New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest From April 27–29 and May 3–6

The 50th edition of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will take place on two consecutive weekends — April 27–29 and May 3–6, 2012.

Some of the prominent jazz artists lined up for the festival include Terence Blanchard, the hard bop and modern-jazz trumpeter; Nicholas Payton, also a trumpet player; Dianne Reeves, the jazz vocalist; Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans brass prodigy who fuses jazz and funk; Esperanza Spalding, the young jazz bassist who won a Grammy for best new artist earlier this year; and Ellis Marsalis, the pianist who is the patriarch of the Marsalis jazz family.

The festival will also showcase several local jazz bands, including Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Some famous New Orleans musicians from other genres — The Neville Brothers, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint — will also make appearances to support their home town’s biggest festival.

Tickets range from $40 to $50 per day.