Hot Cafe
July 20 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Hot Café
20 July 2025
Doors open 4.15pm.
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 in the style of the Hot Club of France.
Expect to hear tunes such as La Mer, Under Paris Skies, Douce Ambiance and Django Reinhardt classics from the Manouche repertoire.
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 more than 30 years and is fortunate to have shared the stage with many international and local artists as a Jazz, Rock and Fusion guitarist.
In his varied career he has been a producer, university lecturer, teacher and composer and holds a Masters degree with distinction in jazz guitar performance.