Schedule Of Events

April 22, 2025

Jazz in the Round

Experience "jazz in the round" as bands from eight Wichita high schools surround you with swinging sounds. Don't miss this chance to see and support local up-and-coming jazz musicians!

April 23, 2025

Donna Tucker & the Delano Jazz Orchestra

An internationally known jazz vocalist and musician, Donna Tucker's musical roots span Blues, Swing and Latin jazz. From whimsical tales to windswept romance, Donna's charismatic vocal style will charm audiences. Paired with the big sound of the Delano Jazz Orchestra, this evening promises big entertainment! $40 General Admission - Half price for students at the door with student ID

April 24, 2025

Jazz drumming legend Peter Erskine with Alan Pasqua on piano and Scott Colley on bass 

Combine two Grammy awards and numerous Grammy nominations, and you'll get an inkling of this concert's star power. Drummer Peter Erskine has played with the likes of Weather Report, Stan Kenton, Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Steely Dan and the BBC Symphony among others. His 2025 album, Vienna to Hollywood celebrates the music of two iconic Viennese composers, Korngold and Steiner. Voted "Best Jazz Drummer of the Year" 10 times by readers of Modern Drummer Magazine, Erskine brings together for us two equally accomplished musicians, jazz and rock pianist Alan Pasqua, and double bassist and composer Scott Colley. $60 General Admission - Half price for students at the door with student ID

April 25, 2025

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM : WSU Jazz Invitational

The WSU Jazz Invitational is an annual celebration of jazz and jazz education, held in partnership with the Wichita Jazz Festival. This full-day event brings together student big bands from across the region for performances, adjudications, and educational clinics led by distinguished jazz educators. This event is free and open to the public.

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM : WSU Jazz Invitational Headline Concert featuring guest artists Pat Bianchi and Dan Wilson

The WSU Jazz Invitational will culminate in a headline concert featuring renowned jazz artists Pat Bianchi on organ and Dan Wilson on guitar, performing with WSU's Jazz Arts 1 Ensemble and the Mid-Kansas Jazz Ensemble, the region's only auditioned high school honor jazz band.

Grammy-nominated organist Pat Bianchi has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and, in recent years, his trio has opened for Steely Dan. In addition to being a prolific bandleader, Bianchi was a longtime member of the trio led by late guitar icon Pat Martino as well as NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson's Quartet. Pat has also enjoyed tenured memberships in the bands of some of the most highly revered artists in jazz, including Joe Locke, Chuck Loeb and Ralph Peterson Jr.

Dan Wilson's musical identity has been shaped by everything from gospel and blues to traditional jazz and hip-hop. He performed to worldwide acclaim with Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride's Tip City and earned a Grammy nomination for DeFrancesco's Project Freedom album. In 2023, Dan released his fourth album "Things Eternal," which received critical acclaim worldwide and led to a tour of major festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Join us for this stellar event as jazz greats perform with the next generation of musicians.

April 26, 2025

53rd Annual Wichita Jazz Festival Grand Finale

Top off the Wichita Jazz Festival with an evening of outstanding artistry featuring amazing performances from vocalist April May Webb with Randall Haywood, Jacob Webb, Nathan Webb and Yayoi Ikawa, followed by Matt Wilson's Good Trouble. You won't want to miss this unforgettable night of jazz!

Jazz vocalist April May Webb with trumpeter Randall Haywood : Featuring Jacob Webb on bass, Nathan Webb on drums and Yayoi Ikawa on piano

She's a Kansas girl, from Newton, now bringing her dream to life!  April May Webb was recently named the winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.  She'll be performing with trumpeter (and husband) Randall Haywood, voted male Rising Star at Hot House Jazz Magazine and Jazzmobile NYC. Together, the Sounds Of April & Randall will S.O.A.R., blending jazz with Country, R&B, and Gospel influences. Their music has earned national acclaim with hits on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and National Jazz Week Charts. Randall was the youngest Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra member at 15, and April May was the first Black woman to graduate from William Paterson's Jazz Education program.  April May and Randall will be joined by April's brothers, Jacob Webb and Nathan Webb as well as fellow musician Yayoi Ikawa. Jacob is an award-winning producer, bassist, pianist and multi-instrumentalist who founded Next Paradigm Records. Nathan is an accomplished drummer and percussionist who champions music education. Also natives of Newton, Jacob and Nathan have collaborated with countless jazz icons, including legendary jazz guitarist Jerry Hahn. A pianist and composer, Yayoi has released multiple albums and has performed and taught internationally. Together, they create music that inspires.

Legendary Drummer Matt Wilson's Good Trouble : Featuring Anisha Rush on alto sax, Dawn Clement on piano and vocals

Jeff Lederer on tenor sax and clarinet and Ben Allison on bass, Matt Wilson has released 13 albums as a leader, appeared on more than 400 others as a sideman and has played with an impressive array of the most legendary jazz names. Now he brings to Wichita his Good Trouble entourage, as noted by Downbeat magazine: "Good Trouble finds Matt Wilson as boisterous and hard-swinging as ever." Come find out why this New York-based drummer - and WSU grad - is among the most in-demand players and educators on the modern jazz scene.  Good Trouble features Anisha Rush, Dawn Clement, Jeff Lederer and Ben Allison. Anisha is a saxophonist, composer and educator who performs with many noteworthy musicians and serves as bandleader of Anisha Rush and the Encounter. A pianist, vocalist and composer, Dawn serves as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. Jeff is a saxophonist-clarinetist/composer/educator whose work crosses the genres of jazz, Latin and creative improvised music. A bassist, composer, producer and educator, Ben is known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies. The Wichita Jazz Festival enjoys the expertise of top professionals who work in all aspects of our Festival organization. We have community leaders, educators, media personalities, marketing executives, and music enthusiasts on our Board of Directors.

Date : April 22-26, 2025

Time :

April 22, 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

April 23, 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

April 24, 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

April 25, 2025 at 8:00am

April 26, 2025 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Locations :

Wichita Northwest High School, 1220 N Tyler Rd, Wichita, KS 67212

Wichita Art Museum, 1400 West Museum Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67203

Orpheum Theatre, 200 N Broadway St #102, Wichita, KS 67202

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