Spring Jazz Festival

After a couple of tricky years, including calling off the last festival with just two weeks to go, Jazz in Martinborough (JiM) is back, albeit in a new form.

“We’re calling it a Spring Jazz Celebration,” says JiM producer Ted Preston.

The festival has suffered the ravages of covid including the loss of many key personnel. “We’re a hardy bunch of remainders who, with the help and support of the community, have rallied around to produce two jazz concerts on our traditional first weekend in September,” adds Ted.

The Spring Jazz Celebration includes a return to the iconic Martinborough Town Hall at the Waihenga Centre for the two concerts. “On the Friday night we will have Andrew London returning to Martinborough with April Phillips and The Retro Pack playing the Great American songbook,” says music director Lee Quayle. “And I’m very pleased to say we have managed to bring back Duncan Haynes, after having so much interest in his concert last year - before it was sadly cancelled.” Duncan will be presenting the Cool Jazz/West Coast Sessions as a part of his Directions in Jazz series.