About the Nelson Jazz Club

The Nelson Jazz Club Inc. was formed almost twenty years ago by a group of musicians and individuals with a common desire to share their passion for Jazz. Since then, the club has grown to a database of 220 members and supporters, and is managed by an elected committee.

Much of the early success of the club was due to the energy and leadership of well-respected local musicians and business people such as Brian Smythe, Rupert Winter, and the current president Tony Bowater.

The Club

The club has provided jazz musicians, sometimes without fee, for many festivals and public events in the Nelson and Tasman regions and has provided jazz band entertainment every Tuesday night at the Victorian Rose Hotel for the past 13 years.  Other venues, such as the legendary Chez Eelco, have featured club musicians from time to time.

The club remains active in the nurturing of potential jazz musicians by providing a supervised big band environment and a number of regular workshops for players of all levels. Professional Nelson Jazz Club musicians also work with many schools in the Nelson and Tasman-Bay region teaching jazz skills and performance. Jazz education is a strong part of our mission and our website (www.nelsonjazzclub.co.nz) assists us in promoting our mission.

The Nelson Jazz Festival

The jewel in the Nelson Jazz Club crown is the annual jazz festival. For its 19th year the festival has expanded its association with "Blues" and has rebranded as Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival. The festival centres around a number of free outdoor concerts plus a busy performance program featuring international, national and local bands and artists.

A musically rich and varied programme is presented over eight days from 2-9th January and features over 60 scheduled events. The festival launches with the Port Nelson Jazz & Bluesin the Park at Fairfield Park in Nelson and is followed by ‘Jazz in the park’ concerts in Tahuna Beach Holiday Park, Washbourn Gardens and Takaka. Families usually bring a picnic and relax in a safe and friendly environment listening to musicians and entertainers from mid- afternoon through early evening. We follow the first park concert with 7 days of entertainment during daytime, afternoon and evening at concert and sponsor venues.

The majority of funding for this years festival is being provided by sponsors, venue owners and grants from supporting trusts. We are fortunate to have Woollaston Estates as our major sponsor and Port Nelson as our Platinum sponsor. This has allowed us to expand the festival this year and secure international performers from USA, Australia and NZ.

Supporting venues include The Vic Mac’s Brewbar, Smugglers Pub & Café, Grand Mercure Monaco Resort, House of Ales, The Playhouse, Lambretta’s, Wharfside Restaurant, Rutherford Hotel Nelson, Woollaston Estates, Nelson School of Music, Nelson Provincial Museum, The Boathouse, Fashion Island and Tahuna Beach Holiday Park.