Join us...
...for this five-day festival celebrating America’s musical art form. Stay tuned!
All performances are FREE and open to the public. No ticket required.
Tuesday, March 18
Jazz Combos in Concert
Timashev Recital Hall • 7:30 p.m.
Presenting the Ohio State combos: Bebop, Videogame Soundtrack, Latin, Organ Jazz, Fusion, and Art Blakey combos.
Livestream broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19
Jazz Club Night
Timashev Recital Hall • 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz Club at Ohio State is excited to feature special guest Kellin Hanas, trumpet, performing with the Jazz Club big band.
Livestream broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m.
Hailed in the International Trumpet Guild Journal as “one of the best up and coming jazz musicians on the globe,” Kellin Hanas is a trumpeter, composer and comedian based out of New York City and Chicago. A recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Hanas studied under legendary trumpeters such as Ingrid Jensen and Scott Wendholt. She leads the Kellin Hanas Quintet, which debuted at the iconic Birdland Jazz Club in NYC (2022) and now travels around the US. She also plays in the Grace Fox Big Band and was featured soloist on their debut album, Eleven-O-Seven. Hanas is a Bach and Conn-Selmer endorsed artist.
Thursday, March 20
Jazz Workshop, Jazz Lab Big Band and Gospel Choir
Weigel Auditorium • 7:30 p.m.
Livestream broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz Lab Big Band and the Jazz Workshop Big Band, featuring the Gospel Choir, perform in concert. Directors Chris Anderson, Jazz Lab Big Band; Kristopher Keith, Jazz Workshop Big Band; Milton V. Ruffin, Gospel Choir.
Friday, March 21
Bobby Sparks and Friends in Concert
Weigel Auditorium • 7:30 p.m.
Livestream broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m.
This special guest concert features festival headliner, multi Grammy-winning jazz and gospel organist, Bobby Sparks II — best known as a member of the band Snarky Puppy, and as a longtime collaborator with gospel leader Kirk Franklin. Sparks has toured the world with diverse musical giants including Nelly Furtado, Les McCann, Roy Hargrove, Natalie Cole and Nancy Wilson. Sparks’ diverse talent includes a wide mix of blues, jazz, and gospel music. His other projects include the release of the feature film, The Gospel, for which he was the soundtrack co-producer. Sparks, the producer of Kirk Franklin’s Why We Sing album, is also featured on CDs by Yolanda Adams and Roy Hargrove. Sparks advises aspiring artists, “Never give up on the dream, and have something to back it up with.”
Saturday, March 22
High School Jazz Band Day
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
High school ensembles across the state of Ohio will be featured in our High School Jazz Band Day performances.
All band performances will be held in Weigel Auditorium (open to the public). Refer to the Performance start times in the Jazz Band Day activity schedule [pdf].
Saturday, March 22 • Headliner Concert
The Ohio State Jazz Ensemble with special guest Bobby Sparks
Weigel Auditorium • 7:30 p.m.
Livestream broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Jazz Ensemble presents a concert featuring members of the jazz faculty as guest soloists, as well as festival headliner, Bobby Sparks II. Mike Smith, director.
All events are subject to change.
Getting Here
Park in the Ohio Union South Garage (open to visitors 24/7), walk north along College Rd. to enter the south doors of the Timashev Music Building.
Weigel Auditorium is located on the second floor at the far south end of the building. An open stairway located just inside the south doors leads to the hall.
- If an elevator is needed, walk through the Music Commons, behind the open stairway to the back hallway. Follow the hallway through the double doors to the elevator.
You may also park in Arps Garage (open to visitors M–F after 4 p.m. and on weekends) just north of the Timashev Music building.