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The National Jazz Festival in Tauranga held over Easter from Thursday 5 April to Monday 9 April features jazz bands and musicians of the present and the future, plus the free Downtown Carnival, the hugely popular Jazz Village, the Sebel Trinity Wharf Tauranga Jazz Riverboat and the 2012 New Zealand Music Award Tui in the Jazz category.

This year is extra special for the Festival as it marks its 50th birthday and director Arne Herrmann says the programme includes many special treats to celebrate the milestone.

Marking the half century is an exhibition and concert - The History of Jazz ... According to Tauranga. The exhibition tells the stories behind the creation of the National Jazz Festival, including recordings, video footage and vinyl records from collectors; while the concert brings together the music of the past decades under the close eyes and ears of musical director Rodger Fox and featuring Jim Langabeer, Malcolm McNeill, Stu Buchanan, David Feehan, Murray McNabb, Erna Ferry, Mike Booth and Ann Pacey.

The 2012 National Jazz Festival concert series welcomes two jazz legends - American Kurt Elling with special guest superstar saxophonist Eric Marienthal and the Wellington Jazz Orchestra; and German jazz legend Klaus Doldinger's Passport. Kurt Elling is among the leading jazz vocalists in the world today and all his records have garnered him Grammy Award nominations. Saxophonist Klaus Doldinger is best known as the composer of the film scores for the acclaimed German U-boat film Das Boot and The Neverending Story.

The concert series also includes The Beat Girls performing a tribute to the musical craze which swept the world in the 1950s and early 60s Blame it On The Bossa Nova.

Already announced is the 50th Birthday Bash Concert featuring multiple Grammy Award winners Earth, Wind & Fire on their first ever concert in New Zealand, along with blues singer and guitarist Keb Mo, and jazz legend Patti Austin.

"We are very excited about this year's line-up of artists, and particularly having four Grammy award winners heading our way," Mr Herrmann said.

Also featuring in the 2012 Festival is a Jazz in the Afternoon series with Tauranga Big Band and special guests performing Then And Now; while Australia's Jubilation returns to Tauranga bringing their passion for singing with a repertoire spanning jazz, gospel and world music.

The Hurricane Party is back in 2012 with Batucada Sound Machine, The Eggs, Adam Page & Riki Gooch, and Spiral; while The Lizard Kings perform Light My Fire, a tribute to The Doors.

The music continues in the University of Waikato Jazz Club with Tauranga All Stars; Jan Preston Trio and Adam Page.

The New Zealand Music Awards Best Jazz Album of the Year for 2012 will be announced at a special concert night featuring performances by each of the three Tui Award nominees - Tim Hopkins, Phil Broadhurst Quartet and Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra.

The full line up for the 50th National Jazz Festival is at http://www.jazz.org.nz.

Book tickets for the 50th Birthday Bash through Ticketek on 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or http://www.ticketek.co.nz.

All other tickets for National Jazz Festival events are available through Ticket Direct by phoning 0800 4TICKET (484 253) or at http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz.