DescriptionJocelyn Buchanan, former Tauranga Jazz Society president, put together a visual history of the festival which showcased at Creative Tauranga from March 30 over the Easter period. This poster represented the 1970s._x005F_x000D__x000D_
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The Seventies_x005F_x000D__x000D_
1970_x005F_x000D__x000D_
Mayor Bob Owens becomes the Festival”s Patron adding his considerable enthusiasm and resources to the Festival. Sir Bob remains the patron until 1997 seeing off the threat that the Festival could move toAuckland._x005F_x000D__x000D_
1972_x005F_x000D__x000D_
The atmosphere of the Festival changes as door sales make way for presold tickets. Guaranteed audiences mean bigger budgets and Yamaha begins to ship equipment, including a grand piano, from Auckland each year._x005F_x000D__x000D_
19734_x005F_x000D__x000D_
The Community rallies behind the Festival purchasing a nine foot Grand Concert Piano for $5900. Initially paid for by Mayor Bob Owns, individuals and organisations give what they can. This includes a $500 contribution from the Tauranga Jazz Society. This piano is now housed in the Exhibition space at Baycourt. The Festival now has Benson and Hedges, NZ Breweries Ltd and Yamaha as sponsors._x005F_x000D__x000D_
1976_x005F_x000D__x000D_
Disaster strikes as Tauranga”s Festival moves to Anniversary Weekend in response to the decision to hold a Jazz Festival in Auckland over Easter. Held at the outdoor Sound Shell, rain means a washout and organisers find themselves with a $5000 debt. Tauranga”s leading businesses come to the rescue and cover the costs._x005F_x000D__x000D_
1978_x005F_x000D__x000D_
The Festival heads indoors again and is held at the Town Hall. Young people lead the way with the first Youth Big Band Competition organised by Jim Langabeer. Schools competing are from Dargaville, Wellington and Tauranga. Mana College under the leadership of Roger Fox comes out on top. While the Festival costs $7481 to stage, financially it is back on track._x005F_x000D__x000D_
1979_x005F_x000D__x000D_
The entire Festival moves to the Tauranga Racecourse where the Jazz Headquarters had previously been. This removed the fragmented feel of the festival venues and allowed more informality. There was room to rehearse, perform and jam._x000D_
