A Very Jazzy Affair

I began my love affair with jazz over a year ago. I’d come across a Miles Davis album and unexpectedly pressed play. Now that was one of my supremely great ideas, as I had completely lost myself (in a good way, not a driving down the wrong street in a foreign city kind of way).  My eyes widened to the prospect of wanting more; including visiting the New Orleans Jazz Fest. One day that will be checked off the list, but in the meantime I think it’s safe to say that we are sufficiently lucky to have an annual National Jazz Festival of such high calibre on our backdoor in the paradise that we casually call ‘home’.

To also note that this will be 50 years of jazzy festival history in Tauranga is phenomenal. That’s like when you admire your grandparents for their golden wedding anniversary, as they continue to hold hands and still smile at each other.  And to think it began ‘with a 50 pound overdraft at the Soundshell in Memorial Park’ to now being the longest running National Jazz Festival in the Southern Hemisphere, is a much respected feat in itself.

The photographs of yesteryear speak volumes in the Jazz Fest booklet. From musos with mutton chops, to shaggy ‘fros, stubbie dressed trumpeters, to cigarette dangling banjo players, renders what I would deem an eclectic mix of artistes throughout those 50 years. And just a teeny bit amusing to look at.

To be given the opportunity to be part of this accomplishment is not only reserved for myself as festival blogger, performers and those who do all the ground work behind the scenes; but also for you who has the chance to tick off a Bucket List worthy experience. I’m ready to lose myself in an Easter weekend moment or two with local legends and international greats.

  

The 50^th National Jazz Festival is on 5-9 April in beautiful Tauranga. Kick start this with a visual feast at the anniversary exhibition. 30 March – 10 April at Creative Tauranga, corner Wharf & Willow Streets. And it’s FREE!