Two Aotearoa Icons, One night of jazz and hip-hop
Fusing the modern big band sound with Aotearoa-New Zealand hip-hop, the Rodger Fox Big Band headlines this year’s
Wellington Jazz Festival, collaborating with multi-award-winning Aotearoa hip-hop legend King Kapisi. This performance
also features special guest, supremo blues vocalist Erna Ferry.
Premiering new arrangements of the Silver Scroll Award-winner's back catalogue, which evoke the spirit and emotion of
King Kapisi's original tracks, this performance will combine hip hop’s driving rhythms with a fat brass sound creating a
distinctly Aotearoa sound.
Live at the Michael Fowler Centre at 8.00 pm on Friday, 27 October, be there to see King Kapisi’s much-anticipated
return to the stage with the Rodger Fox Big Band.
King Kapisi, a pioneer of New Zealand hip-hop, was honoured with the prestigious Silver Scroll Award at the APRA Awards
in 1999 for his single 'Reverse Resistance.' Keeping true to his roots, King Kapisi uses his music to embrace his
Pacific heritage and the essence of the hip-hop scene. He advocates for "keeping it real" by celebrating one's culture,
embracing language, and acknowledging one's roots.
The Rodger Fox Big Band, celebrated as New Zealand's foremost exponent of big band music, boasts an illustrious history
of over 90 New Zealand compositions and 76 recorded tracks. Throughout their journey they have collaborated with some of
the jazz world's most esteemed artists, including Michael Brecker, Dennis Chambers, Mike Stern, Kurt Elling, Michael
Houstoun, and Simon O'Neill.
Rodger Fox, the visionary behind the band, expressed his excitement for the upcoming performance: "We look forward to
seeing old friends at the Festival and making many new ones, but tickets are selling fast. To avoid disappointment,
secure your tickets now."
Don't miss this extraordinary convergence of musical brilliance. Join the Rodger Fox Big Band, King Kapisi, and special
guest Erna Ferry for an unforgettable night of jazz and hip-hop fusion at the Wellington Jazz Festival.
To purchase tickets, visit the Wellington Jazz Festival website.