Welcome
A huge welcome to one and all to our 61st Jazz Festival.
The Tauranga Jazz Society are proud to present the National Jazz Festival and National Youth Jazz Competition over Easter 2024 once again.
We are celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s top jazz and soul talent with concerts for every taste!
We are so pleased to bring back acclaimed international multi-instrumentalist James Morrison as our headline performer. He amazed the audience at his last appearance here and we can’t wait to hear him perform again with his quartet. Aotearoa soul star Louis Baker is presenting a stunning show, plus we have New York guitarist Russ Spiegel performing. We hope you enjoy the depth and variety of concerts on offer.
We welcome the many hundreds of students who perform in the National Youth Jazz Competition, along with all the musicians, locals and visitors who attend the events.
Many thanks to our principal funders, Port of Tauranga, TECT and the Tauranga City Council and all of our other sponsors for their support.
Enjoy the music!
Kia ora koutou,
What an exciting time for jazz and our city, as we proudly celebrate 61 years of the beloved National Jazz Festival. On behalf of our community, I extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to all jazz loving visitors, returning and new, to one of Tauranga’s most cherished home-grown traditions.
The 2024 National Jazz Festival will be gracing our city over the Easter weekend. We are looking forward to returning favourites like the Jazz Village at The Historic Village, where the spirit of the New Orleans French Quarter comes alive through music and street dancing; and the Downtown Carnival’s indoor and outdoor entertainment, creating a vibrant festive atmosphere in Tauranga’s city centre.
This festival truly has something for everyone! It not only showcases Aotearoa’s finest jazz musicians in venues across the city, but also nurtures emerging talents through the National Youth Jazz Competition. Nearly 600 young musicians from
across Aotearoa will compete at Baycourt, a great way to see and support our future jazz stars.
Tauranga City Council is immensely proud to support this remarkable event. While you’re here, we encourage you to enjoy the wonderful experiences, beautiful beaches, and great local cuisine that make Tauranga a fantastic destination.
Festival Team
- Marc Anderson Festival Manager
- Mandy Ryan General Manager
- Liam Ryan National Youth Jazz Competition Manager
- Damian Lunson Website
- Donella Jones Design
- Matthew Ball Social Media
Tauranga Jazz Society Committee
- Jeff Baker President
- Andrea Pooley Vice President
- Wayne Melville
- David Porter
- Mandy Ryan
- Liam Ryan
- Akash Dutta