The nationally renowned ASB Queenstown Jazzfest runs from October 21-25 with over 30 bands performing in 20 different venues in the district.
"Whilst we've cut the festival back lengthwise, there's a lot more on the programme, it's just been concentrated into a shorter time frame," says organiser Simon Green. "As a result this year's festival should have much more atmosphere and energy."
But that doesn't mean that the traditional programme has completely changed. Simon says the festival still has a strong commitment to the popular free gig programme.
"The Village Green stage will be going all out with guns blazing. In fact there'll be 15 hours of free entertainment taking place on the stage alone. We'll also have stages at Remarkables Park in Frankton, on Earnslaw Park and Buckingham Green in Arrowtown."
Two highlights of the Village Freen performances will be the finals converts for the NZONE JUMPSTART Competition featuring the best of Youth and Emerging Talent artists from around New Zealand.
The counterpart to the free gig programme is the Concert Series and Simon says festival goers will be excited when they discover what's in store.
"The Memorial Hall is the hub of the convert programme and will be transformed into the ASB Jazz Club for all four days. On Friday (October 22) there are two separate converts taking place. First up is a Peggy Lee Tribute Show starring acclaimed Kiwi songstress Erna Ferryand, then pianist Bill Cunliffe and saxophonist Bob Shepherd from the USA perform along with the Rodger Fox Big Band."
"On Saturday (October 23) it's a change of pace with a Jazz 'n' Beats styled event starring Wellington's Batucada Sound Machine and Christchurch's Humlai. On Sunday (October 24) the venue is transformed again, this time onto a 1940s jazz swing bang will play and we're expecting everyone to wear pinstripes, zoot suits, feathers and frocks."
The festival has also secured the talents of Brazilian Marku Ribas for a one-off concert at Millbrook. Now in his 60s, Ribas is widely regarded as one of the masters of Brazilian music, his music mixing Caribbean and jazz influences with Brazilian rhythms.
Simon's other top tip for this year's festival is the three dinner series events. They include the "Songbirds" concerts, feature three female vocalists at threesixty, the "Piano Men" series at Les Alpes and "Jazz meets the Blues" at Wild Thyme.
"The programme this year is really exciting," he says. "We've got a great range of styles and in terms of valibre we've got top acts from Brazil, the US and Australia, some great established and up and coming NZ jazz and blues artists and the pick of local and regional artists who will also showcase their talents."
Tickets are available now for all ASB Queenstown JazzFest events at Queenstown’s i-Site on the corner of Shotover and Camp Street in Queenstown and at Queenstown Events Centre at Joe O’Connell Drive, Frankton. To book tickets by phone, call TicketDirect on 03 450 9005 or 0800 4 TICKET.
