Capital City Big Band: TNT!

Celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with this free, whānau-friendly Wellington Jazz Festival event featuring TNT!, a bold new bilingual musical collaboration that brings together the explosive power of big band jazz and the rich storytelling of te ao Māori.

This special project sees Wellington's Capital City Big Band joining powerhouse vocalist Lisa Tomlins with her rōpū kaiwaiata (including amongst others, songstress GiGi Crayford) in  a morning of bold sounds, beautiful lyricism and big band energy.

Presented in English and te reo Māori, TNT! features traditional waiata Māori showband favourites alongside Great American Songbook jazz standards translated into te reo Māori and arranged for big band.

Expect bespoke arrangements, newly commissioned works and music that moves between jazz, te reo Māori, and kaupapa Māori, all delivered with warmth, creativity and heart.

Consider this a warm-up to the 2026 Wellington Jazz Festival before it takes over the city in October.