Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times on Friday, Trisha Noad from Te Puna said she loved seeing the village come alive, especially with the old-style jazz and New Orleans feel. <\/p>\n
A couple, who were regulars at the Jazz Festival, also returned after a \u201csensational\u201d time in previous years. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are spoiled in Tauranga for jazz,\u201d they told the Bay of Plenty Times.<\/p>\n
Festival\u2011goers exploring the Jazz Village on Good Friday. Photo \/ Zoe Blake<\/p>\n
The Benjamin J. Shepherd Quartet featuring Terra Deva closed out the main stage at 4pm. <\/p>\n
Shepherd promised a lively set, full of \u201cshredding\u201d, groove and moments to get the crowd dancing. <\/p>\n
The quartet included several well-known Kiwi musicians. <\/p>\n
Guitarist Nick Granville was among the line-up, along with keyboardist Rory Johns and drummer Adam Tobeck. <\/p>\n
\u201cA very high level of musicianship, we just like to have fun, and really, it\u2019s just a lot of high energy and just a lot of joy in the music that we like to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year marked Shepherd\u2019s return to the Jazz Festival. He last performed in Tauranga nearly 20 years ago as a teenager competing in the National Youth Jazz Competition. <\/p>\n
He had spent the last several years in Los Angeles as a fulltime touring and recording musician. <\/p>\n
The weekend\u2019s performance was his first major appearance as a bandleader since coming home.<\/p>\n
For Shepherd, jazz was a way of expressing stories through music. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a way of expression, telling a story through the language of music, taking the audience on a journey … it\u2019s definitely something that I feel very in touch with, just all different layers of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The show was also the New Zealand debut of Terra Deva, Shepherd\u2019s wife, a vocalist, songwriter, and platinum-selling artist originally from the United States. <\/p>\n
\u201cAotearoa is my home now. And I am so excited and honoured to perform here for the first time,\u201d Deva said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe world needs more joy right now, and that\u2019s what we plan on bringing. We\u2019re gonna have a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drosan\u2019s Pablo Cordoba and Nick Clark take the stage for a farewell performance. Photo \/ Zoe Blake.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the duo, Drosan, played their farewell performance. <\/p>\n
Nick Clark grew up in Texas but was born in Tauranga, while Pablo Cordoba has spent a decade in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Together, their performance blended modern jazz and improvisation with Argentine roots.<\/p>\n
Tauranga City Council community hubs, arts, heritage and event head Gareth Wallis said the long-standing Easter tradition brought real value to the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing people together to celebrate the arts through music.\u201d<\/p>\n
With more than 150 musicians and 120 performances, the festival unfolds across the Easter long weekend.<\/p>\n
Taking over spaces throughout Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n
Free Events<\/p>\n
Uptown Downtown<\/p>\n
Saturday and Sunday: Held across Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui.<\/p>\n
It includes two main outdoor stages: The Barrel Room Stage in Wharf St and the Red Square Stage, outside CBK.<\/p>\n
Additional outdoor performance spots are at Masonic Park, outside Macau, Lonestar\/Oscar and Otto and The Cornerstone\/Rusty\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Live music CBD venues include Zozos, 1920, Satori, Manhattan and The Book Club.<\/p>\n
Mount Maunganui live performances will run at Sailor, Brew, The Cruise Deck and Mount Social Club.<\/p>\n
Vintage Car Parade<\/p>\n
Saturday, 2pm at The Strand, Tauranga CBD. Display from 2.30pm-3.30pm<\/p>\n
Jazz at The Mount<\/p>\n
Monday, 12pm-2pm at Porotakataka Park.<\/p>\n