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| Jazz Tui Finalists Announced The three finalists for the Best Jazz Album of 2012 have been announced with Wellington jazz evergreen Rodger Fox on the sheet for the fourth time running. Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra joins fellow Wellingtonian Tim Hopkins and Auckland's Phil Broadhurst in the quest for the year's best jazz album Tui. For the second year in a row the award – which is for albums released in the 12 months to September 2011 – is being presented at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga in April 2012. The festival showcases the nation's great local jazz talent and this year multi-Grammy award winning soul-funk superstars Earth Wind & Fire and iconic Grammy award-winning blues singer / songwriter Keb Mo have been confirmed in the line-up. Their single New Zealand concert at Tauranga is part of the 50th birthday celebrations of the National Jazz Festival over Easter. Journey Home Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra is a finalist for the album "Journey Home". Released in June 2011, it's the first CD from jazz big band legend Rodger Fox's new group and features compositions by acclaimed jazz pianist, arranger and composer Alan Broadbent. Seven Tim Hopkins is one of Australasia's leading saxophonists and his new album "Seven" – also his seventh recording – results from an extensive period of research, performance and writing. Tim Hopkins wrote, arranged and produced all seven songs on the album which was recorded at the NZ School of Music in Wellington. Hopkins' bass-less trio features guitarist Dixon Nacey and John Rae on drums, with Richard Nunns (taonga puoro) featuring on two tracks. Delayed Reaction "Delayed Reaction" is jazz pianist and composer Phil Broadhurst's first solo outing in seven years. The recording is inspired by – and is a tribute to – the life and work of French jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani; five of whose compositions feature on the album with new treatments from Broadhurst. "Delayed Reaction" also features five Broadhurst compositions inspired by Petrucciani. Both "Delayed Reaction" and "Seven" are released on Rattle Records while "Journey Home" is released by Jayrem Records. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand managing director Chris Caddick says "As the Jazz Tui celebrates its second year at its new home in Tauranga the judges once again have a tough decision to pick a winner between three world-class albums. Sincere congratulations to the finalists, I look forward to seeing the judges' choice at the 50th National Jazz Festival." Festival director Arne Herrmann says it has been a big year for jazz in New Zealand and next year is looking huge for the national event. "It's our 50th year in 2012 – we are one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world – and we have some huge talent joining us to celebrate, headlined by Earth Wind & Fire and Keb Mo, " Herrmann says. "The New Zealand jazz scene is looking so positive right now and surely will get a great boost with the presence of all these jazz greats, both national and international and the Tui presentation." April's 2012 National Jazz Festival in Tauranga is expected to attract a 60, 000-plus audience over the five days of Easter. Tickets for the Jazz Tui finalist concert on 7 April go on sale 8 December and can be purchased from ticketdirect.co.nz. Last year's winner of the Jazz Album of the year was "Resonator" by Wellington drummer and composer Reuben Bradley. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |