The time is
right for
jazz:
Drummer
William
Taylor of
Essence-
Factor performed at
the Indianapolis
Artsgarden
on Thursday afternoon as
part of National Jazz
Month.
Tony Bennett tops
Jazz Fest lineup
By David Lindquist
david.lindquist@indystar.com
Iconic crooner Tony Bennett will headline the seventh
annual Indy Jazz Fest.
Long-mnning R&B group
the Commodores, vocal
group the Manhattan Transfer
and Indianapolis-raised trombone great Slide Hampton
also will be featured when
the event is staged June 17-19
at White River State Park's
Military Park.
Bennett — a 78-year-old
known for signature song "I
Left My Heart in San Francisco" and his 11 Grammy
Awards — boasts multiple
generations of fans.
"We have a great American
icon," said Joel Harrison, artistic director for the festival-
producing American Pianists
Associatioa "It's interesting
to me to find that a lot of
younger listeners are hearing
Tony Bennett for the first
time."
The association, which unveiled the festival's lineup
Thursday, hopes to sell
20,000 tickets for the event,
which coincides with Father's
Day weekend and U.S. Grand
Prix activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Two prograniming changes
will distinguish this year's
Indy Jazz Fest:
■ All performances will
happen in Military Park.
This plan subtracts the
IUPUI Library Lawn setting
that's been used every year
except 2003, when Indy Jazz
Fest was a one-day, one-stage
concert.
This year, one outdoor
stage will occupy the southwest corner of Military Park
and a second will be in the
northeast corner.
In this configuration, New
York Street won't be closed
to traffic as in years past.
Harrison said the festival
treasures the pastoral environment of Military Park,
which has been the site of
previous Indy Jazz Fest performances.
"I love being in Military
Park," Harrison said. "It has
beautiful grass, trees and
bushes, and you have a great
view of Indy's skyline. As it
approaches twilight, the lights
of the city come up and it's a
wonderful, romantic setting."
■ No two acts will perform
at the same time.
In an effort to elirriinate
sounds that bleed from one
stage to another — an affliction of many music festivals
— performers will follow a
staggered schedule.
"I believe every artist deserves the finest situation
that we can provide," Harrison said.
For more information, visit
www.indyjazzfest.net.
■ Call Star reporter David Lindquist
at (317) 444-6404.
2005 Indy
Jazz Fest
■ Tickets for the
2005Indy Jazz
Fest go on sale
at 10 a.m. today
at Ticketmaster
locations. Three-
day passes will
be sold for $45
in advance. Single-day tickets
will be available
for $30, or $20 if
purchased in advance. For more
information,
visit www.indy
jazzfest.net.
■ Concerts are
scheduled at
Military Park,
West and New
York streets.
Performers
Friday, June 17
The Manhattan
Transfer
Tad Robinson
Adam Bimbaum
Buselli-Wallarab
Jazz Orchestra
Pookie Johnson
Orquesta Bravo
Saturday, June
18
The Commodores
Slide Hampton
David Sanborn
Chris Botti
Susan Tedeschi
Brenda Williams
The Bad Plus
Kwyjibo
Sunday, June 19
Tony Bennett
Mavis Staples
Gary Burton
Joey DeFrances-
co
Steve Allee
Cool Chilies
