Schedule:

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

6:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Ad Astra Concert: Trombonist Marcus Lewis and The Delano Jazz Orchestra at Wichita Art Museum
Marcus Lewis returns to the WJF stage with his contemporary, "no holds barred" approach to jazz.  In 2003, Marcus was the winner of the Outstanding Soloist award at the Wichita Jazz Festival.  Since that time Marcus has continued to push the boundaries of modern jazz. This concert will pair Marcus with the Delano Jazz Orchestra for a wild night of music and excitement.  A traditional big band meets a contemporary artist - who knows what might happen.

Marcus hails from Kansas City, where he leads his own quartet and an 18-piece big band.  He is the founder and Artistic Director of Future Jazz, a nonprofit dedicated to jazz education, and the Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory.

His big band released "Brass and Boujee", which charted a #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts and at #15 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts.  It is a collaboration with emcees Kent the Phantom and Kadesh Flow - where big band meets hip-hop.

6:00 p.m: Cocktail hour and cash bar
7:00 p.m: Concert

Tickets are $30, available on the Tickets page.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: A Night of Guitars at Wichita Art Museum

The "Night of Guitars: concert will feature three of Wichita's most well-known jazz guitarists: William Flynn, Randy Zellers, and Kenny White.

6:00 p.m: Cocktail hour and cash bar
7:00 p.m: Concert

Tickets are $20, available on the Tickets page.

Friday, April 21, 2023

6:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Terell Stafford with the Mid-Kansas Honor Band and WSU Jazz Arts 1 at Wichita Art Museum

Terell Stafford, acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner.

Since the mid-1990’s, Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. With the Hamilton- Clayton Jazz Orchestra, Stafford performed on Diana Krall’s GRAMMY nominated From this Moment On (2006).  Stafford is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and they were awarded a GRAMMY in 2009 for Best Large Ensemble, Live at the Village Vanguard. Stafford can be heard on over 130 albums including his own, BrotherLee Love, Celebrating Lee Morgan, which received a 47th Annual NAACP Image Award nomination. Stafford is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University, founder and band leader of the Terell Stafford Quintet, and Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia (JOP). Stafford is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader and has received countless award nominations and accolades.

6:00 p.m: Cocktail hour and cash bar
7:00 p.m: Concert

Tickets are $30, available on the Tickets page.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

7:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Yellowjackets - In Concert at Crown Uptown Theatre

The legendary Yellowjackets - in concert.
Featuring: Russ Ferrante - piano and synthesizers, Bob Mintzer - woodwinds and EWI, Will Kennedy - drums, and Dane Alderson - bass.

Throughout their 43-year history, the Yellowjackets have recorded 25 albums, received 17 Grammy nominations – won 2 – and performed countless sold-out tours.  Still on the cutting edge of contemporary jazz, their latest album, Parallel Motion, is nominated for a 2023 Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Album.

Tickets are $60, available on the Tickets page.

Sunday, April 23, 2023

4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: Sunday at the Arb - Nouveau Quintette at Bartlett Arboretum
Join us at the beautiful Bartlett Arboretum for an afternoon of gypsy jazz with Nouveau Quintette.
Featuring Shelby Eicher on violin, Bill Harshbarger on clarinet, and Kenny “Kentucky” White on guitar , Nouveau Quintette will entertain with your favorite gypsy jazz classics.

Gates open at 3:00pm, and concert starts at 4:00.  Bring a comfy chair and your favorite beverage.
Tickets are $10, available on the Tickets page.

Date: April 19 - 23, 2023

Locations:

Wichita Art Museum, 1400 West Museum Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67203
Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218
Bartlett Arboretum, 301 North Line Street, Belle Plaine, KS 67013

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