Kroger 10th Indy Jazz Fest has Legends

Last Thursday, the American Pianists Association announced its lineup for the 10th Annual Kroger Indy Jazz Fest presented by Coca Cola, revealing a major shakeup in the headline slot and a slew of classic jazz and blues musicians.

APA Artistic Director Joel Harrison proudly announced that multiple Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, songwriter and pianist John Legend is headlining this year’s event, and will perform on the evening of Saturday, June 14. Originally announced headliner Aretha Franklin will not appear.

“I have been following John Legend’s career for several years with interest and have been trying to get him for Indy Jazz Fest,” Harrison said. “This year the timing was right.”

The balance of the three nights includes favorite classic artists, current performers and rising new talents.

Karla Sneegas of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency announced that the entire event will be smoke free. WhiteLies.tv, an online portal for tobacco information developed by the agency, is sponsoring the Indy Jazz Fest main stage.

Jazz Fest lineup and tickets

Here’s the complete list of performers announced by the APA, as well as ticket information:

Friday, June 13

Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel; Bettye LaVette; Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood; Claude Sifferlen Trio; and Buddy Guy

Saturday, June 14

Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band; Stephanie Browning Quartet; Dan Tepfer Trio; Freddie Hubbard; Cynthia Layne; Dave Koz; Melvin Rhyne; and John Legend

Sunday, June 15

Robin McKelle Quartet; Aaron Parks Quartet; Legends of Jazz Tour sponsored by AARP featuring Ramsey Lewis, Paquito D’Rivera, Four Play

Discount tickets are on sale at all Central Indiana Kroger stores until April 30 for $22 per day and $55 for a three-day pass. From May 1-June 12 at Kroger: $25 per day, $65 three-day pass.

At indyjazzfest.net from now until June 12: $25 per day, $65 three-day pass, $65 premium seating.  

At Military Park, June 13-15: $25 Friday, $35 Saturday, $35 Sunday, $65 three-day pass.

Steel pan virtuosi

Pan master Andy Narrell brought the steel pan to jazz over two decades ago. Narrell will perform along with the 25-member Miami University Steel Pan Band at Ben Davis High School Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.

I caught up with the constantly traveling Narrell to talk to him about his passion for getting the steel pan integrated into jazz.

NUVO: Do you see your role as the pied piper or pathfinder of the steel pans?

Narrell: I have really just tried to focus on creating new music in a new context all the time for the steel pan. One of the things I have really done is come back to steel band music, the original formation that all of this came from, from Trinidad.

NUVO: How difficult was it for you playing the pans in a jazz group considering the musical limitations of the pans?

Narrell: Every situation poses its challenges and problems. The ones where you really don’t have the answers can be the most interesting and the most rewarding. Which is why playing pans in jazz has been constantly challenging and interesting. I came into it when so little had been done or tried.

NUVO: Have any technical changes been made over the years to the pans?

Narrell: Huge, huge changes! The instrument has been so refined. It’s a very young instrument. You go back to the ’40s, you’re talking about teenage kids playing tin cans and beating them with sticks. The developments have been enormous. Nowadays, we have an orchestra … full of instruments that are very finely tuned and very refined.

Tickets for the show are available for $5 through Ben Davis High School (1200 N. Girls School). Call 317-243-5523 for information.

A month for jazz

Not only is April Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), it’s also Poetry Appreciation Month (PAM). JAM and PAM will merge in a special concert Monday, April 7 featuring musicians Monika Herzig and Jack Gilfoy and poets Bam Miller and Norbert Krapf at the IT building (corner of West and Michigan streets) at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and call 317-274-4000 for information.

Grammy-nominated vocalist Karrin Allyson performs with her trio and the Ball State University Jazz Lab Ensemble led by Mark Buselli, director of jazz studies at Ball State University, Thursday, April 10 at the Indiana Historical Society. The concert is at 7 p.m. with doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at www.owlstudios.com/catalog or by calling 317-803-2427. They’ll be $30 at the door.