Earth, Wind, Fire, and a whole lot of fantastic

Easter Sunday. The shops were closed, but boy was the jazz all on! Downtown Tauranga is a dying place on the best of weekdays, but yesterday showed that it is still a place that can absolutely go off when it needs to - the place was humming. The Strand and Red Square were sardine cans full of jazz fans, and I've never seen so many people across the tracks on the waterfront. It was a true festival atmosphere there yesterday.

The Tauranga Big Band performed their "Then and Now" show in the Bay of Plenty Times Festival Hall (Baycourt) yesterday afternoon, and with a decent crowd in the theatre, it was a treat to see the Big Band of today perform with some of yesterday's band members, with arrangements spanning the entire history of the band (which in fact pre-dates the jazz festival itself!) This performance truly brought the Tauranga to the Tauranga National Jazz Festival.

And of course, the big Birthday Bash featuring Earth, Wind and Fire with Keb Mo and Patti Austin happened last night at Wharepai Domain. The Chapel Street end of the domain was transformed into an amazing outdoor performance space, with a temporary stage dominating the place, and a massive crowd making best use of their picnic blankets in front of them. The slow, soulful tunes of Patti Austin started the night with a swing, and provided great entertainment during that first 'phase' of a concert. You know, that part when everybody has arrived, and is finding their friends, staking their claim on a prime piece of picnic blanket real estate, and making first trips to the bar and the port-a-loos. After that, Keb Mo's set satisfied the cravings of both jazz and blues fans, with his incredible stage presence and fusion styles providing a great soundtrack to a setting sun.

Then, the big one. It was their first time in New Zealand, and if after last night they're not regretting waiting forty-one years to visit these shores, then I don't know what will. The crowd went absolutely bananas, with every single person who was capable of doing so up on their feet. If they could dance, they were dancing, and if they couldn't dance, they were making every effort to do so. Whether you describe their music as soul, jazz, disco, R&B, funk, or whatever, there wasn't a person there who wasn't loving every minute of it. "September," "Gotta Get You Into My Life," and "Boogie Wonderland" were all favourites, but their whole set was a treat for all the senses. These guys really knew how to put on a show.

Today is the LAST day of the 50th National Jazz Festival, but it's ending with a bang, not a fizz! Here's what you need to check out today:

• The Jazz Village on 17th Ave is perfect if you want to check out some French and New Orleans-inspired jazz, and wander through a great village atmosphere. This is the perfect place to take the family.
• The Beat Girls will be presenting "Blame it on the Bossa Nova." My boss last night informed me that I am in for a treat with these girls, and by all accounts he'll be correct. Swanky, swinging and sensationally sixties is apparently what we're in for. It's at the Festival Hall at Baycourt, at 7pm.

Here are a few photos I managed to get last night (when I wasn't dancing!) Have an incredible end to the long weekend and the jazz festival today - I'll be back tomorrow with my final blog entry for the 50th National Jazz Festival.

Happy Easter Monday!

- Josh.