And it's here! The National Jazz Festival, Tauranga's biggest annual musical celebration, has arrived.

The first concert's on Thursday night, Youth Band Competitions on Friday and then it's all on, the big shop-window for the festival, open and affordable for everyone, the Downtown Carnival, running from midday to 6pm both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

But before we have a look at some of the highlights hitting stages in downtown Tauranga, there is a new addition this year – a new afternoon stage at the Mount, along the main drag at the Mount Brewing Company. And they have some absolutely dynamite music happening there.

Kicking things off on Saturday is the brilliant Grant Winterburn – keyboard wizard and one of the best musical exports Tauranga has produced.

He now teaches and does a lot of theatre work in Auckland and has been a baffling omission from the festival line-up for way too long.

He's followed by Auckland modern jazz outfit Spiral, led by sax player Andrew Hall. They've been down this way before, even playing a Twilight Concert in Katikati, and are always good value.

After that is a much-anticipated Torch Songs reunion. Fronted by singer Carol Story and keyboard player Liam Ryan, Torch Songs are probably the most noted non-trad jazz band to emerge from Tauranga in the past decade or so and seeing the seven piece together again – including the vast trumpet chops of Grant Mason – will be a treat. The day closes with Tait Kora's East Coast band, bringing a helping of funk to their jazz.

Torch Songs return for the Sunday but, other than that, it's a different line-up, including a different group of Andrew Hall's (Audio Farm, diving into the waters of free improvisation) and Hamilton singer Tracy Hopewell.

Downtown Tauranga

And over to Tauranga. There's a lot on. Oddly, one stage has once again been given over to the Hamilton Blues Society for both days, so that will feature Hamilton Blues bands. Shame that several Tauranga blues outfits weren't invited to the festival, but I guess the Hamilton showcase was cheap.

But there are many must-see acts.

Edwina Thorne, New Zealand's top woman trumpeter, is bringing a band; Jan Preston, Queen of Boogie Woogie piano, will be playing; and Hipstamatics, one of the best funk bands around today are on.

In between there's some trad jazz and some New Orleans second-line marching band jazz and, on the Sunday, a number of those bands I already mentioned at the Mount are playing on The Strand: Garh, The Grant Winterburn Experience and Spiral.

There is also a small local contingent of bands to watch out for: Brilleaux are playing a couple of slots, as are The B-Side Band and Carol Power and her band Gin Rickey Jive, who sounded great last year.

Also local are the Randy Matthews Quintet, who describe themselves as 'quirky acoustic jazz; old time jazz from a fresh new band”. They're certainly a new one for me and that description sounds intriguing.

There are others bands that are also new to me and could be well worth checking out: Kryptonite are from Raglan and promise 'beachy bossa and left of centre improv”, while Juice on the Loose hail from Auckland and, fronted by Petra Rijnbeek, dig into soul and funk.

And elsewhere...

Of course, there is other stuff happening downtown too. Up Wharf Street at the Barrel Room they're laying on four evenings of free music. From 6pm on Thursday and Friday is guitarist Trevor Braunias and his trio, while on Saturday Mike Garner and Robbie Laven play the blues from 6pm and Brilleaux take over at 9pm for a shot of rhythm 'n' blues. On Sunday it's a little Latin jazz with Santiago and Camille.

I'm sure there's a lot more too, but we're out of space again.

Check out the full Jazz Festival programme online at: www.jazz.org.nz

There really is something for music lovers of every persuasion. Have fun!

watusi@thesun.co.nz