Big Band Bonanza on Tauranga waterfront wows huge crowd

Acrowd of 5000 locals and visitors poured into the Tauranga Waterfront Park to hear two premier bands perform during the TECT Big Band Bonanza yesterday

The Big Band Fun in the Sun free concert featured the 22-piece Auckland's Queen City Big Band renowned for its exciting brass, sax and rhythm sections, combined with some outstanding vocalists.

A regular visitor to the annual Tauranga Jazz Festival, the band wowed the crowd for almost two hours before the Royal New Zealand Air Force Jazz Orchestra took to the stage.

Under the direction of Alistair Isdale, the orchestra paid homage to the Golden Era of Big Band performing a selection of Duke Ellington to Glenn Miller tunes as well as a few special arrangements written by some of the musicians.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Jazz Orchestra pays homage to the golden era of Big Band. Photo / George Novak

This was the finale concert after six days of top-notch entertainment from local and international musicians, and Tauranga waterfront was awash with people

People lined the waterfront edge and relaxed on the grass in front of the main stage, while others came well prepared with their deckchairs to get a prime viewing spot.

That included Beverley Sims, from the Avenues, who was accompanied by her good friends, Jim and Joan Gooch, and Jim's sister, Helen.

National Jazz Festival regular Beverley Sims from the Avenues at the TECT Big Band Bonanza. Photo/George Novak.

Sims said the free concert was "excellent" and both bands were "wonderful".

She also had high praise for the rest of the festival after taking in some events, including the National Youth Jazz Competition and The Torch Songs Band in Red Square.

"I absolutely love it all and wouldn't miss the festival for anything," Sims said.