Winston Watusi Music Plus

I know I make a big deal about the Jazz Festival – because it is a big deal.

There are many reason to love Tauranga: clean and beautiful beaches; the majestic Mount; a rich and diverse café culture; the ability to provide housing for half the country's retirees; and the bright and vibrant CBD.

Ah, see what I did there? One of those things is not like the others. Driving the Mount's mainstreet on a Saturday followed by a jaunt down Devonport Rd and The Strand is a study in contrasts. The Mount is buzzing; Tauranga...not so much.

I guess things will change. In a few years. I have no solutions, only sympathy for the retailers and hospo businesses trying to stay afloat while swimming against the tide.

But help is on the horizon: The Port of Tauranga 60th National Jazz Festival.

The jazz festival is the most important musical event on Tauranga's annual calendar, despite the deluge of new summer festivals turning the city into a party venue, at least in years when it doesn't rain from November to February.

This is not just any old provincial festival but New Zealand's National Jazz Festival, with a long, proud heritage of being the country's oldest festival and having hosted legends from around the world since the early-1960s.

Beatles

Yep. While the Beatles were waiting to score their first hit in Britain, a bunch of brave souls in the Bay of Plenty were preparing for something unknown in New Zealand at the time – a jazz festival.

If you think I exaggerate how unusual this was back then, look at the history of the legendary New Orleans Jazz Festival. In 1962 future organiser George Wein met with the Mayor and members of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. To quote Wikipedia: 'They decided that New Orleans and the South were not ready for a jazz festival”.

And just like that, Tauranga's National Jazz beat New Orleans to the punch (they eventually launched in 1965).

Amongst the events at the festival – and given it's running for 10 days there're a lot to choose from – the most popular is the Downtown Carnival, held on five stages along The Strand and around Downtown Tauranga. It runs all day Easter Saturday and Sunday and a gold coin donation will get you in.

More than 40 bands are playing across two days so a list seems pointless. A couple of my favourites – Tauranga's Afrolites and Wellington's Shaken Not Stirred – will be there. Aside from possibly New Year's Eve this is the busiest time of year for Downtown Tauranga, so good work the jazz festival. Support it, support the city that created it – be proud it is happening here!

Bookending that is music on Friday at The Historic Village and Monday at the Mount – this is a true celebration to mark 60 years; it promises to be very special.

So much music

There's just so much music: jam sessions in Wharf Street on Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 5pm; a house band and guest musicians at Picnicka in Elizabeth Towers as it becomes the Jazz Café & VIP Bar from 9pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Best book that one as it fills up quickly.

One other thing warms the cockles of my increasingly clapped-out heart. The Baycourt Concert Series, bigger than ever before, places Tauranga front and centre as it should be. Not only do we hear jazz from around the country but we get to show off homegrown talent.

Try these three concerts. Pride of place in the main theatre on Saturday night is the 60th Anniversary Gala, highlighting two past and two current Tauranga bands, a bunch of guests and a whole lot of jamming: That's Life offer a bit of trad, Torch Songs reunite, Catriona Fallon brings her impeccable singing and Kokomo add a little blues. It promises a most entertaining evening.

And the Tauranga Big Band has a new programme for their matinee concert on Easter Sunday, while Sassy & The Blue Riders features singer Sarah Spicer backed by some of the Bay's finest on Sunday night.

People enjoyed Jazz at the Mount's 2022 debut. Photo supplied.