Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Jazz man stranded by ash

Updated at 7:05 pm on 13 June 2011

American jazz musician Sonny Rollins is stranded in Wellington, New Zealand, by the huge cloud of ash from a Chilean volcano.

Qantas and Jetstar have cancelled all their flights for Monday due to concern the ash particles could damage the planes.

Rollins, a Grammy-winning saxophonist, has been in the capital for the Wellington jazz festival and was due to fly back to New York via Auckland on Monday.

He says he has no idea when he might be able to make it home - but there is no point getting upset about matters out of his control.

However, he adds his road manager's wife is heavily pregnant, so they are hopeful they can get home to her quickly.

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