Join us for live jazz, food, and fun at the Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival  "Harrodsburg 250 Celebration" at historic Old Fort Harrod State Park. This is a free Event showcasing 17 regional and national jazz ensembles.This is an outdoor event held rain or shine.

Schedule Of Events

Sep 20,2024

6:30PM - RPM Fusion Quartet

RPM is a groove-based ensemble that mines the bedrock of funk groups like James Brown, the Funky Meters, and the Isley Brothers. Centered around the bass line, the band’s original music will make you want to move and offers a heavy dose of wiley soloing as well. The band features Ryan McGillicuddy on bass guitar, Glenn Ginn on guitar, and Nick Deidrichsen on drums, and Gabe Evans on keyboards.

8:30PM - Adrian Crutchfield

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 and 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 and 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.

Sep 21,2024

11:00AM - 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).  

12:15PM - 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.

1:45PM - Jazz Renaissance

Jazz Renaissance is a seven-piece jazz group that was formed in November, 2010. The group plays primarily jazz in many styles, including bop, swing and Latin. The group has played in many local venues, including the Blue Wisp, EzFest, the Juneteenth Celebration , the Black Family Reunion, and Fountain Square.

3:15PM - 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.

5:00PM - Spherical Agenda

Spherical Agenda is a jazz-rock fusion band consisting of the midwest region’s top musicians. Hailing from Cincinnati, OH, their sound not only draws from the cutting edge of today’s fusion but harkens back to the reckless abandon and pure energy of groups like Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Return to Forever. Featuring Matt Wiles on bass, Brandon Coleman on guitar, Ben Tweedt on keyboards and Devon Leigh on drums, Spherical Agenda is a powerhouse band whose unique chemistry gives rise to infectious grooves, daring solos, and captivating energy. Despite the band itself being fairly young, the collective is cultivating an ever-growing list of accomplishments. The band’s members have credits including performances with the Snarky Horns, The Drifters, Fareed Haque, Grammy-Nominated Dan Pugach Nonet, and Sam Blakelsee Quintet and Large Ensembles, clinics and masterclasses both nationally and abroad, and recording credits such as the television series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow soundtrack and the upcoming "For the Love of King", a compilation series by the Bootsy Collins Foundation benefiting the restoration of historic King Records

6:45PM - Ron Jones Contemporary Jazz Quartet

The Ron Jones Contemporary Jazz Quartet is a high energy group that brings a hardcore groove and excitement to the Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival Stage. The group features some of the finest musicians in the region, with Ron Jones on Alto Saxophone, Winton Reynolds on Piano, Tom Covello on Bass, and Jerry Harshaw on Drums. The group will present a versatile mixture of music from artist like Grover Washington Jr., Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, Spyro Gyro, Anita Baker, Earth Wind and Fire, Bill Withers, Kirk Whalum, Stanley Turrentine and other well-known artist. We hope that you make a point to see this group throw down this year, at the 2024 Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival.

8:30PM - K-Jam Collective

We are excited to announce K-JAM Collective as our HEADLINER for Saturday evening. Directed by Dr. Keith Mccutchen from Ky. State University, the K-JAM Collective will present "Old and New Dreams: An American Review".  The band includes some of the finest jazz musicians and educators from Kentucky and beyond that collectively will make some incredible music! "We don’t have all the great Kentucky artists in this group, but the ones we have are great." – Dr. Keith Mccutchen

Keith Mccutchen (Band Leader and Keyboard) – Associate Professor of Music at Kentucky State University who has shared the stage with artists, including Mel Torme’, Diane Schurr, Stanley Turrentine, Richard Davis and Jamey Aebersold.

Miles Osland (flute) – Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at the University of Kentucky with over forty CDs released on Sea Breeze Jazz, Open Loop and Mark Custom records, including multiple Grammy nominations.

Dalton Stanton (alto sax) – Down Beat magazine student award winning saxophonist and a graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Hunt Butler (tenor sax) – A native of Frankfort, Ky who has worked with many world class performers including Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, and Aretha Franklin.

