WICR to present Indy Jazz Fest kickoff concert

UIndy public radio station WICR-FM/HD — central Indiana’s only jazz and classical music station — will present the opening night kickoff concert of this year’s Indy Jazz Fest on Thursday in the university’s Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

“The All-New Indy Jazz Fest Band Brings the Groove” will feature an array of top local players led by guitarist Bill Lancton, with Allen Turk Burke on Hammond B3 organ and piano, Scott Pazera on acoustic and electric bass, Vince Jackson on drums, Mark Buselli on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tom Clark on saxes and Rich Dole on trombone. The program celebrates the legends of fusion and acid jazz, including music of Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, the Meters, Grant Green, Joe Zawinul and Chick Corea.

The show, which begins at 7 p.m. in the center’s Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, is among just a handful of Indy Jazz Fest events that is free and open to all ages. The full festival schedule from Thursday through Sept. 20 is available here.