Indianapolis Jazz Foundation

10/12/2026

Happy 90th birthday to Indy's own Melvin Rhyne! 🎹

Melvin started on piano, played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk at 19, then moved to the Hammond B3 and never looked back. In 1959 he joined Wes Montgomery's new trio, and that's his organ on Riverside classics like Boss Guitar. He also backed blues greats B.B. King and T-Bone Walker.

After about 20 quiet years in Wisconsin, he came roaring back in 1991 and recorded nine albums as a leader on Criss Cross Jazz. We think he'd love hearing the B3 still filling rooms around Indy today.

Melvin was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008.
Have you heard Melvin on the B3? Drop your favorite track below 👇
📷 Greg Turner: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvin-rhyne-mn0000871623

10/10/2026

Happy 105th birthday to Indy's own Monk Montgomery! 🎸

In the early '50s, Lionel Hampton told Monk to trade his upright for a brand-new Fender Precision Bass. In 1953 he became possibly the first musician ever recorded on electric bass.

He played alongside his brothers Wes and Buddy, co-led The Mastersounds, and later founded the Las Vegas Jazz Society.

Monk was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2006.
Who's your favorite Montgomery brother? Tell us below 👇
📷 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture:

A black and white photograph of Monk Montgomery playing the guitar and singing into a microphone.

10/08/2026

Happy 111th birthday to Indy's own Aletra Hampton! 🎹

One of 12 musical siblings, Aletra played harp and piano in the Hampton Sisters alongside Carmalita, Dawn and Virtue, and she took the family sound from the Apollo to Indy's clubs. She kept performing with Virtue into her 90s.

The music lives on. Virtue's son, trumpeter Pharez Whitted, is still performing and teaching today.

The Hampton Sisters were inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999.
Did you ever catch them around town? Tell us below 👇
📷 Photo: Indiana Historical Society / Emmett I. Brown Jr. Collection:

By the 1930s Clarke “Deacon” Hampton’s Family Band relocated to Indianapolis from Ohio. Over time the family acts have performed solo and in various configurations. The talented, multigenerational musical family includes trombonist Locksley “Slide” and Duke Hampton. During WW II the four H...

09/30/2026

Today is the last day your donation to the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation will be matched dollar by dollar, and we can really use your help!

Thank you to everyone who has already given. You’ve doubled what this year can do for jazz education, for this city’s musical legacy, and for live music across Indianapolis.
If you’ve been meaning to participate, this is the moment. Before midnight it will be doubled dollar by dollar.

With thanks to our matching donors: Dr. David Ingram & Dr. Sarah Stelzner, Turner & Diann Woodard, Dr. Stan & Alice Hillis, Al Hall & Family, and Steve & Deb McNear.

Donate before midnight https://www.indyjazzfoundation.org/donate

09/27/2026

Indy Jazz Fest 2026 wrapped yesterday and we couldn't be more proud. The stages are struck, the crowds have gone home, and next year is already being planned.

None of it happens on its own. Artists, volunteers, partners, and people like you make it possible. If the fest experience moved you this week, there are three days left to have your gift matched, and help us bring it back next year even bigger!

Donate here https://www.indyjazzfoundation.org/donate

09/26/2026

Indianapolis!!! The Grand Finale is here! 🔥

Are you ready for a day-long hang and the groove?!!

There is still time to get your tickets for an all-day block party at the park! We are pulling out all the stops across the Citizens Energy and IU Health stages - come for the music, for the food, for the park, for the community… please come!

TICKETS: https://www.indyjazzfest.net/

09/25/2026

2 STAGES. 10 BANDS. NON-STOP GROOVE. 🎷⚡️

The biggest day of live jazz and funk in Indianapolis is here. The Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale (Saturday, September 26) takes over the Indy Art Center and Opti-Park in Broad Ripple with an elite lineup running from afternoon into the night across two stages!

Here is how the day unfolds:
💧 Citizens Energy Stage
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Brandon Meeks Music
Hip-hop-infused modern acoustic jazz from the 2026 Creative Capital award-winner.
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM | Rick Braun Plays Chuck Mangione
Soaring, cinematic flugelhorn melodies and classic trumpet favorites.
5:15 PM – 6:30 PM | MonoNeon
Avant-garde microtonal funk and head-spinning bass chops from Prince’s final bassist.
7:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
High-octane, danceable soul-rock-jazz led by The Rolling Stones’ touring saxophonist.
8:45 PM – 10:00 PM | Sheila E. & The E-Train
The legendary Queen of Percussion closing out the night with Latin jazz, funk, and pop royalty.

