Jazz Fest 2015 brings Grammy winner, jazz masters to UofL

Two-time Grammy Award winner Alan Broadbent and renowned artists Derrick Gardner and Vincent Gardner will headline the University of Louisville’s annual jazz festival. February 18, 2015

Jazz Fest 2015 is Feb. 27 and 28 at the UofL School of Music. In addition to the headliner shows, the festival features concerts with jazz masters and UofL ensembles, workshops, master classes and an educational festival for local jazz groups.

Broadbent, who will play at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27, is an esteemed jazz pianist who has performed with or scored music for artists including Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Paul McCartney. He is the winner of two Grammys for Best Instrumental Performance.  

Derrick Gardner, a trumpeter, will play at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb.28, with his brother, trombonist Vincent Gardner. Derrick Gardner has performed with the Count Basie Orchestra and Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band and legendary jazz artist Dizzy Gillespie. He is the leader of Derrick Gardner and The Jazz Prophets, a sextet that also features his brother, Vincent.

In addition to the Jazz Prophets, Vincent Gardner is the lead trombonist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and has performed with artists including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Saturday Night Live Band, Matchbox 20 and Lauryn Hill.

Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. and will be in Margaret Comstock Concert Hall. General admission is $15, student tickets are $5 with a valid student ID. Tickets can be purchased in the School of Music lobby.

For more information or a full schedule of events, call 502-852-6907 or visit louisville.edu/music.

UofL’s annual Jazz Fest celebrates America’s indigenous music and is part of the university’s diversity celebration and observance of African American History Month. 

Erica Walsh

Erica Walsh is the marketing director for the Office of Communications and Marketing. Her job lets her share UofL’s good news in all avenues of communications including publications, advertising, content marketing and branding. Walsh joined UofL in 2014 after previously serving as the public relations specialist at Indiana University Southeast. Prior to her career in higher education communications she was an award-winning newspaper reporter. Red is one of her favorite colors and it’s a good thing, too, because she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Western Kentucky University and her master’s in communication from UofL.