The concert highlight of the 2012 NZSM Jazz Festival, Jazz Jazz Jazz will be a showcase of legendary, expert and rising jazz talent.
The concert will feature the superb saxophonists Bennie Maupin and Dick Oatts from the USA. Between them they have played all over the world and performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Mike Nock, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, James Taylor...
[Maupin added the atmospheric bass-clarinet sounds to Miles Davis's seminal album 'Bitches Brew' and was a founder-member of 'Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters' as well as co-composer of 'Chameleon'.]
They will play with the award winning NZSM Big Band directed by NZ jazz icon Rodger Fox, and alongside staff and alumni of NZSM. Guest artists will be the New Zealand Youth Jazz Band, who have had an intensive week working with Dick Oatts. The music will range widely from big band standards through Latin and percussion and Jazz choir to combos.
This is rapidly becoming a highlight of the jazz calendar and a rare opportunity to hear these legendary players alongside the best in New Zealand.
You can see and hear some of the NZSM Big Band and guest artist performances at the 2011 NZSM Jazz Festival and Gala Concert on the NZSM Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/album/1709689
The concert is a part of the NZSM Jazz Festival which runs from Thursday 16 August through Friday and Saturday from 9:00am–5:30pm. Thirty secondary school big bands, jazz bands and combos from Northland to Christchurch come to Wellington to perform, share, participate in workshops and clinics, learn and compete for trophies and awards. Public are welcome to observe: Adults $10 for a day pass – students free.
NZSM acknowledges generous funding support from the NZ Jazz Foundation, Wellington Jazz Club, Wellington City Council and the Lion Foundation.
