JIM 2017: A Fitting Tribute

The first weekend of Spring saw the 7th edition of Jazz in Martinborough. “It was by far our best ever festival in terms of tickets sold and attendance at gigs,” says festival music director Lee Quayle. “It was a startlingly successful event that our recently departed founder Ian Cresswell would have been very proud of – though he wouldn’t like me finishing a sentence with a preposition! It really was a fitting tribute to his legacy.”
 
“Old Crez” as he is affectionately remembered would have been highly satisfied with the 2017 results for income generated, gigs played and music enjoyed.  “All three of our ticketed events sold out for the first time ever, and most of the venues had large, enthusiastic and appreciative crowds,” says Lee, “the likes of which we have never seen before.”
 
A feature of this year’s festival was the highly successful College Combos n the Cafe. “We were very pleased to be able to present four talented, confident and creative Wairarapa College bands to a Sunday morning coffee crowd at The Village Cafe,” says Lee.  “The quality and quantity of the student band contribution to our festival grows each year.  It has become a part of who we are and what we represent.” As festival  patron Rodger Fox said during the festival “This [youth jazz] is where our future performers and audiences come from, and I applaud Jazz in Martinborough for their efforts in this area.”
 
Planning is already underway for the 2018 festival, which will see the return of feature acts to the stage of the refurbished Martinborough Town Hall. “It’s going to be a huge celebration with some big names and events” says festival marketing manager Martin Lewis.