Indy Jazz Fest and The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation would like to thank Lilly Endowment in working with us to provide jazz education and community programs in the Indianapolis area. Please consider a contribution to Indianapolis Jazz Foundation to support our continuing efforts to showcase and perpetuate our city’s amazing jazz heritage for all audiences and especially for the next generation of jazz musicians
Our education program, Jazz Impressions, is dedicated to promoting accessible and continuing music education for all students in the greater Indianapolis area while cultivating and nurturing a sense of community and city pride. As a way to ensure that student musicians are exposed to all facets of music education (clinics, performances, exposure, marketing, and networking), we are proud to foster and bring together multiple generations of musicians inside and outside of the classroom setting as a way to mentor and support in a real-life ‘gigging’ scenario. By providing musicians of all ages with more venues in which to share their talents, Jazz Impressions is passing the torch to the next generation in hopes of increasing the presence, awareness, and appreciation of local/regional jazz musicians and the communities that support them, that are so vital to the cultural development of this city.
A calendar of upcoming educational events highlights our clinics, performances and community concerts. Educational events are also available for scheduling by contacting
Education Director | Rob Dixon at rob@indyjazzfest.net or
Program Director | Joshua Thompson at joshuathmpsn@yahoo.co
JAZZ IMPRESSIONS PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
Jazz Impressions Convocation Series: This special in-school convocation series is designed for large assemblies of students and faculty interested in a multi-media and interactive format for learning jazz history, its contributors, and the future of the genre locally and abroad. Examples of convocation topics available include:
a) Jazz in the 21st Century- features the Indy Jazz Fest Band flanked by two video screens and accompanied with narration to tell the history of jazz through poetry and songs from the early 1910s through the modern jazz era as well as highlights the life and influence of infamous local legends.
b) Slide Hampton Tribute- a history of the local legend that is Slide Hampton
c) Latin Jazz in America- a history of Latin music and its influence on modern jazz
d) The B-Sides- an in-depth expose on the history of blues and its impression on jazz music today
Presentation time can vary – approx. 1 hr
Master classes/Symposiums- In school topical symposiums led by a rotating cast of professional musicians, managers, promoters, and venue owners that describe their personal journey to becoming an industry professional while providing inside information on one of the following subjects:
- the fundamentals of jazz
- jazz composition/arranging
- combo etiquette
- music promotion, production, and networking
- music technology and software
- music as a business
- local artists’ contributions to jazz in the U.S.
*All symposiums allow for Q and A sessions and topics are based on curriculum that is approved by Indiana state standards. Panel discussions are also available. Symposium time can vary depending on class periods and availability – approx. 60-75 min
Jazz Jams
A unique opportunity for student musicians and their families to participate in jam sessions led by prominent musicians at an authentic jazz club. Students are provided an experience to learn first hand combo etiquette and the nuances of public performance under the tutorial of Indy’s premiere jazz musicians.
Community Outreach and Engagement
A series of community based concerts highlighting the history of jazz music as well as internationally acclaimed Jazz Masters through concerts, visual arts and storytelling. Performances may focus on a period in history or a select musician’s music while sharing the impact the music has made on jazz and the international jazz scene. These outreach events will be featured in accessible and public spaces around the city of Indianapolis such as The Central Library, The Legacy Center of the Near Eastside, Garfield Park Arts Center, The Landmarks Center and University of Indianapolis to name a few.
