One of the country’s best exponents of the gypsy jazz genre, Leigh Jackson returns to the Wellington Jazz Club bringing his band Hot Café back for another gig of exciting rhythms and spectacular guitar technique. Driving up tempo numbers, slower evocative melodies, the hot rhythms and soaring solos make for a passionate, exciting blend of gypsy jazz paying homage to Django Reinhardt and the style of the 1930s in France and Holland.

Leigh Jackson was born ‘within the sound of Bow Bells’ in Marylebone, London and has been playing the guitar since an early age. His first influence was through his uncle in London who was a recognised player in the gypsy and flamenco style. Leigh moved to New Zealand in his teens and has been playing professionally for 30 years and is fortunate to have shared the stage with many international and local artists.

He became the first person in NZ to complete a Masters degree in jazz performance which he was awarded with distinction in 2002. The founder and Head of the Jazz Guitar department of Wellington’s Massey University (New Zealand School of Music) and lecturer in Jazz Piano, Jazz Guitar Jazz Theory, Composition and Improvisation, Leigh has spent time in Holland, France and Belgium studying and playing gypsy jazz with some of the best players in Europe.

Leigh is joined by:

Sam Cooke – guitar. One of New Zealand’s best exponents of the genre, together with Leigh they are one of the finest gypsy jazz duos in New Zealand, playing their part in the gypsy jazz revival.

Nick Brown – Violin. Nik Brown's violin playing, makes for a passionate, exciting blend of jazz, paying homage to Stephane Grappelli in the true style of the Hot Club of France.

Nick Tipping - Bass. Active as a professional jazz/contemporary bass player and broadcaster, Nick has performed on stages and in clubs around his native Wellington as well as in Italy, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Seoul. His driving bass lines propel the quartet in the true Hot Café style.