INDY JAZZ FEST 2025 SEPT 09-20, 2025
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INDY JAZZ FEST 2025 SEPT 09-20, 2025 〰️
Presented by
SEPTEMBER 09-20, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
CONCERTS TICKETS
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CONCERTS TICKETS 〰️
GRAND FINALE ARTISTS
Brian Culbertson
A chart-topping jazz-funk keyboardist, composer, and producer, Brian Culbertson brings high-energy performances rooted in R&B, smooth jazz, and soul. With over 20 albums and countless #1 Billboard hits, his shows blend dazzling musicianship with show-stopping stage presence.
Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective
Two-time Oscar-nominated composer and 6-time GRAMMY winner, Terence Blanchard is a visionary jazz trumpeter known for his cinematic scores (including many for Spike Lee) and his groundbreaking fusion of jazz with opera, hip-hop, and contemporary themes. A true modern icon of jazz.
Judith Hill
Judith Hill brings her signature blend of funk, soul, and fearless storytelling to the Grand Finale stage. A GRAMMY winner who’s worked with Prince and Michael Jackson, Hill now shines with Letters from a Black Widow—a bold, emotional album praised for its powerful vocals and raw honesty. Expect a performance packed with fire, depth, and soul.
Nicole Henry featuring Indy Jazz Fest All-Stars
Hailed as one of the most soulful voices in jazz today, Nicole Henry brings a captivating blend of elegance, power, and emotional depth to the stage. Her interpretations of jazz standards and R&B classics have won her international acclaim—and a Soul Train Award.
SUNSET SERIES ARTISTS
Kenny Garrett
One of the most important alto saxophonists of his era, Kenny Garrett’s explosive live performances are grounded in post-bop mastery, spiritual depth, and global influence. A former member of Miles Davis’s band, his decades-spanning solo work is both innovative and deeply rooted in jazz tradition.
Charlie & the Tropicales featuring Mireya Ramos
This electrifying collaboration brings together the Latin heat of Charlie & The Tropicales with the GRAMMY-winning vocalist and violinist Mireya Ramos (Flor de Toloache). Expect a high-energy celebration of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, salsa, and Latin soul that will turn the night into a tropical block party.
Sam Fribush Organ Jam
Sam brings an electrifying energy to the Hammond B3, blending old soul and youthful spirit. Known for his heartfelt groove and inventive flow, Fribush leads this dynamic organ jam joined by Rob Dixon and Richard “Sleepy” Floyd—uniting Indy’s finest for a night of soulful improvisation, rich textures, and unstoppable rhythm.
Naptown Block Party
Presented by Van Riper - Woodard Family Foundation
A celebration of Indy’s rich jazz legacy, Naptown Sound brings together an all-star lineup of Indiana’s top musicians. This electrifying collective delivers a hometown mix of groove, grit, and soul—bridging tradition with fresh energy. It’s the sound of Indianapolis, bold and proud.
Jazz Meets Samba - An Afro Brazilian Journey featuring Magary Lord, Juliana Ribeiro, and Lasana Kazembe
Presented by IU Africana Studies
IU Africana Studies presents an exciting evening exploring intersections of sound, celebrating the Afro-Brazilian roots of samba with electrifying musicians Juliana Ribeiro and Magary Lord, accompanied by the Rob Dixon Quintet. The evening also features a dynamic performance of artistry and healing through spoken word and jazz, with Emmy Award-winning poet Lasana D. Kazembe and his ensemble, Watu Wazuri. Expect an evening filled with energy, passion, cultural insight, and artistic improvisation.
Indy Jazz Collective featuring Rayford Griffin
The Indianapolis Jazz Collective is an all-star group of the city’s finest jazz musicians. Led by Indy Jazz Fest Artistic Director Rob Dixon, the collective often features special guest soloists and notable figures in the jazz world. They curate unique collaborations, and in the past, have included artists such as Bobby Watson, Stefon Harris, and Randy Brecker.
