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Current and Upcoming
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
The upcoming Fiesta! Fiesta! concert from the Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra will celebrate the energy, rhythm and richness of Latin jazz, featuring three of Aotearoa’s leading Latin American musicians: Rafael Ferrer Noel (Cuba), Mikey Trujillo (Peru) and Carlos Navae (Mexico).
The programme explores the vibrant musical traditions and innovations that emerged through the meeting of jazz and Afro-Latin music, featuring works associated with legendary artists and groups including Dizzy Gillespie and the groundbreaking Cuban ensemble Irakere, alongside music from a range of influential Latin composers and musicians.
A central influence on the concert is the revolutionary collaboration between Gillespie and Cuban percussionist and composer Chano Pozo in the late 1940s. Their partnership fundamentally reshaped modern jazz, combining the harmonic sophistication and improvisational language of bebop with Afro-Cuban rhythms and percussion traditions. Works such as Manteca and Tin Tin Deo are now regarded as landmarks in the development of Afro-Cuban jazz, opening the door for generations of musicians to explore the creative possibilities between jazz and Latin music traditions.
The concert will also highlight the music and influence of Irakere, one of the most important Latin jazz groups of the 20th century. Formed in Cuba in the 1970s and led by pianist Chucho Valdés, Irakere fused jazz, Afro-Cuban ritual music, rock, classical music and Cuban popular traditions into a bold and highly original sound. The group became internationally celebrated for its virtuosity, rhythmic power and innovation, and launched the careers of major artists including Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D'Rivera. Their influence continues to resonate throughout contemporary jazz and Latin music worldwide.
Audiences can expect an evening of powerful grooves, large ensemble energy, improvisation and celebration, as the orchestra brings together musicians and musical traditions from across Aotearoa and Latin America in a concert that highlights both virtuosity and cultural connection.
Music of Aotearoa
14th October, 2026 #Welljazzfest
Tickets coming soon! New NZ Music!
PAST PERFORMANCES
Past Performances
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
6th March, MeowNUI
The Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra (AoJO) returns to Wellington with a contemporary re-imagining of one of the most influential works of the 20th century: George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The performance takes place at Meow Nui on Thursday 6 March at 7.00pm, featuring acclaimed pianist Ben Wilcock.
First heard in 1924, Rhapsody in Blue broke new ground by fusing jazz language with symphonic form. In this performance, AoJO honours the essence of Gershwin’s original while re-examining the work through a modern big band lens — expanding its orchestral colours, rhythmic drive, and improvisational possibilities for today’s audiences.
AoJO Musical Director John Rae says the orchestra approached the piece with both respect and curiosity:
“Gershwin was writing music that looked forward, not backward. Our aim with this version of Rhapsody in Blue is to treat it the same way, to honour the original while allowing it to speak in a contemporary jazz language that feels alive right now.”
The performance features pianist Ben Wilcock, widely regarded as one of Aotearoa’s leading jazz artists, whose international career spans Europe, the UK, and New Zealand.
“Ben brings an incredible combination of authority, imagination, and openness to this music,” says Rae. “He understands Gershwin from the inside out, and he’s not afraid to take risks, which is exactly what this piece demands.”
Wilcock has been praised internationally for his distinctive musical voice: “Wilcock combines dazzling technical command with a rare sense of musical narrative — his playing is both fearless and deeply expressive.” — All About Jazz
Another review described him as “A pianist of remarkable clarity and imagination, equally at home in classical repertoire and cutting-edge jazz.”
Alongside this project, AoJO continues its broader mission of developing large-ensemble jazz in Aotearoa and creating meaningful performance opportunities for local musicians.
“The Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra exists to celebrate, develop, and present contemporary large-ensemble jazz in Aotearoa — supporting our musicians, engaging new audiences, and placing this music in a living cultural context rather than a museum one.”
Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
16th October, 2025
AoJO Inaugural Concert
Come and witness an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the birth of a new era in Aotearoa’s jazz history.
This historic concert marks the inaugural performance of the Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra, a long-awaited dream realized through the legacy and vision of the late, great Rodger Fox. Known for his tireless dedication to jazz in New Zealand, Fox envisioned a national orchestra that would elevate big band music to new heights. Under the leadership of internationally renowned composer and musician John Rae, this performance embodies Fox’s passion for jazz and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of Aotearoa’s musical talent.
The highlight of this evening’s program is Duke Ellington’s arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky—a groundbreaking fusion of classical and jazz that has been hailed as one of Ellington’s most inventive works. Collaborating with the brilliant Billy Strayhorn, Ellington reimagines the familiar themes of Tchaikovsky’s ballet with a swinging, soulful big band sound. The result is a captivating blend of lush orchestration, rhythmic complexity, and melodic innovation.
A stellar line-up of Aotearoa’s finest jazz musicians will bring this iconic work to life, featuring a mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talents, all uniting to celebrate New Zealand’s jazz scene.
From brass to rhythm section, each musician will lend their virtuosity to this ambitious interpretation, celebrating the unique sound of our nation's jazz community.
This performance is more than just a concert; it’s a moment of cultural significance for New Zealand, bringing together tradition, innovation, and the spirit of collaboration. The Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra’s first performance is a milestone in the national jazz landscape, honoring both Rodger Fox’s legacy and the dynamic, diverse voices that shape New Zealand’s musical identity today.
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