Adrian Crutchfield

Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8:30 p.m.

Adrian Crutchfield is known around the world for his neo-soul sound. His smooth, unique timbre reflects his proficiency in a wide variety of genres including jazz, funk, hip-hop, R&B, rock, and many more.  Known as the last horn man to perform and record (2012-2016) with Prince. Adrian is featured on many of Prince’s final masterpieces including the 2017 Grammy-Nominated Hit-N-Run Phase 2, and the unreleased, but highly anticipated “Black Is The New Black” a l bum.
​ Adrian also has played sax for many of today’s brightest stars such as Lionel Richie, Bette Midler, CeeLo Green, R&B icon Anthony Hamilton, Fantasia Barrino, K-Ci and JoJo, The Gap Band featuring Charlie Wilson and hip-hop superstar Young Jeezy. In jazz, Mr. Crutchfield has been featured by artists including Kim Waters, Mike Phillips, Alex Bugnon, Jeff Lorber, and Branford Marsalis. He also has performed with the legendary group Fourplay.  Find out more by clicking here.

Cosmic Collective

Friday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.

Main Street in Harrodsburg

When the Cosmic Collective met in a jazz combo at Middle Tennessee State University they quickly discovered their collaboration was something that needed to continue past the semester. Every performer in the ensemble adds a particular element to the sound, resulting in a blend that is dynamic, smooth, and refreshingly unpredictable. Band leader and vocalist Nikki Michelle attributes their success to the chemistry they share as friends expressing that “having fun together and doing something we love is what makes this project work and keeps us coming back to create something beautiful.”  Find out more by clicking here.

Paladin

Saturday, Sept. 18 at Noon

Paladin was formed by the gifted New Orleans trumpeter James Millard Poole III in 2013 to perform “Organa” or free spirited improvised jazz.  The stellar rhythm section of Paladin consists of equally gifted musicians including drummer Brehnan Miller,  a Harrodsburg native currently residing in Louisville,  bassist Rob Barnes from Lexington, and keyboardist Mark Gardner also residing in Mercer County. Paladin has played to enthusiastic audiences across Kentucky, including  the Jazz on The Porch series at Talon Winery.   ​Find out more by clicking here.

Blue Groove Jazz

Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

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 is a regular at the Jazz on the Porch series presented each summer by the Lexington Jazz Arts Foundation. The members of BGJ are Sam Carr (Alto and Tenor Sax), Eben Henson (drums), Pete McCaffrey (bass) and Mark Gardner (keyboards). Find out more by clicking here.

Campbellsville University Faculty Jazz Ensemble

Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m.

The Campbellsville University Faculty Jazz Ensemble is a crowd favorite at the FHJF! 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 the finest bossa-nova, jazz, and samba musicians in Brazil and Europe. Saulo has performed internationally in Brazil, Argentina, England, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea. Denis Santos is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist from Ceará, Brazil. In 2011, together with cellist and bassist Saulo DeAlmeida, Denis formed the Almeida Duo, mixing classical, jazz and Latin genres. The Duo has captivated audiences in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and the USA. Dr. Chad Floyd has served as drummer for the award winning band, Stoik Oak, and for Grammy-nominated members of Sojourn Fare. Chad has also performed with the Birdsong Steel Orchestra at Panorama in Trinidad, and with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky, Sacred Winds Ensemble, Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra. Chad has performed throughout the United States, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, and Trinidad, and on multiple international tours with the Almedia Duo.  Collectively these fantastic musicians and esteemed music educators anchor an incredible jazz ensemble that is not to be missed. Find out more by clicking here.

Jamey Aebersold

Saturday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m.

Jamey Aebersold is a internationally-known saxophonist and authority on jazz education and improvisation, and has developed a series of Play-A-Longs (book and cd sets (now numbering almost 130 volumes) as well as various other supplemental aids for the development of improvisational skills. The Aebersold book and recording sets allow a musician the opportunity to practice and improvise with well-known jazz personalities at home as well as in the classroom. The recordings employ some of the best jazz musicians in the world. Find out more by clicking here.

The Sofia Goodman Group

Saturday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.

The Sofia Goodman Group is a jazz fusion group, led by drummer and composer Sofia Goodman, based in Nashville, TN, U.S.A.  The group performs original music, as well as arrangements of tunes in the jazz genre.  Sofia had the honor of performing in a youth ensemble led by teacher and Grammy award winning artist Esperanza Spalding in Boston in 2005 and Esperanza’s encouragement motivated Sofia to keep perfecting her craft. Find out more by clicking here.

 University Of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble

Sunday, Sept 19 at Noon

A very active group in the recording studio and on the road, the UK Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Miles Osland has garnered critical praise with 4 four-star ratings from Downbeat magazine and has toured the Midwest and South including invitational performances (2) at the Jazz Educators Network International Conference and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (4 appearances). The Ensemble has toured Europe and China with invitational performances at the Montreux, North Sea and Beaujolais Jazz Festivals. Various ensembles and courses in the jazz studies program offer rigorous performance opportunities and academic research for talented young musicians and educators.

The Walnut Street Ramblers

Sunday, Sept. 19 at 12:45 p.m.

The Walnut Street Ramblers have performed at many locations in Kentucky and abroad. In 2011 and 2012 the band was invited to tour Spain and performed in festivals and concerts on the Mediterranean coast.  While in Spain the Ramblers performed at Salamanca’s famed jazz club El Corillo.   Though all members of the band are accomplished performers in the concert and jazz areas, they have a special love for early jazz music, especially featuring tunes from New Orleans and the 1920s.  Find out more by clicking here.

Asbury University

Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2:15 p.m.

​The Music Department is a vibrant part of the ministry of Asbury University located in Wilmore, Ky. The AU Jazz Band is one of many fine music ensembles at Asbury under the direction of Dr. Glen Flanigan. AU jazz band is a seventeen piece, big band that includes talented musicians attending Asbury as well as community members.   The band performs at numerous functions both on and off campus, including annual touring ministry mission trips throughout the United States. Find out more by clicking here.

The MetroGnomes

Sunday, Sept 19 at 3 p.m.

​The MetroGnomes are a 19-piece big band based out of Lexington who perform in Central Kentucky and surrounding areas.  Since their formation in 2004 the band has played 12-15 concerts per year to rave reviews.  Specializing in variety, the MetroGnomes play many different styles such as jazz, latin, rock, and swing with a goal to always entertain with musical excellence.  The band consists of members from all musical backgrounds and careers. The band is directed by composer, arranger, clinician and former Stan Kenton bass trombonist. Find out more by clicking here.

The Ron Jones Quartet

Sunday, Sept 19 at 4:45 p.m.

Jazz Saxophonist Ron Jones is a graduate of Florida A & M University, where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Ron and his Quartet have been a fixture on the Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana jazz scene for 30 plus years. He has performed with jazz greats like Rufus Ried, Slide Hampton, Wycliffe Gordon, Christian McBride, James Williams, Don Braden, Wynton Marsalis & Branford Marsalis, Jeff Tain Watts, and Diane Reeves to name a few. The group features Ron Jones on Alto Saxophone, with Cincinnati musicians Rob Allgeyer on Piano, Aaron Jacobs on Bass, and Jim Leslie on Drums, all of whom are some of the best Cincinnati has to offer on the respective instruments. This is going to be a SWINGIN afternoon of music, as the group will perform some of Ron’s original compositions and some wonderful arrangements of standard tunes.