🏥 IU Health Stage
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Bashiri Asad
Smooth, hard-hitting "IndySoul" steeped in classic 70s vocal brilliance.
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Sean Imboden Large Ensemble (SILE)
A thunderous 17-piece modern big band bringing explosive brass dynamics.
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM | Charlie Hunter Trio
Mind-bending, simultaneous bassline-and-chords virtuosity on custom hybrid guitar.
6:00 PM – 7:15 PM | Dave Stryker / Rob Dixon / Sam Fribush / Richard Sleepy Floyd + Jeff Coffin Music
Greasy Hammond B3 soul-jazz celebrating the Indiana Avenue sound, joined by 3x GRAMMY® winner Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band).
7:30 PM – 8:45 PM | Jared Thompson & Premium Blend

Relentless rhythm, razor-sharp solos, and the modern sound of Naptown jazz.
🌟 IJF Artist-at-Large: Jeff Coffin popping in across the grounds throughout the day!
🍔 Food trucks, b**r & cocktail bars, local art, and interactive community tents on-site.
🎟️ $25 Student Tickets | Kids 14 & under FREE with a paid adult admission!
📍 Indy Art Center & Opti-Park (Broad Ripple)
⏰ Saturday, Sept 26 | Gates open at 1:00 PM
🎟️ Lock in your passes now: indyjazzfest.net

09/25/2026

The official Indy Jazz Fest 2026 merch tent is fully loaded this year with brand-new drops and festival essentials. Whether you want to rep the fest around town or gear up for a full day on the lawn, we’ve got you covered:

👕 All-New IJF T-Shirts — Fresh commemorative 2026 designs, ultra-soft fits, in men’s and women’s.
💿 Artist Recordings — Pick up vinyl and CDs directly from your favorite festival performers to keep the music playing long after the final set.
🎒 Insulated Cooler Bags — Perfect for keeping your essentials chilled across all two stages.
🥤 Custom Tumblers — Keep your drinks ice-cold from the opening note to the headliner finale.
🧢 Band Merch — Exclusive band merch.
Stop by the official merchandise tent early near the main gates before popular sizes and items sell out!

📍 Official Merch Tent | Indy Art Center / Opti-Park
🎟️ Tickets, lineup & info: indyjazzfest.net

09/24/2026

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! 🇵🇷🇨🇺✨

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Indy Jazz Fest brings a powerhouse celebration of Latin jazz, mambo, and salsa royalty directly to The Jazz Kitchen! Join us on Friday, September 25 for an electrifying double bill featuring Tito Puente Jr. and GRAMMY®-winning flautist Nestor Torres .

Carrying forward the iconic legacy of his father, the legendary "King of Latin Music" Tito Puente, Tito Puente Jr. ignites the room with high-octane mambo and salsa grooves that demand movement. Sharing the stage is virtuoso flautist Néstor Torres, whose fluid blend of Latin jazz, classical precision, and contemporary soul captures the rich depth and expressive spirit of the tradition.

Together, they deliver an unforgettable night honoring Latin heritage, ancestral rhythm, and living musical innovation.Shoutout to the organizations building community, culture, and opportunity across Central Indiana every day:

La Plaza | Indiana Latino Institute | Arte Mexicano en Indiana

📍 The Jazz Kitchen (5377 N. College Ave.)
📅 Friday, September 25, 2026
⏰ Two Shows: 7:00 PM (Doors 5:00 PM) & 9:30 PM (Doors 9:00 PM)
🎟️ Tables & Tickets: calendar.indyjazzfest.net/shows/tito-puente-jr-and-nestor-torres-25-sep

09/24/2026

Come for the music, stay for the food. 🎷🍽️

Live music is always better on a full stomach, and this year’s Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale (Saturday, September 26 at Indy Art Center / Opti-Park) brings together an incredible lineup of local food vendors to keep you fueled all day:

🍖 GipGotTips — Slow-smoked Southern-style BBQ featuring tender rib tips, chicken, wings, and classic fixings.
🐟 GALS FRESH FISH LLC — Crispy, piping-hot fresh-fried fish and classic fish-and-chips baskets.
🥢 Indy Hibachi — Sizzling, made-to-order hibachi plates loaded with steak, shrimp, chicken, fried rice, and veggies.
🌱 Black Leaf Vegan — 100% plant-based comfort food, dishing out loaded burgers, tacos, and nachos with big flavor.
🥟 Lumpia Creations — Golden, crispy Filipino eggrolls served up with signature fillings and dipping sauces.
🍠 The Sweet Potato (brownsugarcakery) — Made-to-order desserts, custom specialty cakes, and sweet scratch-made treats.

Plus, we’ll have full b**r, w**e, and cocktail bars from The Jazz Kitchen on-site to keep the drinks flowing between sets. Grab your lawn chairs, bring your appetite, and join us from 1:30 PM to 10 PM!