Jazz Festival snapshot

Jazz Festival report

Friday 13 October
In the mid day sunshine a bus full of musicians cruised around the city taking jazz to the people in the streets. Passengers were invited to join the musical mayhem, many did and had a ball. It’s not often you get to play your sax on a bus.

Tuesday 17

The Space (Newtown) film night was packed. An excursion into the weird world of Sun Ra where ironically "Space is the Place". This vid wasn’t really about the music, rather it looked at one man and his philosophies. A second film looked at another crazy jazz man, Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He amazed us with his multiple wind instrumentals - three saxophones and a recorder at once at the Montreux Jazz Festival shortly before his death.

Late into the night, A Taste of Honey at the New Jazz Transplant (Old St Johns) was quiet, but the smooth lounge sounds were a good way to relax. Wellington needs a venue like this - permanently.

Friday 20

The sublime sounds of Manual Bundy and DJ Vee permeated through the Jazz Transplant. Upstairs was pure eye candy with television visuals and a view of the harbour.
Dance party massive -til the wee small hours.

Saturday 21

This is pianist Marilyn Crispell’s first visit to Aotearoa. Crispell toured with Urban Taniwha and has picked up influences from the group. She started her solo performance at the Jazz Club (the old St Johns).with the earthy sounds of clicking stones before launching in to her instrumental. Crispell played a two-hour set. Her music was definitely outside the square and she performed with amazing dexterity.

Sunday 22

In what was actually the early hours of Labour Day, patrons at the Jazz Transplant found themselves taking part in the good vibes of Electrick Brasil. While Zen and Cuff mixed it beat-wise, congos, drumkits and other Latin American beats took centre stage. A relaxed affair.

This week watch out for:

Jazz Club
Friday 27: The Bernie McGann trio - Jazz from Oz
Saturday 28: Claire Martin - UK’s best Vocalist

The Space (Newtown)
Thursday 26: The Slab - Wellington improvisation.
Sunday 29: Joe Callwood - Local composer and guitarist.

Jazz Transplant
Wednesday 25: All the Goodness: Dub Connection and Jet Jaguar - Live electronica
Friday 27: Below the Baseline: Trinity Roots and the Black Seed - Rootsy dub.
Saturday 28: S-Ence and Pulsate presents: Common Factor and Recloose - Detroit direct electro-jazz.

Also check out venues round town for all sorts of jazzy goodness.

© Scoop Media