Jazz Kitchen

All-around great Pharez Whitted hits the JK stage this weekend

Pharez Whitted is an Indiana native, born right here in Indianapolis. (Oh yeah, did we mention he's also an educator, composer, producer...the list goes on and on). 

No matter how long his list of credentials, Whitted is proof Hoosiers can go big places in the entertainment industry. He has performed at legendary events and places, including gigs at the 1988 Presidential Inauguration, the Billboard Music Awards and Carnegie Hall. He has also hit the stage with musical legends like The Temptations, Roy Meriwether and fellow Hoosier John Mellencamp. 

Whitted has written, produced, arranged and produced two CDs for Motown's Jazz record label — "Pharez Whitted" and "Mysterious Cargo." He also co-produced the MoJazz album "People Make the World Go 'Round." His third album will be released sometime this year.

While in Indiana, Whitted studied at DePauw University and earned his master's degree at Indiana University in the Jacobs School of Music. He currently serves as director of jazz studies at Chicago State University (you know, in all the free time he has left after traveling around to perform for us with his sextet and featured saxophonist, Eddie Bayard). 

Did You Know? Pharez Whitted is the son of late singer and bassist Virtue Hampton Whitted and newphew of famed trombonist Slide Hampton.

Come groove with this Indianapolis native Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Cover is $12. 

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More funky beats for the weekend

As promised, here's the lineup for the rest of the week!

Thursday, things heat up with our weekly Latin Dance Party. Shake your hips and kick up your feet to the beats of Marco Dominguez, our king of all things salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton and Latin hip-hop, from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $7 cover charge, but free for ladies until 10 p.m. And, as always, join Cyntha Limon at 8:30 for free salsa lessons!

When the weekend hits, things don't slow down here! 

FRIDAY

C-U Jazz Crusaders

& Doug Johns

The C-U Jazz Crusaders plays a combination of jazz, blues, funk and Latin jazz through the songs of "The Jazz Crusaders" and "The Crusaders," which is an important jazz, blues and funk band from the 1960s that featured Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper and Wayne Henderson. 7:30-10 p.m.

Cover is $10.

 

Doug Johns is a bassist, composer, arranger and clinician hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. After working with greats like Dweezil Zappa and Dana Rasch, Johns was inspired to mix his first solo CD, which dropped in 2006. He is known for his grabbing stage presence that will keep you entertained from his first note to his last. 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Cover is $5.

SATURDAY

Dave and Jeff Devine 

& Twin Cats

Guitarist Dave and drummer Jeff return to the Jazz Kitchen stage with their many talented friends for a night of mix-it-up music. 7-10 p.m. Cover is $10. 

Then we welcome some hometown favorites, the Twin Cats. Why the funky name? Because they're twin brothers, Adam and Seth Catron, with a love of jazz/funk sounds. 11 p.m.-1 a.m.;$5 cover.

You had to find something to spark your interest in that impressive collection of talent. So pick what you like, and join us! Our door is always open to newcomers and familiar faces alike.

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No weekend plans? Come visit us!

No plans for the weekend? We’ve got you covered!

FRIDAY

Uptown Quartet: 7-9:30 p.m.; $10 cover

Chicago Afro-beat Ensemble: 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.; $12 cover

Onstage tonight are the Uptown Quartet and Chicago Afrobeat Project.

Led by drummer Arthur Haan, Uptown Quartet pays tribute to the hard-bop world we all know and love. Let their smooth sound relax you after a busy workweek.

Chicago Afrobeat Project combines Chicago sound with afro-beat rhythms. The seven-piece group got their start playing parties in the Chicago loft scene and has been touring the country for the last six years. Their sound encompasses a wide range of influences and styles, including jazz, funk, rock, afro-cuban,West African highlife and juju. With the group’s upbeat and catchy style, you’ll be tapping your toes and snapping your fingers along with the music for the entire set.

 

SATURDAY

Cynthia Layne: 7:30-9:30 p.m.; $10 cover 

Check out the vocal ventures of Cynthia Layne and her band, drummer Kenny Phelps, pianist Reggie Bishop and sax player Rob Dixon. The band is perfect if you have music ADD (and, really, don’t we all?) Their sound combines jazz, R&B and soul for a sound any listener will love.

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Indy Jazz Fest and IPS resurrect the IPS All City High School Jazz Band

Indianapolis Public Schools, in conjunction with Indy Jazz Fest, is proud to present the reinstatement of the IPS All City High School Jazz Band. This band is a seventeen piece ensemble that is comprised of some of the most talented high school musicians from the IPS district. Under the direction of Mr. Keith White (Director of Instrumental Music for IPS) and Kathy Spangler (Willard J. Gambold Middle School IPS #108 Band Director), the IPS All City High School Jazz Band will perform a number of concerts throughout the year that will be open to general audiences.  As a cultural treasure to the city of Indianapolis, the IPS All City High School Jazz Band will strive for excellence in performance, and instill in young musicians the great legacy of Indianapolis Jazz that is in essence our City’s great past and vibrant future.

Indy Jazz Fest is also proud to announce the formation of the year-round, Indy Jazz Fest Band. This is a nine-piece performance group that consists of some of the finest professional Jazz musicians in the Indianapolis area. The mission of this group is to perpetuate the legacy of Jazz throughout the city, with a targeted focus on education in schools.

The Indy Jazz Fest Band will make their debut playing a one hour concert for all the students at Pike High School (6701 Zionsville Rd.) this coming Wednesday, March 18th at 9am.

On Friday, March 20th, at 10am, The Indy Jazz Fest Band will be performing another one hour show at Broad Ripple High School (1115 Broad Ripple Ave) for all high school jazz band, concert band, orchestra and choral students in the IPS school district. All music students and Band Directors will be transported by bus to BRHS for this performance. After this concert, an announcement recognizing the resurrection of The IPS All City High School Jazz Band will be made. Band directors from all IPS high schools will help organize the band in the following week.

Musicians from the Indy Jazz Fest Band will help run rehearsals for the IPS All City Jazz Band, which will be every Monday starting at the end of March and going through the end of the school year.

Indy Jazz Fest has already booked 3 public performances for the IPS All City High School Jazz Band:

• Broad Ripple Art Fair on Sunday, May 17th, 3-4:30pm, on the Nuvo Riverfront Stage

• Artsgarden at Circle Centre Mall on May 9th

• Indy Jazz Fest - Sept 21-28, 2009

In April, the Indy Jazz Fest Band will perform a similar concert for all middle school and grade school music students in the IPS school district. And on May 3rd, the IJF Band will perform a concert with the Butler Youth Jazz Band, a group consisting of high school students across Indianapolis. The IJF band will also perform a Masterclass for the Butler Jazz ensemble, as well as a concert for IUPUI music students.

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Jazz Fest party focuses on friends

2009 fest looks new and improved

The Indy Jazz Fest had a well attended, yet intimate cocktail party at Sangiovese Ristorante last night. The focus of the evening was to introduce the new and improved festival to potential sponsors, friends of the festival and other VIPs. 

Groovin' tunes were courtesy of Cynthia Layne (vocals), Kenny Phelps (drums) and Kevin Anchor (organ). Alpha Blackburn was the charming hostess, and speakers included Al Hall from Owl Studios, Dave Allee, Festival Director and owner of The Jazz Kitchen, and Rob Dixon, Owl Studios (and possibly Indianapolis' hardest working musician).

In attendance were Steve and Carol Allee, David Baker (director Jazz Studies at IU), Bruce Bryant from Promotus, Kathy Nagler from IMOCA, David Andrichick from the Chatterbox, YATS' Joe and Gina Vuskovich, Chris the owner of Sangiovese, Ryan Hickey from Oranj, Todd Oliver from ACMSM, Chuck Workman, Dr. Stan and Alice Hillis, and a few other members of Indianapolis' glitterati.

Alpha emphasized the expanded role that education will play. Momentum seems to really be building for this years festival. Stay tuned for more details.

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Indy Jazz Fest Story: Indianapolis Star

New Partnership will present Indy Jazz Fest

By Jay Harvey

Posted: February 16, 2009

The Indy Jazz Fest Corp. -- representing a partnership of the Jazz Kitchen, a Northside nightclub; Owl Studios, a recording company based on Monument Circle; and the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation -- is taking over the 10-year-old festival from the American Pianists Association, the Indy Jazz Fest's producer for the past six years.

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Indy Jazz Fest Story: WTHR Channel 13

Indy Jazz Fest under new leadership

Indianapolis - New leadership may change the tune of Indy's Jazz Fest.
 
The Indy Jazz Fest Corp.  is taking over production of the event from the American Pianists Association. Organizers hope to move away from high-priced headliners to more concerts at more venues in the week leading up to the two-day event.

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