Manawatu Jazz Festival to swing into its 50th birthday

The Manawatu Jazz Festival is looking to enter its 50th year in full swing.

Organiser Rodger Fox said the festival had humble beginnings, with only four acts in the lineup, but now featured a jam-packed programme that was stronger than ever.

‘‘It’s a community-friendly festival and I think that’s what makes it work,’’ he said.

‘‘I think a lot of the other festivals are concert-friendly, so you have to put your hand in your pocket, but ours has plenty of free stuff as well.’’

The festival, which spans nine days, includes big international acts like Chris Cain, Dave Weckl and Tony Lindsay through to homegrown acts like The All Girl Big Band from Christchurch, Palmerston North’s Erna Ferry and The Twin City Stompers from Napier.

Fox said having Lindsay, who was the lead singer of Santana for 20 years, coming to Palmerston North was incredible.

‘‘There are so many amazing acts in the lineup this year, some phenomenal artists. ‘‘There are so many highlights. ‘‘There is a lot to pick from.’’ Manawatu Jazz Club president David Edge organises the Cafe Scene side of the festival, which includes cafes, pubs, and other locations throughout Palmerston North and Feilding.

Edge said the festival has had more musicians on offer than any other festival in New Zealand.

‘‘One of the American piano players, Bill Cunliffe, said that he thought he had never seen so many musicians in one spot in a town anywhere else in the world,’’ he said.

‘‘The main acts for the gala are quite astonishing.

‘‘The Cafe Scene will really be fantastic this year, we are really excited.’’

The festival also offers an educational element with a high school and youth band competition, a drum workshop by Weckl and open workshops presented by musicians from the Jazz Gala Concert and tutors from the New Zealand School of Music.

Fox said the interest in jazz was ‘‘clearly still there’’.

‘‘We started this 50 years ago and look at us, we are still at it,’’ he said.

The 50th Manawatu Jazz Festival opens on May 27 and runs till June 4.

For more information on the festival go to: http:/ /www.mjc.org.nz/index.php/festival/