KEY POINTS:
When the finalists for jazz album of the year were announced in late September I was surprised by the list - I'd not only never heard these albums, I'd never heard of them.
None of the releases had been sent to the Herald - where I've reviewed as many worthy local jazz albums as I could for 20 years - for our consideration.
And although all the finalists come from Wellington, it would have been nice to find them in Auckland stores.
Anyway, at the opening of the 10th Wellington International Jazz and Blues Festival tonight we'll hear who the winner is.
Here's who's up for consideration.
The Vaughn Roberts Big Band looks set to give the long-running Rodger Fox band a run for their money in the stacked-up horns stakes.
Their Grrreat Stuff! debut showcases Roberts' original compositions, from rollicking upbeat swing (the terrific finger-popping Happy Song, inspired by Louis Prima) to more reflective pieces (the intimate passages in I Can Assure You).
The band includes familiar and mature players (guitarist Lance Su'a, tenor player Roger Mannins, pianist Charmaine Ford, and tenor sax/clarinettist Colin Hemmingsen, alongside younger musicians, many of whom I'm guessing come from the School of Music where Roberts and Hemmingsen lecture.
Trumpet and flugelhorn player Roberts' background includes bands on cruise ships and in his travels he's certainly picked up styles: New Orleans street march funk, exotic meringue, pop balladry (Debbie's Thought), Basie-influenced bounce'n'swing, slightly more esoteric ideas and, on the hilariously spiralling and busy Cwazy Wabbit, a homage/pastiche of Disney-style tunes in reaction to the commercialism of Disney World in Florida.
There's a sense of excitement and fun throughout this album, but Roberts doesn't overstate the case and this just swings out, sits back, or strolls with confidence.
In the small world of New Zealand jazz - and the microcosm that is Wellington - it is no surprise that bassist Paul Dyne's album Shelter of the Ti Tree also features Roberts and Mannins, as well as his longtime friend and drummer Roger Sellers and pianist Jonathan Crayford.
The album is emblematic of what happens when sympathetic musicians come together - the playing is as fluid and seamless as the soloists, including vibes player John Bell; and the arrangements suit Dyne's material, which includes the gorgeously reflective ballad Blue and Blue, and an effortless sounding blues Benny G (in which Roberts shines) dedicated to the great American tenor player Benny Golson.
With Nick van Dijk and Johnny Lippiett (trombone and tenor), the line-up becomes an octet for three fine pieces, among them the outstanding Minor Knock written for and about pianist Mike Nock (who contributes the liner notes).
This is a sometimes introspective, meditative album and illustrates the virtue of understatement, and the mutual sensitivity between the players. A real gem.
Tenor player and clarinettist Hemmingsen, who plays in Roberts' band, has had a long career juggling jazz work with classical playing.
He is also an educator and his playing sometimes has an academic - but far from detached - air about it. He is one of our best and most self-effacing jazz musicians.
His album The Rite of Spring - which has longtime friend Phil Broadhurst on piano - is, as the title suggests, a swinging affair - but, and this is Hemmingsen's style, it is never obstreperous.
It is a considered if sometimes cautious affair which is at its best on the moving ballads (Broadhurst's composition Higgins is superb), although interest here is also held by the leader shifting from saxophones to bassoon from which he brings that wonderful woody tone to some lively numbers. The best stuff happens in the second half on tracks like the angular and up-tempo Roadworthy.
So those are the three finalists at tonight's award in Wellington. Much like what has happened with the roots-rock scene in Wellington spawning bands from a small gene pool, so it is with capital-city jazz. Three albums with a cross-pollination of players.
Finally someone not of that group - guitarist Gianmarco Ligouri plays in Auckland's space-ambient surf-rock outfit Salon Kingsadore.
However, for his album Stolen Paintings he calls on jazz musicians, including his former trumpet tutor Kim Paterson, keyboardist Murray McNabb, saxophonist Brian Smith, bassist Andy Atwell and percussionist Miguel Fuentes.
Influenced by 60s soundtrack composers, Ligouri creates music which evokes moods and images and - because he admits he can't write music - lets his fellow musicians expand the ideas in the manner of their choosing.
There is a lively Latin feel throughout, but tracks move through musical moods and ideas with confidence, and your attention never wavers.
On the evidence of this album, Ligouri would be welcome back to this genre any time he wants.
The Vaughn Roberts Big Band: Grrreat Stuff!
Herald rating: 3/5
Label: Rata/Ode
Boisterous but sensitive big band showcase for young and older talents.
Paul Dyne: Shelter of the Ti Tree
Herald rating: 4/5
Label: Rata/Ode
Bassist Dyne leads a small ensemble into intimate and thoughtful areas.
Colin Hemmingsen: The Rite of Swing
Herald rating: 3/5
Label: Rata/Ode
Bridges jazz and classical worlds in a rare outing under his own name.
Gianmarco Ligouri: Stolen Paintings
Herald rating: 4/5
Label: Sarang Bang
Rock guitarist joins forces with jazz players, engaging soundtracks result.
