Dancing across a cobbled street to outdoor Dixieland jazz, with colourful bunting flying and costumes swirling; it is the New Orleans French Quarter coming alive in historic Tauranga.

Good Friday at the Historic Village on 17th Ave will be the place to stroll and enjoy entertainment in true New Orleans style.

The village green outdoor stage will feature both smooth jazz and funky fusion, big band sounds and plenty of swing, with room to relax back on the grass or get the feet moving.

The Hipstamatics' soul-powered funk takes in the classic 1960s and 70s through to the funk fusion elements of today. Their distinctive flavour and original music has made this dynamic band a household name among the live New Zealand music community, earning them a reputation for energetic performances which are always sure to get everyone on their feet and feeling funky.

Rodger Fox has been New Zealand's most prominent jazz big band leader for more than four decades, and he's also performed in many of the country's leading rock and jazz-rock groups. His band, The Rodger Fox Funkbone, brings a contemporary jazz-fusion drenched in blues with all the elements of funk, jazz and rock interwoven. Truly an essential jazz festival moment worth experiencing.

Roger Fox Big Band. Photo: Supplied.

The TECT Jazz Village experience also includes Tauranga's own Big Band, made up of trombones, trumpets, saxophones, percussion and vocalists and ably led by band leader Joe Thomas. These are some of the Bay of Plenty's best jazz musicians, performing favourite big band numbers. The band will also be playing at the Tauranga Citizen's Club on Easter Sunday.

The street revelry continues with flute ninja Miho Wada and the Miho's Jazz Orchestra, made up of creative quirky musicians bringing their live electric energy to the village. Miho's Jazz Orchestra – MJO – has enjoyed a remarkable time since its inception in 2011. Formed as a one-off recording project to help raise funds for Miho's home town of Christchurch after the earthquakes, the band ended up having so much fun they decided to continue and see what else they could do. Fearless and passionate, they could easily be the next generation of jazz, as US magazine Critical Jazz suggests.

Swing dancers. Photo: Supplied.

The TECT Jazz Village will be a family day out like no other. Stroll through art and craft stalls, enjoy the wide variety of food and refreshments and children's fun rides and entertainment.

Since 2009, TECT has made the National Jazz Festival possible with over $1 million in funding.

'We simply would not be here without them,” says president of Tauranga Jazz Society, Jeff Baker. 'Thank you TECT for helping us bring our community together to celebrate and enjoy all things jazz!”

The TECT Jazz Village will be held from 11am–5pm on Friday, April 2, at the Historic Village, 17th Ave. Gate sales are: $20 Adults, $15 Concession, with under-14s free. Tickets are available via: www.ticketek.co.nz