Jazz in Martinborough

Putting Some Swing into Spring
Jazz in Martinborough 2025

Let Jazz in Martinborough put some swing, blues, jazz, live music into your Spring in the first week of September.

Saturday will headline the Royal New Zealand Airforce Jazz Orchestra who promises to bring back the swing with a show that features tunes from the band’s extensive musical history and that highlights their vibrant contemporary talent.

And on the Friday night you can end your working week with a jazz-club experience like no other as we bring you the cream of Wellington jazz talent in the form of April’s Fools. A six-piece combo that will deliver “an experience that transports the audience to another era, where the essence of jazz and blues reigns supreme”.

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Concert for Rotary
Ol'King Cole

Jazz in Martinborough have partnered with South Wairarapa Rotary to present an extra concert in 2025.

We’ve engaged the sublime quintet Ol’ King Cole, paired with the sultry voice of Wallace, guaranteed to transport you to the New York jazz clubs of the 1960s. Street food and drinks are available for purchase at the venue, so you can wine and dine your way through the evening - and all for a good local cause.

For this special performance Ol’ King Cole are: Wallace - featured vocals, Louis Thompson-Munn - piano + vocals, Lockie Bennett - guitar, Robert Henderson - double bass, joined by Mike Jensen - drums.

Ol’ King Cole brings you the hits and celebrates the music of the great Nat ‘King’ Cole & performs the sounds of many other great tunes & artists of his era & more along the way. The group was originally inspired specifically with a focus on Nat’s early drumless trio which has now expanded for this special show and features Wellington based vocalist Wallace. The core trio consisting of Robert Henderson on double bass along with Lockie Bennett on guitar and Louis Thompson-Munn on piano are also joined by prolific jazz drummer Mike Jensen.

A great and lively performance is always a guarantee with the spirit of the old house band alive, before TVs in bars and when people would dance the night away!

Be Transported
April's Fools

Imagine stepping back in time to a speak easy club. A smoky, dimly lit room where the anticipation is electric but the vibe is laid-back and relaxed. . .

From the stage a jazz swing and blues band begins to play, their instruments blending seamlessly in a harmonious symphony of sound. The rhythm section, with its upright bass and snare drums, lays down a groove that's impossible to resist, while the saxophone punctuates the air with soulful notes.

At the forefront stands a captivating female singer, her voice rich and velvety, weaving tales of heartache, joy, and everything in between. Her vocal prowess brings both swing and blues to life, effortlessly moving from sultry, slow blues ballads to energetic, foot-tapping swing numbers.

This band doesn't just play music; they create an experience that transports the audience to another era, where the essence of jazz and blues reigns supreme.

Welcome to an evening of superb swing jazz and blues brought to you by the band that is April’s Fools.

April Phillips - Vocals
April is a professional and recorded jazz and blues singer. Reviewers have described her as having a "voice of honey" and she's been compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Krall. She has performed on screen and stage in New Zealand and overseas and her shows have featured at jazz clubs and festivals including the Nelson, Tauranga and Wellington Jazz Festivals. Overseas she has sung on stage in Montreux, New Orleans with the Louisiana Spice Band, at the Don't Tell Mama club in New York and in Melbourne.

Greg Crayford - Drums
Greg has over thirty years professional experience as a musician and he holds a post- graduate degree in performance jazz drums (B.A. Mus. Hons).

Greg's group Pleasure Point has various incarnations who have played at most of NZ's national and international jazz festivals. He is also a current or past member of dozens of local bands; has played on radio and tv shows; accompanied overseas artists such as The Drifters; and recorded or toured with local legends suc Rodger Fox and Frankie Stevens. He’s also involved in high school jazz, NZ Youth Jazz Orchestra and with shows and artists too numerous to mention - check out the website for a full list!

Zak Dikvert - Guitar
Zak Dikvert brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the band. He has been playing jazz guitar professionally for more than 25 years.

He has performed with his own jazz band The Zak Pak (including at Jazz in Martinborough) and lent his guitar talent and vocals to many local jazz and swing bands.

Nicholas Baucke-Maunsell - Saxophone
Nicholas is an accomplished saxophonist, composer and educator. He has performed extensively across Aotearoa and internationally including the Rodger Fox Big Band and Endeavour Orchestra. Nicholas has recorded and performed alongside world-class musicians such as Wayne Bergeron, Dick Oatts and Alex Sipiagin. He also has his own combo, the Nicholas Baucke-Maunsell Quartet.

Miles Crayford - Pianist
Miles is a third-generation pianist from the Crayford family. He draws on both Jazz and Latin-Jazz influences and has spent some time in South America performing.

Miles now resides in Kapiti Coast and is focused on playing the Hammond organ as well as the piano.

Rory Macartney - Bass
Originally from Tauranga New Zealand, and born to a musical family, Rory graduated from Victoria University of Wellington's NZ School of Music. Post studies he moved to London for several years, continuing to perform, study and work as a sound engineer including at Abbey Road studios.

Since returning to New Zealand, Rory has created a name for himself as one of the most versatile professional bass players in New Zealand, known for his broad range of experience playing and composing across big band jazz, blues, rock, funk, reggae and orchestral.

Big Band Brings Back the Swing
Royal New Zealand Airforce Jazz Orchestra

Jazz in Martinborough is thrilled to be bringing you the Royal New Zealand Airforce Jazz Orchestra as our feature act for 2025.

Staying true to the tradition of swing and improvisation the orchestra draws on their own rich history dating back to the original ‘swing era’. The Orchestra is a national trailblazer in big band history and features New Zealand compositions, and a classic repertoire from the golden era of big band swing jazz of Ellington and Basie.

The band benefits from a depth of talent that most military bands around the world would only dream of and is made up of Wellington’s most exceptional musicians.

The line-up will be a who’s who of the Wellington jazz scene.

It’s a while since there was a Big Band at Jazz in Martinborough. They last played at the festival in 2014. Many of the band members have been to the festival since, but not as part of a big band.

The Jazz Orchestra performs regularly at a variety of engagements, including charity balls, concerts, and festivals, and most recently a whistle stop tour of Tararua and Hawke’s Bay before playing a sold-out concert at Te Auaha in Wellington.

Membership for the Jazz Orchestra is drawn from the larger RNZAF Band which performs regularly at Parliament, Government House, and Pukeahu National War Memorial - parading for NZDF and Government ceremonies including Anzac Day, state occasions and visiting dignitaries. All members of the band are part-time reservists and hold other professions outside of their Air Force duties although many of them are freelance musicians and hold credits working with the likes of the NZSO, Orchestra Wellington, Shapeshifter, Troy Kingi and Dallas Tamaira.

RNZAF Jazz Orchestra photos by Nick George Creative

Scrumptious Platter for 2 (not available Thursday evening)

GoodTimes have joined the jazz vibe of our festival and put together a scrumptious platter for 2. These have been a hit at gin parties and functions around the region and we’re pleased to be able to offer them to our festival ticket holders.

Each platter comes with three types of cheese - brie, blue, cheddar, a beetroot cream cheese dip, a variety of charcuterie meats, tasty olives, delicious cornichons, fresh seasonal fruit, a selection of dried fruit and yummy crackers. All this for just $50.

Just select the Platter for 2 Add On option when selecting your tickets.

If you are looking for accommodation in the Wairarapa please contact the Martinborough i-SITE on 06 306 5010 or visit www.wairarapanz.com.

For more information about Jazz in Martinborough go to the website