Combo Competition
A friendly competition for student jazz combos to be held at Indy Reads Books the First Friday of the month beginning March 1, 2013. Each combo will play for 45 minutes either 7 – 7:45pm or 8- 8:45pm on the Indy Reads Bookstore stage. Additional dates and/or locations may also be added.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 1, 2013 –First Friday High School Combo Competition, Indy Reads Books, 7-9pm
March 2, 2013 –Ball State University High School Jazz Band and Combo Competition
March 3, 2013 – Hot Jazz for Cool Kids, Central Library, Wade Baker Jazz 3p
March 18, 2013 – Jazz Impressions program @ IPS School 91
April 5, 2013 – First Friday High School Combo Competition, Indy Reads Books, 7-9pm
April 14, 2013- Hot Jazz for Cool Kids, Central Library – Bill Lancton MG6 3p
May 3, 2013 – First Friday High School Combo Competition, Indy Reads Books, 7-9pm
May 5, 2013 –Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert, 4pm
May 25, 2013 – Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen, 11:30a -1:30p
June 1, 2013 – IPS Honors Jazz Band (rehearsal, workshop, master class)
June 29, 2013 – Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen, 11:30a -1:30p
July 27, 2013 – Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen, 11:30a -1:30p
Aug 2-3, 2013 –Indy Jazz Fest at the Prairie
Aug 31, 2013 – Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen, 11:30a -1:30p
Sept 7, 2013 – Indy Jazz Fest – Jazz Stage at Penrod Arts Fair
Sept 12-21, 2013 – Indy Jazz Fest!!!
PAST EVENTS:
Feb 27, 2013 – Big Band Basics @ Pike High School
Feb 24, 2013 –Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert, Jazz Kitchen 5 pm
Feb 10, 2013 – Hot Jazz for Cool Kids, Central Library, Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra 3p
Jan 21, 2013 – MLK Jr. Day Celebration at Rhythm! 11a
Dec 16, 2012 – Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert Artsgarden
Dec 12, 2012 – Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Holiday Showcase
Dec, 2012 – IPS School 70 concert
Nov 10, 2012 – Cannonball Adderley Tribute Concert
Oct 28, 2012 – Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert, Marion University 4pm
Sept. 10 – 16, 2012 — Indy Jazz Fest
Sept. 15, 2012 – “Jazz Futures” Performance Opti-Park Broad Ripple at Indy Jazz Fest.
Sept. 14, 2012 – Slide Hampton Tribute Concert w/ The Steve Allee Big Band @ The Jazz Kitchen 8p & 10:30p
Sept. 13, 2012 – Indy Jazz Fest Band Tribute with Slide Hampton @ Christel DeHaan Center, UIndy 7p
Sept. 8, 2012 – Penrod Indy Jazz Fest Stage 10a-5p including a performance of the Indy Jazz Fest “Jazz Futures” High School All Star Combo
Sept. 7, 2012 – Indy Jazz Fest “Jazz Futures” High School All Star Combo Performance @ Indy Reads Bookstore 7p-9p
Sept. 7, 2012 – Indy Jazz Fest Trio @ Westside Garden Plaza 5-7p
Sept. 5, 2012 – IPS Slide Hampton Performance @ Broad Ripple High School 1:30pm
Sept. 4, 2012 – Jazz History Presentation @ Westside Garden Plaza 2-3p
Aug. 18, 2012 – Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen 11:30a-1:30p
Aug. 18, 2012 – Indy Jazz Fest Concert on the Indy Fringe Stage @ Mass Ave 7p-11p
July 21, 2012- Summer Jazz Jam Clinic @ Jazz Kitchen 11:30a-1:30p
July 14, 2012 – Jazz Masters Mural Dedication with David Baker, Slide Hampton, Duncan Schiedt, Serenade Jazz Orchestra and IPS All Star Alumni Jazz Band 3-5p
July 1, 2012 – Chuck Workman Memorial Concert-Flanner and Buchanan Community Center 2p
June 9, 2012 – WFYI PBS KIDS in the Park Concert 10a-4p
May 6, 2012 – Chuck Workman Memorial Celebration @ the Jazz Kitchen
May 6, 2012 – Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert
March 31, 2012 IPS Spring Intercession Jazz Workshop
March 6, 2012 – Wes Montgomery CD Release Echoes of Indiana Avenue 7p
March 3, 2012 – Ball State University High School Jazz Band and Combo Competition
Feb 26, 2012 – Indianapolis Youth Jazz Ensemble Concert
Jan 16, 2012 – MLK Day at Rhythm! Discovery Center
Dec 21, 2011 – David Baker 80th Birthday Celebration and CD release Basically Baker 7p
Dec 14, 2011 – Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Holiday Showcases
