Early-bird tickets for the 61st National Port of Tauranga Jazz festival are now on sale – with an incredible line-up of performers ready to a jazz up the town come Easter 2024.

The festival is on from March 23, 2024, through to April 1, 2024 – offering 10 days of jazz-flavoured events throughout the city.

Organiser Marc Anderson says locals should take advantage of early-bird tickets.

“Early-bird tickets offer special discounts to events – so snap them up before February 9, 2024.”

This year’s headline performer is one of Australia’s most talented jazz musicians James Morrison, who will play with his quartet on Friday, March 29, at Baycourt’s Addison Theatre from 8pm.

“We’re really looking forward to having James back,” says Marc.

“He amazed the audience at his last festival appearance here and we can’t wait to hear him perform again.”

Also from offshore is New York-based jazz guitarist and composer Russ Spiegel, who will play at Baycourt’s X Space on Saturday, March 30.

Russ Spiegel. Photo: supplied.

“Russ’ trio act will really inspire up-and-coming musicians and music-lovers alike.”

To round out the five-act 2024 Baycourt Series is the ‘All Girl Big Band: Powerhouse of Sound’ at Baycourt’s Addison Theatre on Thursday, March 28 from 8pm;  ‘Aksha Dutta: The trio Sessions’ at Baycourt’s X Space on Friday, March 29, from 6pm; and Aotearoa soul star Louis Baker at Baycourt’s Addison Theatre on Saturday, March 30 from 8pm.

“Tauranga-based pianist Akash Dutta will take people on a musical jazz journey from pop to the rich cultures of India, Persia, and Arabia,” says Marc.

The Wright Family Foundation 46th National Youth Jazz Competition takes over Baycourt’s Addison Theatre and X Space from March 26-28 – so don’t miss the best emerging jazz players from NZ secondary schools! And the Hurricane Party is back March 30 at Totara St!

Don’t forget the Downtown Carnival in Tauranga CBD on Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31.

“This year we’re giving people the option of enjoying both alfresco jazz outside and European-style indoor jazz,” says Marc.

“We’ll have three outdoor stages – on Wharf St, Red Square and Edgewater Fan.

"The latter will be family-friendly with a playground and food trucks."

“For those who like to keep the fun indoors, and their beverages topped up, jazz music will swirl throughout bars along The Strand, Wharf St and Red Square.”

For the full 2024 Port of Tauranga Jazz Festival programme, see: https://jazz.org.nz/

“A big thank you to the festival’s principal partner, Port of Tauranga, major funders TECT and Tauranga City Council and all of our sponsors – for making this festival happen.”

Naomi Ferguson. Photo: supplied.