Since 1972, the Wichita Jazz Festival has been bringing the biggest names in jazz to Wichita, Kansas for concerts, clinics, workshops, and fun!
The Wichita Jazz Festival has been celebrating the history and legacy of jazz music while encouraging and developing the next generation of musicians and helping build on the love for one of the oldest genres of music in the world. With concerts, educational opportunities and the annual festival, some of the biggest names in the genre have made their way to Wichita to pair professional players with those learning the style. The festival traditionally features performances by high school and college musicians, local artists along with regionally and nationally-known headliners, and musicians who have the opportunity to take part in masterclasses to further their knowledge of the jazz community.
The names listed below are only a small sampling
of the countless jazz legends that have graced our stages.
- Al Cohn
- Allison Miller
- Anita O’Day
- Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers
- Art Pepper
- B.B. King
- Barney Kessel
- Bill Evans
- Bill Frisell
- Bob Mintzer
- Bobby McFerrin
- Bobby Watson
- Branford Marsalis
- Buddy Rich
- Cannonball Adderley
- Charlie Haden
- Chick Corea
- Christian McBride
- Clark Terry
- Count Basie
- Dave Brubeck
- Dexter Gordon
- Dianne Reeves
- Dianne Schuur
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Donna Tucker
- Freddie Hubbard
- Gary Burton
- Gerry Mulligan
- Gretchen Parlato
- Hank Jones
- Herb Ellis
- Herbie Hancock
- Jerry Hahn
- Jimmy Heath
- Jimmy Smith
- Joe Henderson
- John Pattitucci
- John Scofield
- Joshua Redman
- Kenny Burrell
- Lee Ritenour
- Lionel Loueke
- Lou Donaldson
- Lou Marini
- Louie Bellson
- Lyle Mays
- Matt Wilson
- Maynard Ferguson
- Max Roach
- Stan Kenton
- McCoy Tyner
- Mel Torme
- Michael Brecker
- Miguel Zenon
- Milt Hinton
- Milt Jackson
- Nat Adderley
- Oscar Peterson
- Pat Metheny
- Peter Erskine
- Phil Woods
- Poncho Sanchez
- Randy Brecker
- Ray Charles
- Rufus Reid
- San Francisco Jazz Collective
- Sarah Vaughn
- Spyro Gyra
- Stan Getz
- Stanley Jordan
- Terence Blanchard
- Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band
- Tierney Sutton
- Tom Harrell
- Woody Herman
- Wynton Marsalis
- Zoot Sims
The Festival's First 25+ Years
