2021 Indy Jazz Fest returns with an outdoor festival at Garfield Park and IJF Commission Series at Schrott Center for the Arts. The lineup features jazz shows spanning funk, smooth jazz, R&B, and soul.

Celebrating more than 20 years as innovators in the Indianapolis arts and culture scene, the annual Indy Jazz Fest is the premier event of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation.

With a continued focus on celebrating the legacy of jazz, modern masters and new jazz stars, Indy Jazz Fest will feature a wide variety of shows under the jazz umbrella with headliners including Thundercat, Victor Wooten, Cory Henry, Moonchild, and Marion Meadows.

The 2021 Indy Jazz Fest lineup includes:

• Wednesday, September 15
  Lugar Plaza | 5:30-7:30 pm
  IJF Let’s Get Excited Pre-Party | Charlie Ballantine Organ Quartet
  Presented by Indianapolis Cultural Trail
• Thursday, September 16
  7:30 p m• doors at 6:30 pm
  Steve Allee – “Vision & Legacy: A Tribute to Indy Jazz Mentors
  Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame recipient Steve Allee is telling the story of the Indy jazz scene through his commission piece “Vision & Legacy.” Spanning from his personal mentors and local legends, Steve and friends will take the audience on a tour of the past and present jazz icons that have shaped jazz into what it is today.
• Thursday, September 16 & Friday, September 17
  IJF21 Artist Commission Series at Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University
  Two Nights | Two World Premieres — a year’s worth of artistic visioning, composing and presenting these impactful original works. A modern day legacy celebration of Indianapolis’ finest by Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame recipients Steve Allee & Kenny Phelps.
• Friday, September 17
  7:30 pm • doors at 6:30 pm
  Kenny Phelps – “The Artisan”
  “The Artisan” is a collaboration of musicians that spans the career of Kenny Phelps. This musical production features Kenny Phelps, Kenny Banks, Hamilton Harden, and Keith Phelps presenting original compositions. The collaboration shares the journey, passion for music, and mentorship.
• Friday, September 17
  11 pm • doors at 10:30 pm
  Jazz Kitchen
  Clint Breeze & The Groove
• Saturday, September 18
  11 pm • doors at 10:30 pm
  Jazz Kitchen
  MonoNeon
• Saturday, September 18
  Garfield Park
  Kenny Banks Trio Jr. + Kenny Phelps & Nick Tucker
  Jared Thompson & Premium Blend
  38th & Postmodernism
  Rob Dixon & Trilogy
  Akiko Tsuruga Organ Trio featuring Jeff Hamilton & Graham Dechter
  Moonchild
  Victor Wooten | The Wooten Brothers
• Sunday, September 19
  Garfield Park
  Indiana All-State HS Band
  Amanda Gardier Quintet featuring Greg Ward
  Pavel & Direct Contact
  El Caribe
  Native Sun
  Legalize Being Black
  2020 Commission Reprise
  Marion Meadows
  mooth Jazz Icon
  Cory Henry
  Thundercat

Indy Jazz Fest continues to be an example of community success through the dedication and support of its generous sponsors REI Real Estate, IUPUI, The Law Firm of Foley & Abbott, Taft Law, Scofield Digital Storytelling, Hoover, Hull & Turner, LLP, Dynamark Printing, Printing Partners, and Elevate Entertainment & Event Support Services.

Indy Jazz Fest is also made possible in part by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.; Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc.; Indiana Arts Commission; Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; the Central Indiana Community Foundation; the VanRiper Woodard Family Foundation; Arts Council of Indianapolis; and the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation.

2021 arts and community partnerships include The Jazz Kitchen, Owl Music Group, Penrod Society, Chatterbox Jazz Club, WICR 88.7, WFYI, Indy Parks, Purdue Polytechnic High School, Indianapolis Public Schools, Garfield Park, and Mark Sheldon Photography.