The 2009 Indy Jazz Fest is not only expanding the length of the festival (from one weekend to a full week of performances across the city of Indianapolis), it is also adding a year-round educational initiative that will set the Indy Jazz Fest apart from other jazz festivals.
There’s a virtual “who’s who” of jazz education on board, including Director of Jazz Studies at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Dr. David Baker; Professor of Jazz Studies IU Jacobs School of Music, Brent Wallarab; Director of Jazz Studies at Ball State University Mark Buselli; Professors of Jazz at DePauw University, Lennie Foy and Randy Salman; and Director of Instrumental Music for Indianapolis Public Schools, Keith White.
A series of classes and workshops will be presented to students of all ages throughout the year. With classes for the very young where jazz history and the basic jazz concepts are discussed, to advanced coaching sessions with high school jazz musicians, the Indy Jazz Fest will have something for everyone.
Indy Jazz Fest is also interested in presenting students with other sides of the music industry by offering a music business workshop. For this workshop, IJF introduces students to businessmen from all facets of the music business world. The presentation will include discussions by record label personnel, jazz club owners, booking agents, entertainment lawyers, and artist managers.
The Indy Jazz Fest put together the Indy Jazz Fest Band in the spring and began a series of concerts in area schools, presenting multi-media concerts to enthusiastic students. Flanked by two video screens showing photographic and video footage of jazz legends and a dynamic lighting concept, the Indy Jazz Fest Band presents the students with a voyage through the history of jazz from its early roots in African-American spirituals and work songs to the modern jazz movement of the 21st Century.
The Indy Jazz Fest is entering its 11th season with new management presenting the best of local, regional, and international jazz talent. Throughout the year Indy Jazz Fest will also focus on presenting jazz concerts in and around the city of Indianapolis at area parks as part of the Indy Parks concert series, plus an array of education programs in schools.
The new website for Indy Jazz Fest can be found at www.indyjazzfest.net.