Brandee Younger
Trailblazing harpist Brandee Younger redefines what the harp can do. Blending classical mastery with jazz, soul, and hip-hop, she’s collaborated with artists from Ravi Coltrane to Lauryn Hill. Her Grammy-nominated work weaves elegance and edge into a genre-defying experience.
Gunhild Carling
Swedish jazz powerhouse Gunhild Carling is a true one-woman show—singer, dancer, multi-instrumentalist, and vintage jazz revivalist. With fiery trombone solos and Charleston flair, her shows are a whirlwind of talent and old-school swing with modern sass.
Ms Lisa Fischer
A GRAMMY-winning vocalist whose extraordinary voice has graced stages with the Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, and Tina Turner. After decades as a sought-after backup singer, Fischer stepped into the spotlight with her soulful solo artistry—blending jazz, gospel, rock, and classical influences. Her performances are unforgettable, intimate, and transcendent.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
The multi-Grammy© Winner, pianist and composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba was already a young phenom with a budding career in his native Cuba when he was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1985. Piano & Keyboard Magazine selected him in 1999 as one of the great pianists of the 20th century, he has won two Grammys and two Latin Grammys, and established himself as a creative force in the jazz world. This trio features Rubalcaba with drummer Eric Harland and bassist Ricky Rodriguez.
Keyon Harrold
A virtuoso trumpeter and social voice of his generation, Keyon Harrold blends jazz, R&B, and hip-hop into a signature sound praised by NPR and Rolling Stone. Known for his work on Miles Ahead and collaborations with Common, Beyoncé, and Gregory Porter, he delivers raw emotion with every note.
Explore the artists, dates, and venues bringing the magic to Indy this September.
The Jazz Kitchen
6pm & 8:30pm
09
Sept,
Sunset Series
Kenny Garrett
2025
Kenny Garrett
10
Sept,
Sunset Series
2025
The Jazz Kitchen
6pm & 8:30pm
Charlie & the Tropicales featuring Mireya Ramos
12
Sept,
Sunset Series
2025
The Jazz Kitchen
7pm
Sam Fribush Organ Jam
12
Sept,
Sunset Series
2025
The Jazz Kitchen
10pm
Sunset Series - Presented by Van Riper - Woodard Family Foundation
13
Sept,
2025
The Jazz Kitchen,
5pm Showtime
Naptown Block Party
Sunset Series - Presented by IU Africana Studies
14
Sept,
2025
JAZZ meets SAMBA
An Afro Brazilian Journey featuring Magary Lord, Juliana Ribeiro, and Lasana Kazembe
The Jazz Kitchen
6pm
Indy Jazz Collective featuring Rayford Griffin
16
Sept,
Sunset Series
2025
The Jazz Kitchen
6pm & 8:30pm
The Jazz Kitchen
6pm & 8:30pm
17
Sept,
Sunset Series
Brandee Younger
2025
Sunset Series - Presented by The Cabaret
17
Sept,
2025
Gunhild Carling
The Cabaret - Onsale August 5 @ 10a
8pm
Schrott Center for the Arts - Onsale July 25
8pm
18
Sept,
Sunset Series
Ms Lisa Fischer
2025
Schrott Center for the Arts - Onsale July 25
8pm
19
Sept,
Sunset Series
2025
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
The Jazz Kitchen
7pm & 9:30pm
19
Sept,
Sunset Series
Keyon Harrold
2025
Brian Culbertson
Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective
Judith Hill
Nicole Henry featuring Indy Jazz Fest All-Stars
20
Sept,
Grand Finale
2025
Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park,
Gates open at 3pm
Music starts at 4pm
FESTIVAL DETAILS
LOCATIONS
Location is accessible and step-free.
THE EXPERIENCE
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
OUR FANS GIVE INDY JAZZ FEST ITS SPIRIT
