Jazz Fest to be all-week affair

A weekend of jazz not enough for you? Well, then clear the week on your calendar for this week’s Indy Jazz Fest.

Yes, there will still be two days of outdoor music (Sept. 26-27 on two stages at The Lawn at White River State Park this time), but events are also scheduled for the days leading up to it at venues around the city.

It starts with the Joshua Redman Trio at Clowes Memorial Hall on Sept. 19. Tuesday, the 20th, gives you a choice of a trio of acts at The Vogue, a CD release concert at the Jazz Kitchen featuring the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, or a performance by Astral Project courtesy of Jazz from Bloomington.

Wednesday the 23rd brings Claudia Acuna to the Jazz Kitchen (Give her a listen here). And Friday night features a talent-packed Freddie Hubbard Tribute at the Madame Walker Theater.

Plus, all week, you’ll find after-parties and jam sessions. Just ask the musicians where they’re heading.

With all of that going on, the new producers of Indy Jazz Fest — Owl Studios, the Jazz Kitchen, and the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation — haven’t skimped on the talent at the signature outdoor portion of the festivities. Branford Marsalis, Soulive, multi-Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling (hear him here), the Steve Allee Big Band, bassist/composer Marcus Miller (who wrote the scores for “This Christmas,” “I Think I Love My Wife,” and TV’s “Everybody Hates Chris”) and many more are set to perform. Remember: Part of the pleasure of a festival is falling for performers you never heard of.

Oh, and f you are interested in the future of jazz, get to the Lawn early on Sunday for performances by the IPS All-City Jazz Band, Fort Wayne Snider HS Band, and the Ben Davis HS Band.

So, are you jazzed?