My name is John Fenton.

In January 2020 the JazzLocal32.com blog was rated among the top 50 Jazz Blogs in the world and ranked at number 40 by Blog.Feedspot.com JazzLocal32.com is about Jazz, experimental improvisation, and related topics. It is structured as a Webzine or Improvised Music Journal, with the primary purpose of promoting and documenting musicianship where this reportage would not otherwise happen.

On occasions, the posts will explore experimental music, Flamenco, Middle Eastern, and improvised Ambient streams. With the merging of streams, you get deeper rivers. Improvised music should never stand still; if it does it becomes a museum exhibit. As musicians reach for new sounds, forms, and genres they will inevitably blur the margins. There is nothing new in this.

I am also a videographer, photographer, published poet & writer.  I am an international judge for the ‘7 Virtual Jazz Club’ and the JJA yearly Jazz awards. I am also a featured Jazz writer on Radio13.co.nz and an occaisional broadcaster.

I can also be located at JohnFentonPoetry.com

Since the Blog’s inception, it has gained momentum and it gets above 20,000 hits per annum. It has the advantage of operating in a distinct niche as I confine most of my attention to the improvised music of Australasia and the South Pacific. Only occasionally do I stray beyond those boundaries. Central to the blog is the Auckland Jazz scene and the CJC (Creative Jazz Club). The blog is read in New Zealand, Australia, USA, and around 20 other countries.

My task is to tell the musicians stories; rendering musical notes into words. I write as a listener.

Selected credits: (1) Liner Notes for ‘The Capitol Sessions’ Roger Fox Big Band, on  Rattle Jazz. – (2) Photography and liner notes ‘Ace Tone’ Rattle Jazz.- (3) Photography ‘Hip Flask’ Rattle Jazz. – (4) Photography Neil Watson’s ‘Studies in Tubular neilwatsonrecords – (5) Photograph, Stephen Small ‘Slow Drag’ Crown Japan. – (6) Photograph, Doug Lawrence home web page – Liner Notes for ‘Secret Islands’ Jim Langabeer – Photograph on ‘Blew Note’ album by Greg Crayford 

I am a ‘Professional Member’ of the ‘Jazz Journalists Association‘.

My blog ‘JazzLocal32.com’ is a registered domain name

I host an open Facebook group page also titled ‘Jazz Local 32’ and that is available to musicians and Jazz fans alike. It acts as a feeder to the blog. Lastly, there is a YouTube channel covering years of live local improvised music. It can be found by typing ‘Jazz Local 32‘ into YouTube/Google or John Fenton Jazz into YouTube search. It is a popular page with an excess of 100,000 views

I am an active member of the CJC (Creative Jazz Club) and I belong to the NZ Jazz Federation.

I perform poetry with improvised music and my photographs are credited on websites in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.

Thank you for reading and visiting.

John Fenton

  Thanks for the positive and perceptive reviews John. Look forward to catching up soon. Chairs! Mike Nock 

 John it a pleasure to know you man and I really appreciate your dedication to our art form. You are a true brother and I can’t wait to get back to Auckland      –   Doug Lawrence – tenor soloist Count Basie Orchestra

email: JazzLocal32@gmail.com