Yes! Jazz in Martinborough is all set to bring another Spring festival to the town, starting with a jazz evening in The Village Cafe. Other main gigs will also be held in the Cafe this year as the Town Hall is scheduled to be closed for strengthening and renovations. Her Worship the Mayor Adrienne Staples has agreed to declare the festival open next day at the first major gig, Friday 2 September.
Music Director Ted Preston is busy booking musicians and venues. He says it’s going to be great! Lee Quayle continues in charge of publicity and will promote the full programme soon. JIM will be continuing the policy of a ticket charge for major gigs but with no admission fee anywhere else. That means free music in othe cafes and bars, in some shops, in Circus Cinema and wherever musicians can play.
A preliminary event, before the main Festival, will be Fresh Jam – an afternoon and evening for the secondary schools of Wairarapa to play jazz (maybe more) in the Kuranui College auditorium, organised by Bruce McMichael. Noted jazzman Rodger Fox has offered his services free of charge for a workshop with the students in the afternoon. Then each College will play their own selection in the evening. With so many players, teachers, family and friends, the auditorium will be pretty full but members of the public will be welcome (subject to space constraints).
Full details of JIM Fest 2016 will be announced later.
