performances will also be taking place at the CBS Canterbury Arena and the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology campus.

The festival starts on Wednesday, April 11 and runs until Sunday, April 15. For full details of the festival line-up and information on where to buy tickets, log onto www.jazzfestivalnz.com.

ENDS

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