Jazz lovers have been given a teaser with the announcement Alchemy would take centre stage at next year's National Jazz Festival held in Tauranga over Easter.
Alchemy featured four of New Zealand's favourite singers - Ria Hall, Anna Coddington, Julia Deans and Bella Kalolo - performing iconic Kiwi pop songs reinvented as jazz.
The official programme would not be released until the end of January but organiser Janie Hyde said announcing Alchemy was to get jazz-lovers excited and consider it for Christmas.
"It's a bit of a one off - the singers have only done a few performances as Alchemy so it's going to be pretty special," she said.
The show would be held in Baycourt so seats were limited and Ms Hyde expected tickets to sell out.
The 55th National Jazz Festival over the long Easter weekend would not necessarily be bigger and better than previous years, rather organisers were concentrating on quality and "ticking the boxes for providing something for everyone."
The Hurricaine party on Tauranga waterfront was to return and Ms Hyde said there would be a mix of local favourites, national and international acts.
Tourism Bay of Plenty head of marketing Kath Low said the festival was one of the region's biggest events and attracted between 50,000 to 60,000 visitors.
"We're particularly excited about this year's headline show, with our own Rita Hall taking to the stage alongside some of New Zealand's best female performers.
Alchemy singers would be backed by seven musicians playing guitar, saxophone, trumpet, keyboard, trombone, bass and drums as they cover songs by Split Endz, Dave Dobbyn, Dragon, Lorde and others.
Alchemy at the 2017 National Jazz Festival
When: Saturday April 15
When: 7pm
Tickets: $65 from http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=ALCHEMY17