Jazz Up Christchurch Jazz Jam

09/12/2025

Friday 8pm. Come along y'all

08/10/2025

Tonight!!

03/08/2025

Photos from our Grand Finale on 17 June 2025

Peter Moore took a bunch of photos in the last hour of our finale. Most of these photos are courtesy of Peter, except for some earlier pics I had taken for photos of Quillan & Frank, Matt & Reiss & Fabricio, Quillan & Zoe - all played in our Finale - and some still from video shots

The grand finale was our 76th jam since we started on 30 November 2021. JazzUp was started by Alice Steele, Michael Gordon & Steve Landis. Michael was back for the finale. Our house band for the finale was Michael on sax and other JazzUp faithfuls Will Kao on trombone, Julius Hlavac on keys, Frank Stedman on drums, Russell Stedman on bass.

And the best crowd ever - we filled up fast and there was standing room only for half the night.

The picture of me (Russell) with Pip Taylor, our host at Good Times, is pretty special. Pip has been the most wonderful host, she’s really been an honorary member of the house band, taking care of us and our guests at nearly every jam over the last 3.5 years. I’m holding a delicious cake with a JAM filling (get it?!) baked by Reiss herself, and a Jim Beam courtesy of Lachie, which goes down smooth.

The video of the full finale is here … https://youtu.be/v71TCgOxTBc

Links to all the other videos from JazzUp over the years are in this document … https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gGupX9PZhoFNsIvk5PSzPEGR4oodECozTJLnvC1qqWE/edit?usp=sharing 

Thanks everyone for your support for JazzUp over 3.5 years - cheers, Russell

07/06/2025

Our finale for JazzUp will be held at our next jam, Tuesday 17 June at 7pm. It will be our 76th and grandest jam, ending a great run that began 30 November 2021.

Founding father Michael Gordon, back from overseas for a few weeks, will be joining us in the house band. Alongside Michael will be some of our most regular house band regulars … Will Kao, Julius Hlavac, Frank Stedman, Russell Stedman.

We hope many of our house band alumni, and as many of our followers over the years as possible, will join us for a last hurrah on the 17th. Let's make it a great farewell.

17/05/2025

JazzUp Ōtautahi Christchurch Jazz Jam

Coming up this Tuesday 20th May, our house band is Tama Tuhou, Serge Beaton, Julius Hlavac, Andrew Couper, Russell Stedman

Come and play, listen, have a beverage and some food. Great time to connect with musicians and friends.

A starter list of jazz standards is available in the photos. The venue is Good Times Comedy Club, 224 St Asaph Street.

22/02/2025

Friends of Jazz Up bringing you a tribute to Amy Winehouse this Sunday 23rd Feb 2pm. Tickets at https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/a-rolling-stone-intimate-tribute-to-amy/christchurch

06/01/2025

01/12/2024

JazzUp Christchurch Jazz Jam

Come and play, listen, have a beverage and some food. Great time to connect with musicians and friends!
A starter list of jazz standards is available in the photos. The venue is Good Times Comedy Club, 224 St Asaph Street.

Hosts for this session:
Michael Gordon - saxophone
William Kao - trombone
Julius Hlavac - keys
Andrew Couper - drums
Russell Stedman - bass

11/10/2024

JazzUp Christchurch Jazz Jam

Come and play, listen, have a beverage and some food. Great time to connect with musicians and friends!
A starter list of jazz standards is available in the photos. The venue is Good Times Comedy Club, 224 St Asaph Street.

Hosts for this session:
Michael Gordon - saxophone
William Kao - trombone
Nanako Sato - keys
Finley Tressler - drums
Russell Stedman - bass