Indy Jazz Fest

Indy Jazz Fest ended on a high note this past weekend.  Music fans with a strong love for jazz and casual music observers gathered for the festival's finale, a 10-hour concert headlined by saxophone player Najee and vocalist Al Jarreau.  Close to 4,500 people packed Opti Park, a baseball field just north of the heard of Broad Ripple.  For those keeping score at home, the park became the first non-Downtown site for the outdoor portion of the festival in its 12-year history.  

Indy Jazz Festival organizers said the event will return in 2011.  From the Indy star we learned:

Estimated ticket sales of 6,000 across four nights of performances at the Jazz Kitchen, one concert at the Madame Walker Theatre Center and the Opti Park show were strong enough to meet pre-festival projections, Indy Jazz Fest producer Allan Hall said.

There was a strong local jazz component.  Most prominently Hall's recording label, Owl Studios, and teh Jazz Kitchen nightclub (owned by festival director David Allee).  In addition to the great jazz sounds, the nonprofit Indianapolis Jazz Foundation presented a gallery of vintage photographs in a tent at Opti Park.  It hightlighted an Indiana Avenue scene that supported guitarist Wes Montgomery, trumpet player Freddie Hubbard, trombone players J.J. Johnson and David Baker, keyboard player Melvin Rhyne, saxophone player Jimmy Coe and bass player Larry Ridley.  

Local jazz-friendly radio stations WICR-FM (88.7) and WFYI-FM (90.1) could be found at the festival, along with Internet radio station Jazz-City.com that had a tent on vendors row.  Here is a list of the awesomeness that was the Indy Jazz Fest:

Raul Midon - kicked off the festival on Monday with his breed of fun/soul influenced jazz

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - brought New Orleans flavor on Tuesday

Simone, the daughter of the High Priestess of Soul, performed Wednesday

Dee Dee Bridgewater - this Broadway star performed on Friday

DJ Logic - hip hop turntablist extraordinar hit the one's and two's on Friday

Bloomington North High School - took the main stage Saturday as winner of the Ball State University high school jazz competition

Kokomo High School - took the main stage Saturday as winner of the Ball State University high school jazz competition

And the finale, headlined by saxophone player Najee and vocalist Al Jarreau also included:

The Owl Studios All Stars (pianist - Steve Allee, drummer - Mike Clark, saxophonist - Rob Dixon, trumpeter - Pharez Whitted, R&B singer - Cynthia Layne, guitarist - Fareed Harque)

Charmaine Neville Band

Mike Stern Band

The 2010 Indy Jazz Fest was a great turnout, and an overall fantastic time of friendship, passion and great jazz music.  Make sure you put into your plans next year to come and check out the 2011 Indy Jazz Fest.  You will be thoroughly entertained.