News and events

... AND ALL THAT JAZ

EASTER WEEKEND, 5-9 APRIL 2012

Scheduled to take place in Tauranga over Easter Weekend, the 50th National Jazz Festival is the longest running jazz festival in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the oldest in the world.  An iconic event for Tauranga, the festival attracts more than 60,000 people from New Zealand and overseas to events during its five day run.

The world-class festival programme includes Earth Wind and Fire, who will visit New Zealand for the first time.  They will be supported by three-time Grammy winner Keb Mo and Patti Austin in a special five hour celebration of the festival’s 50th anniversary on 8 April at the Tauranga Domain.  Also featuring are jazz legends German Klaus Doldinger and American Kurt Elling, with special guest saxophonist Eric Marienthal and the Wellington Jazz Orchestra.  Elling is one of the world’s leading jazz vocalists. 

Festival Director Arne Herrmann said the calibre of artists involved in the festival will put Tauranga on the world stage.  Organisers have spent almost three years putting together the programme for the event, which will involve around 500 musicians and nearly 80 bands.  The festival will see the return of the free Downtown Carnival, the Jazz Village and the Sebel Trinity Wharf Tauranga Jazz Riverboat.  Also marking the half century is an exhibition and concert The History of Jazz … According to Tauranga, which will tell the story behind the creation of the National Jazz Festival.  For the full programme, visit www.jazz.org.nz.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek (0800 842 538 or www.ticketek.co.nz). 

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