If the Wichita Jazz Festival is something you have never attended this is the perfect year to start. I must say I’m a little biased – getting my jazz degree from WSU, but jazz has it’s roots right here in America. And hey – that’s just flat out patriotic. With it being the 40th anniversary of the festival, the Wichita Jazz Festival has not grown stale or stagnant but instead continued to move in new directions. Last year’s festival brought in both musicians and artists – Sabrina McCormick, Michelle Mercer, Nicole Mitchell, Linda Oh and Kathy Kosins – all women. This year will continue in the new direction of connecting music with art by bringing in artist Aaron Douglas’ works along with musicians Andrew Bishop, Tia Fuller, Sean Jones, Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke with the title for the festival as “Echoes of Africa.” If you are looking for big band music, then Thursday is your day to hear all the big band music one could imagine!
Jazz...Now...Be There
This week’s events:
Wednesday, April 20th 7:30 p.m. Doc Howard’s Lounge – The Andrew Bishop Trio with Gerald Cleaver The Tia Fuller Quartet with special guest Sean Jones
Thursday, April 21st 7 a.m. to Midnight, WSU’s CAC Theatre – The WSU Jazz Invitational 5:30 p.m., Ulrich Art Museum- Jazz in Art Feature The Works of Aaron Douglas
Friday, April 22nd 6 p.m. Fisch Haus Gallery Reception and Artist Talk with Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke
Saturday, April 23rd 2 p.m. McAdams Recreational Center creative workshop with Lionel Loueke and Gretchen Parlato
7:30 p.m., WSU’s CAC Theatre- Lionel Loueke and Gretchen Parlato
Also, if you are interested in helping to fund the Wichita Jazz Festival, there is a grassroots movement to raise money for the festival. The Bebop Brigade was started to get individuals involved by donating $100 or more you receive an awesome bumper sticker – which I have proudly branded my car with – and two free tickets plus access to exclusive events.
More information on the Wichita Jazz Festival check out www.wichitajazzfestival.com – concert continue throughout the year at Doc Howards
