Top jazz returns to Christchurch's favourite haunts

News release
12 January 2015

Top jazz returns to Christchurch's favourite haunts

The Cavell Leitch New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival is back in Christchurch this April, featuring top names in the music world including Fantine, James Morrison, and Nathan Haines.

From 7 to 12 April, Christchurch will be celebrating the return of the sultry sounds of jazz to some of the city’s best venues.

Festival Director, Jodi Wright is thrilled to be bringing the festival back to Christchurch’s Arts Centre after five years.

“Audiences will have a feast of jazz and blues music to look forward to in this beautifully redesigned heritage setting. We can’t wait to be back,” she says.

Following extensive post-earthquake renovations, the newly opened ‘The Gym’ at the Arts Centre will play host to the Dormer Jazz Cabaret Club, featuring local and international stars every evening for two shows at7pm and 9pm. It will also be the setting for Jazz for Lunch, daily at 1pm.

For her first time in New Zealand, multi-talented singer and songwriter Fantine is performing several shows at the festival, including Jazz in the Cathedral at the Transitional Cathedral on 8 April, with Oval Office at The Bedford on 9 April, and at the Dormer Jazz Cabaret Club at the Arts Centre on 10 April.

Now based in Miami, and with Russian and Dominican heritage, Fantine Pritoula is quickly becoming an international star. Her acclaimed album ‘I am Fantine’ was produced by the legendary Emilio Estefan.

“Fantine is a bright new talent, and this is an opportunity not be missed,” says Jodi Wright.

Another highlight for 2015 is the return of a festival favourite, James Morrison, presenting an A to Z of Jazz with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and special guest British vocalist Hetty Kate.

The Transitional Cathedral debuted as a stand-out festival venue last year, and will be back for its second Jazz in the Cathedral series.

“The ‘Cardboard’ Cathedral provides such superb acoustics and a real soul-lifting atmosphere,” Jodi Wright says.

It will be the place for jazz, blues, soul and swing with Swing 42, Fantine, Mary Coughlan and Nathan Haines from 7 to 10 April. On Sunday 12 April there will be a special Stu Buchanan Tribute with the Garden City Big Band at 1.30pm.

A legend of 20 years and 10 albums, saxophonist Nathan Haines is returning to Christchurch bringing his seven-piece band and new sounds from his latest album, ‘5 a day’. Irish singer Mary Coughlan, a Christchurch favourite, has also chosen the Cathedral to debut her new album ‘Alchemists Gold’.

Jazz Dine is returning to The George hotel in 2015, matching the best Black Estate Wines with culinary delights and soulful sounds for three nights from 7 to 9 April.

“Jazz Dine has proved extremely popular over the past two years, and we know it will be another sell-out this year,” she says.

The full programme for the Cavell Leitch New Zealand Jazz and Blues Festival 2015 will be released on 20 February. More information about the festival is online at www.jazzbluesfestival.co.nz

Tickets for the James Morrison and CSO's A to Z of Jazz at Horncastle Arena are available fromticketek.co.nz. All festival events are available through dashtickets.co.nz.

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