Marlin McKay (trumpet) – Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Louisville who has shared the stage with such notable artists as Bobby Watson, Stefon Harris, Slide Hampton, and Wycliffe Gordon,

Brenda Flowers (trombone and vocals)

Natalie Boeyink (bass) – A music educator at Indiana University who has shared the stage with among others, Tammy McCann, Jeff Coffin, David Liebman, and Lorraine Feather, and many others.  

Mike Hyman (drums) – A music educator at the University of Louisville who has toured and recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Johnny Hartman, Bobby Hutcherson and many others.

Sep 22,2024

David Hall - 11:00AM

David Hall plays saxophones, clarinet, flute, flugelhorn, trumpet, EWI, steel pan drum, harmonica and keyboards. He has performed with The Temptations, The Four Tops, Bob Hope, The Drifters, Carol Channing, The Sensations, Mag 7, The Men of Note, Percy Sledge, Lexington Philharmonic, Lexington Swing Society, Tee Dee Young, The Bourbonaires, Dave Parry Band, Ed Minor Big Band, Vince DiMartino, Dixieland South, Don Krekel Orchestra, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Band, Ice Capades Band and many others. David has opened shows for Chuck Mangione, Burt Bacharach, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chubby Checker, Donny Osmond, The Spinners, America, Helen Reddy, Marie Osmond, Crystal Gayle, The Grass Roots, Junior Walker and The All Stars, Don McLean and many others. He has played for President Bill Clinton, numerous governors and senators, Lee Greenwood, The Pointer Sisters, George and Amal Clooney, Michael Bolton, Neil Sedaka and many others.

12:00PM - University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble

A very active group on the road, the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Miles Osland has toured the Mid-West and South including performances in Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, and invitational performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In July 2011 UKJE and the Osland/Dailey Jazztet toured France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, performing at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals.

1:00PM - Kentucky State University Choir

The Kentucky State University Concert Choir begins its 57th year under the direction of Dr. Keith McCutchen. McCutchen comes to the choir, following the 50-year legacy of former director, Dr. carl Smith, programming diverse concerts that reflect all genres of choral music. composed of undergraduates from all academic areas of the university, the concert choir is a well-rounded, diverse organization that upholds the highest standards in performance, as well as academics. the choir has appeared in several major cities throughout the united States and has also performed in foreign countries, including Montreal, Toronto, and Nassau, Bahamas.
in addition, the choir is a frequent guest performer for the Frankfort and Kentucky communities, university functions and the state government. a choral documentary was filmed and featured on German television in the 1980’s. the choir has performed for the regional and national American choral Directors association conventions. the choir was first place winner at several choral competitions including the national Spiritual competition held at Music hall in Cincinnati, Ohio and a two time winner of the annual historically Black colleges and universities choral Festival, held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1:50PM - Transylvania University Jazz Ensemble

2:40PM - Asbury University Jazz Band

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 the High Bridge Film Festival, as well as annual touring ministry mission trips throughout the United States.

3:30PM - Eastern Kentucky University

4:20PM - Morehead State University Jazz Band

MSU Jazz Ensemble I is MSU’s premiere jazz ensemble and maintains an active performing schedule on campus, throughout Kentucky, and beyond. The jazz big band consists of students from all disciplines and membership is by audition. Regular appearances are made at the Marshall Jazz Festival, UK ‘Battle of the Bands,’ Morehead State Jazz Clinic, the Elmhurst Jazz Festival and more. MSU Jazz I frequently performs with internationally renowned jazz artists and has received outstanding recognition at past jazz festivals.

5:00PM - Advocate Brass Band

Performing for audiences around the world is nothing new for the Advocate Brass Band. The band, from neighboring Danville, Ky, has entertained local audiences throughout the Commonwealth of Ky., and has played for audiences in Europe, Trinidad, and Venezuela. Reminiscent of the turn-of the-century town bands, the band was founded by Dr George Forman, former managing director of Centre College’s Norton Centre for the Arts, with financial backing from the late Mary Schutz, former publisher, chairman, and editor emeritus of the Advocate Messenger Newspaper. Originally, the band was formed to play during a political rally sponsored by the newspaper. This later evolved into creation of the Great American Brass Band Festival held annually in Danville with the Advocate Brass as the GABBF host band.

Date: Sep 20-22,2024

Location :Old Fort Harrod State Park - 100 South College Street Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Cost : Free

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