It’s not everyday in Christchurch that you have the opportunity to experience world class jazz music. However, this October you get the opportunity to indulge in world-class live music when NCRE hosts Jef Neve and The Piano.

In recent years, Jef Neve has grown into one of Belgium’s most famous jazz musicians. His album Spirit Control got to the top 10 of the Belgian pop chart in the first week of its release – unheard of for a jazz artist. But is it still jazz? And if so, does it matter?

Neve is someone who does not think in boxes, and approaches each project with an open mind, which has resulted in exciting collaborations that cannot be captured in one genre. From Toots Thielemans to Jonathan Jeremiah, José James to Jamie Cullum, and  Dutch rapper Typhoon to Gabriel Rios and Kobe Proesmans, every time the exchange of ideas has produced musical fireworks.

This time round, there is a remarkable duet with American pop musician Sam Sparro called Caterpillar. Again, not an obvious combination, but you can hear both artists almost literally step out of their comfort zones and (maybe for that very reason) create a result that is as surprising as it is successful. “I like a taste of everything, and it’s not in my nature to rule out any cooperation in advance. I’m open to experimentation. Often it’s the very thing that enriches my music” says Neve.

As Mary James of the London Jazz News describes, “Neve writes beautiful tunes that hang around in your head and send you back to replay this album again and again, so satisfying is his virtuosity and eloquency of feeling. This is a truly beautiful personal album of many layers and subtle colours from the master of emotional intensity truly at ease with himself.”

Jef Neve will be bringing music from his new album, Spirit Control, to The Piano on Thursday 12 October at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased via Eventfinder here>