Martinborough’s annual jazz festival, held in the first weekend of Spring, was a sell out!
“We had two ticketed shows and they both sold out. We’re very pleased with this level of success,” says festival producer Ted Preston. “Both the Retro Pack playing The Great American Songbook and the Duncan Haynes Cool Jazz/West Coast Sessions were highly anticipated and delivered above expectations to sold out audiences,” he added.
Andrew London, with April Phillips, and the Retro Pack performed to their usual high standard on the Friday night show. “The musicianship and skills of these performers is great to have here in our small town,” says music director Lee Quayle. “Every time we see Andrew here in Martinborough his fans go away very happy and thoroughly entertained. And Duncan was received with equal warmth and appreciation.”
Mike Laven attended the Saturday show and commented: “Just writing to say how much I enjoyed the JIM Saturday jazz session recently. It was great to see some of the top musicians from the Wellington scene coming over the hill and delivering a killer set of west coast jazz. So good to hear top musicians come together for one night and blow the roof off the town hall!”
The town also had half a dozen gigs, in a smaller rendition of the usually much larger festival. “Our small team is very grateful to Union Square, Palliser Estate, Karahui and Martinborough Brewery for their hosting of these gigs,” says Ted. “And a special thanks goes to the likes of Charlotte Harding for her unswerving enthusiasm and organisational assistance,” he adds.
And they couldn’t have put on a festival of any kind without food from the GoodTimes FoodTruck and beverages from Stad-Ko Winery. “Behind the scenes help also came from Anna O’Connell from the Council and Barbara Hyde at Destination Wairarapa”, explains Ted.
