What will you be doing at Easter? Winston turns his cheerful eye to the Jazz Festival. There's a lot of it...

75) Opening night! The opening night of the Jazz Festival is always a blast, and it's the only night where it's pretty much locals only. This year is a doozy, a swing show that sold out at last year's Manawatu Jazz Festival, nothing heavy or intellectual just a night of great tunes and hot playing.
'Sons of Sinatra” is fronted by James Tait-Jamieson, who many might know as the horn player and occasional vocalist with Wellington's Hot Club Sandwich. He's backed by a swinging seven-piece little big band led by the redoubtable Rodger Fox. The show also features singer Liz Kirkman, joining James for some tasty duets. Liz is a singer and actress (yes, she has been on Shortland Street) who works in film, television and radio. Want some obscure information about her so you can impress your friends in the Baycourt foyer while waiting for the show to start? She has a Diploma in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. You're welcome.
Anyway, Friday's a holiday, why not enjoy Thursday with the tunes of Harry Connich Jr, Jamie Cullum, Michael Bublé and others?

76) The Jazz Village! Once again the Historic Village will be turned over to a celebration of jazz for the Sunday and Monday of Easter. Despite its intermittent financial problems the village remains a community gem just waiting for the right event to realise its potential and the Jazz Festival does just that. There are no fewer than five stages at the village, from the big outdoor one to the intimate beauty of the 'Lafayette” Church. And that makes for a whole bunch of music...
On the Sunday two of those stages – the New Orleans Music Factory and the jamming stage – will be turned over to showcase youth performers, jazz on the former and blues on the latter, while on Monday the Hamilton Blues Club take over the jamming stage for the day whilst a pair of venerable combos, The Woody Woodhouse Connection and the Frank Gibson Trio, move into the Factory.
On the main outdoor stage it goes from small to big, The Self-Righteous Brothers (a duo with friends) to the Queen City Big Band, with Acoustic Spirit, Torch Songs and many others in between. And in the church there's the fabulous likes of Grant Haua, Marion Arts and young Leilani Taula. Local band the BBC will also play both afternoons in 'Preservation Hall”.
And remember, TECT card holders get in for free on Sunday – don't miss it!

77) A little blues with your jazz! As well as the blues just mentioned at the Village there will be a pile of it during Saturday and Sunday's Downtown Jazz Carnival. This year the World Stage on the Aspen Reserve is taking a break, but there's an extra stage out on the waterfront so that still makes five stages – one in Red Square, one out by what I think used to be called the Edgewater Fan, and three along the Strand. Bluesy things to watch out for include local boys Brilleaux and the B-Side Band and a fantastic outfit out of Wanganui who call themselves Blues Buffet and play tight hard electric blues.
There's also a blues show at Baycourt on Saturday night, an exclusive little outing called the Downhome Blues Revue, which sees festival favourites Kokomo team up with Rotorua bluesman Mike Garner and his percussionist Warren Houston for a night of old-timey tunes. There'll be acoustic guitars, dobros, banjos, mandolins and all sort of stuff on offer as the revue jams it out on songs ranging from old Mississippi Delta blues and ragtime to contemporary Kiwi blues. It'll be a lot of fun.

78) The kids are alright! Wondering what to do when Friday is a public holiday? Look no further than the 36 National Youth Jazz Competition, which runs on Friday and Saturday at Baycourt. Friday is big band day, Saturday is combos. Just how good the young players of today are has to be seen to be believed. That past winners including Nathan Haines, Hollie Smith, and Tama Waipara should be a clue.
If you're passing by Baycourt drop in for an hour or three. You won't regret it.