Now celebrating 20 years as a mainstay in the Indianapolis arts and culture scene, the annual Indy Jazz Fest returns September 13 – 22 with a lineup celebrating the legacy of jazz, modern masters and the discovery of new jazz stars. Indy Jazz Fest returns this year with “The Big Beat” to celebrate and honor the spirit of Art Blakey. This year’s festival features Jazz new stars, Indianapolis’ notable performers and award winning national acts.David Allee, owner of The Jazz Kitchen and Festival Director of the Indy Jazz Fest, and Kenny Poindexter, Bar Manager at The Jazz Kitchen, highlight the many events happening throughout the ten days, and prepare Spanish Paella, a specialty at The Jazz Kitchen, and two cocktails – the Oui Oui Señor & Slow & Low Sidecar. 

Indy Jazz Fest will once again be in venues “All Around Town,” featuring performances at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, The Jazz Kitchen, IUPUI Campus Center, Indianapolis Central Library, The Cabaret, The Athenaeum, Daredevil Brewing Co. in Speedway and Shortridge High School’s Caleb Mills Auditorium.About the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, Inc. (IJF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the legacy and promote the future of jazz in Indianapolis through education and performance. The IFJ celebrates Indy’s rich jazz heritage, bringing the best in local, regional and national jazz performances to Indianapolis.
 
In 2017, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation produced 68 events including 24 free events open to the general public. Support for IJF helps to preserve the 20th annual community-wide celebration, Indy Jazz Fest, and benefits continued presentation of world-class jazz performances, including local musicians and international icons, music education and youth mentorship, free community outreach programs, and preserving Indianapolis’ jazz legacy.
 
About Indy Jazz Fest
Indy Jazz Fest is the preeminent performance event of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation. A celebration of community and culture that showcases jazz music in a variety of great venues across the city, Indy Jazz Fest will ultimately reach upwards of 34,000 people through a combination of performances, workshops, school concerts, master classes, and community partnerships, as an integral cog in the Indianapolis arts scene. Indy Jazz Fest has become a cultural icon since its start in 1999. With an increased emphasis on jazz education, Indy Jazz Fest has expanded from just one day to an entire experience, ultimately benefiting the Indianapolis arts community throughout the year by creating meaningful links between jazz education and the city’s jazz performance scene.
For more information, visit www.indyjazzfest.net, and join the conversation on social media:
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