Not Good Friday, but a great Friday!

No matter where you are, today was Good Friday. Unless of course you were in Tauranga at the 50th National Jazz Festival, in which case it was a great Friday as well!

I'll start tonight by offering my apologies. It turns that as usual, technology is never to be trusted, and the downloadable programme at jazz.org.nz has been somewhat misleading. I've been referring to the programme for the details on upcoming events, so if I've misled you as to the date or location of any events, I do apologise. If it's any consolation, I turned up to the wrong venue for Kurt Elling this evening! I picked up a copy of the Daily Guide at Baycourt this afternoon which seems to have all the correct details, so far!

Today I was lucky enough to catch the Jan Preston Trio with "Beat out the Boogie" at the University of Waikato Jazz Club, a clever transformation of Baycourt's exhibition space into an intimate club setting, with the crowd seated around tables. Jan's instrument of choice is the piano, and has even been called the Queen of the Piano in Australasia. Hailing from Greymouth but resident in Sydney now, Jan is fanatical about boogie woogie and ragtime, and the intimate space is the perfect compliment to Jan's style as she connected with her audience in an amazingly unique way. An audience favourite was the boogie translation of Flight of the Bumblebee. Accompanied by her husband, Michael Maass, and Nigel Masters on bass (locally of Kokomo fame,) this was one afternoon full of energy and laughter, and some great music too!

Tonight, Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra wowed a near-full Bay of Plenty Times Festival Hall (otherwise known as the Centennial Hall at Baycourt) with their internationally-renowned big-band jazz. The first half featured guest sax player Eric Marienthal, who has also played with the liked of BB King and Elton John, and his unique and very explosive style captivated the crowd. After the break, Grammy-award winning singer Kurt Elling made himself known on stage, starting with an extended scatty warm-up and really showing the breadth of his vocal abilities. The crowd at Baycourt certainly left understanding why he has won "Male Vocalist of the Year" 12 years in a row, and his American sass that came with it made for a great end to a great Friday.

Tomorrow (and I give you a 99% guarantee that these are correct) is set to be another great one, with these events on:

• The Youth Jazz Competition from 9am-4pm, at the Bay of Plenty Times Festival Hall (Baycourt)
• The Strand and surrounds will come alive with the Downtown Tauranga Carnival from noon til 6pm
• Departing from The Sebel Trinity Wharf on Dive Cres at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm is the Jazz Riverboat
• The best in Jazz will be in one room at 6.45pm with the Jazz Tui Awards, in the University of Waikato Jazz Club (Baycourt)
• German sax legend Klaus Doldinger performs Passport in the Festival Hall at 7pm, followed the Lizard King's Trubute to The Doors, Light My Fire at 9pm

So far the festival has been yet another roaring success, and there's still 3 days to go! Hope to see you around tomorrow.

Josh