The Auckland Jazz Festival is back for 2016, with great jazz and improvised music to take place from 12-23 October across Auckland.

Co-ordinated by CJC Creative Jazz Club Aoteaora, for 12 days the festival expands to be truly Auckland-wide, partnering with venues from Howick to Riverhead, Devonport to Titirangi, and of course many central city locations.

As well as returning key partner venues CJC, now at The Albion, The Vic Theatre, LOT23, The Golden Dawn and Hallertau, the festival is working in new partnerships with the Uxbridge Arts and Culture Centre and The Titirangi Festival of Music, and the Rockshop’s Backbeat Bar, Neck of The Woods and The Esplanade Hotel, to introduce new audiences to the festival, and take great music to excellent venues around our city.

Collaboration between international visitors and local artists is a strong theme this year with concerts by The Rodger Fox FunkBone Experience featuring DeWayne Pateand Dave Mathews from the USA, German pianist Florian Ross with the powerhouse trio of Roger Manins, Ron Samsom and Olivier Holland, Italian violinist Luca Ciarla working with Carolina Moon and Nigel Gavin, Sydney pianist Matt McMahon with drummer Reuben Bradley (wgtn) and Cameron McArthur, and returning to NZ the international collaboration between New Caledonian organ impresario Michel Benebig and USA jazz guitar legend Carl Lockett.

Many more local luminaries are featured in the festival including Nathan Haines, Jonathan Crayford, Jennifer Zea, Dan Sperber’s Spammerz, Miho Wada, Reuben Bradley, Lewis McCallum and more.

Keep an eye out on www.aucklandjazzfestival.co.nz soon, as event details are announced over the coming weeks.