"Kentucky Starts Here!" with a Friday night “Mardi Gras” kickoff on Main, and two full days of live jazz, artisans, food, fun, and more on Saturday and Sunday at historic Old Fort Harrod. The Jazz Festival and the Kentucky Artisan Expo will also join the “Scarecrows at the Fort” and some new partners.

Schedule of Events:

11:00 AM: Blue Groove Jazz

Blue Groove Jazz Quartet is a classic jazz ensemble with members from Harrodsburg and Danville, Ky.  The band is comprised of seasoned musicians, collectively having very diverse and extensive musical experiences, all with a common love of jazz.  The musical genres of BGJ are equally diverse, ranging from swing, bebop, and Latin, covering artists ranging from Miles Davis to Steely Dan.  BGJ has already garnered a loyal following in central Kentucky and has performed at gala events for the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College and Talon Winery’s annual Jazz on the Porch Series. The members of BGJ are Sam Carr (Alto and Tenor Sax), Eben Henson (drums), Pete McCaffrey (bass) and Mark Gardner (keyboards).

12:30 PM: Campbellsville University Faculty Band

The Campbellsville University Faculty Jazz Band is a crowd favorite at the KHJF. The ensemble features Saulo Mouro (piano and bass), Denis Santos (sax and flute), and Chad Ford (percussion). During his early twenties, Mr. Moura was performing with some of the finest bossa-nova, jazz, and samba musicians in Brazil and in Europe, as well as being in the cello section of the Brazilian National Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished and versatile performer and music educator, the multi-instrumentalist Denis Santos (Saxophone and Flute) is originally from Ceará, Brazil. Throughout his career, he has participated in several groups and ensembles such as Bellas Artes Quintet, Camerata da Unifor, and Eleazar de Carvalho Chamber Orchestra. In 2011, Denis formed the Almeida Duo, creating an original sound that has captivated audiences in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and throughout the USA. Chad has performed throughout the United States, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, and Trinidad and with multiple international tours as drummer for the Brazilian-based group, Almedia Duo.

2:15 PM: Lexington Jazz Collective

Jazz Collective without a doubt, features some of the premiere jazz musicians in Kentucky and beyond, including Larry Nelson – saxophone, Mark Gardner – keyboards, Tom Covello – bass, Glenn Ginn – guitar, and Dave McWhorter – drums.  Collectively these premiere musicians provide an incredibly musical experience covering a diverse range of jazz musical styles from fusion, cool jazz, and class jazz, as individual musicians, the members of Jazz Collective have played with premiere artists such as Doc Severinsen, Bob Mintzer, and the Four Tops.  The group has performed to rave reviews at multiple events for the Lexington Jazz Arts Foundation including Jazz Live at The Library series, and Talon Winery’s Jazz on the Porch series.

4:00 PM: Jamey Aebersold Quartet

The KHJF is honored to welcome back renowned jazz educator and saxophonist Jamey Aebersold and his quartet. Jamey is joined in his quartet with Doug Elmore on upright bass, Jonathan Higgins on drums, and Wade Honey on piano. Jamey is the recipient of the 2014 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy, bestowed upon an individual who has contributed significantly to the appreciation, knowledge, and advancement of jazz. For over 60 years, Jamey has been the leader in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Education. Jamey’s renown weeklong Summer Jazz Workshops have been held in 7 countries. His jazz quartet has performed dozens of programs which encourage students to play music and make healthy lifestyle choices.  Jamey’s company, www.Jazzbooks.com has produced 133 book/audio jazz Play-A-Longs. Jazzbooks.com also sells thousands of jazz related items to encourage musicians of all ages to explore playing jazz. Jamey is a driving force in jazz and continues to kindle the fires of musical imagination in those with whom he comes in contact.

5:30 PM: Circle City Sidewalk Stompers

The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band has been performing fast-moving, choreographed routines to upbeat music since 1976. The musicians, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, bass and snare drums, and sousaphone are dressed in colorful clown costumes and entertain the crowd with comic interaction and fancy footwork.  The 15-minute choreographed show, followed by musical strolling through the crowd, includes familiar tunes like Zoot Suit Riot, It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing, Pick up the Pieces, Gimme’ Some Lovin’, Birdland, Jump Jive an’ Wail, Your Mama Don’t Dance, and many more of your popular favorites.  Based in Indianapolis, IN, the Circle City Sidewalk Stompers routinely entertain crowds at Indiana Pacers basketball and Indianapolis Colts football games and State Fairs across the nation. The band has also performed at Carnival in Nice, France,  the European version of Mardi Gras and the Shanghai International Music Festival.

The popular Circle City Sidewalk Stompers believe that today’s audiences are eager for the positive family entertainment the group provides.  You won’t want to miss this fun and crowd interactive kickoff of the Jazz Fest with The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers on Main! 

6:30 PM: Nashville Jazz All-Stars with Sofia Goodman

Sofia Goodman is a drummer, composer and bandleader residing in Nashville, TN. Her work has been internationally recognized in the press and has been called “mesmerizing and compositionally rich” by DownBeat. She has been called a “splendid composer and drummer” by All About Jazz and The Nashville Scene noted Goodman is “something to be excited about in the evolution of jazz in Music City.” She has released three albums on Joyous Records and her group has toured the U.S. and most recently Canada. She is known for her original compositions, her finessed touch and melodic drumming style. She returns to Harrodsburg with a band featuring some of Music City’s finest musicians. 

8:30 PM: Brad Goode Quintet

First sharing a stage in the early 2010’s, the virtuostic trumpeter Brad Goode and legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts met and instantly realized their incredible musical rapport. Since that day, they have been touring together and exciting audiences with their high energy, tight-rope style improvisations. With the explosive Adam Nussbaum on drums, New York bassist Jay Anderson and the inventive Toronto pianist Adrean Farrugia, Goode and Watts create musical fire and have a lot of fun doing it. The Brad Goode Quintet featuring Ernie Watts has made concert appearances internationally and has recorded for the Origin and Delmark record labels. 

Brad Goode Quintet Featuring:

Brad Goode
Ernie Watts
Adam Nussbaum