The Wellington Jazz Festival – always a highlight of the winter months – has announced its 2017 line-up.

The international highlights are impressive with Bill Frisell and band (including the multi-talented Petra Haden). Frisell’s playing is legendary and ever-forward, his most recent album When You Wish Upon A Star is a career-best.

Superstar drummer Dave Weckl is another must-see and Dianne Reeves – one of the greatest live vocalists I’ve ever witnessed – is another not-to-be-missed big-name draw.

It’s a spectacular line-up with plenty of great Kiwi players allowed to shine also, local ensemble The Jac will be pairing with South Korea’s Black String for the culmination of a year-long collaboration. And Michael Houstoun and The Rodger Fox Big Band continue their winning combination of jazz and classical.

There’ll be plenty of free shows announced and venues all around the city will light up over a long weekend of jazz. But for now go to the site to see the big announcements. Details of the individual gigs below here.

Bill Frisell
Featuring Petra Haden, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston
8pm Wednesday 7 June
Tickets: $59 – $89
Dave Weckl & Tony Lindsay
With Adam Schroeder and Alex Sipiagin
8pm, Thursday 8 June
$49-$59
Dianne Reeves
8pm, Friday 9 June
$59-$89
Seoul Jazz: The Jac & Black String
4pm, Saturday 10 June
$39
The Comet is Coming
8pm, Saturday 10 June
$49
Harold López-Nussa Trio
7pm, Sunday 11 June
$39 – $59