Lexington’s first Jazz Festival runs this week, with five days of music

Jazz isn’t new to Lexington, but the city’s first Jazz Festival is.

The first Equinox Jazz Festival kicks off this week as part of the 250Lex celebration of Lexington’s founding in 1775. The festival starts on Sept. 17 and runs through Sept. 21, bringing acts large and small to venues throughout the city.

“The First Annual Equinox Jazz Fest is a great addition to the celebration of our 250th anniversary,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “These performances are sure to shine a light on the people, place, and of course, the music that makes jazz so entertaining.”

Presented by Origins Jazz Series, the five-day celebration will honor the heritage of jazz, as well as its future, founders Chester Grundy, Eli Uttal-Veroof and Richard Young said. Origins is a non-profit music series focused on the city’s jazz scene.

“It promises to make a major contribution to Lexington’s rich and growing legacy of hosting high quality jazz artistry — a legacy that includes the likes of the great Les McCann & Duke Madison, the many artists from UK’s venerable Spotlight Jazz Series, and so many others,” Grundy said. “Our carefully selected artist line-up should appeal to seasoned jazz fans, as well as new listeners. We’re poised to give our audiences moment after moment of unforgettable music.”

Lexington’s Les McCann had a long jazz career

Jazz has been part of Lexington’s heritage for some time. Legendary jazz musician Les McCann is from Lexington, and had a six decade career in music.

Born in 1935, McCann was a self-taught musician who left home in the early 50s to join the Navy. While he was stationed in California, he visited San Francisco’s jazz clubs, where he got to experience Miles Davis and his music first-hand. Pianist Erroll Garner was one of McCann’s earliest influences as well.

After leaving the Navy, McCann formed Les McCann Ltd., a jazz trio that thrilled fans on the West Coast.

In 1960, McCann was signed to a record deal with Pacific Jazz. Owner Nick Venet recognized McCann’s style of back-to-the-roots jazz. He became the label’s top-selling artist.

His performed with other jazz legends like Ray Charles and Count Basie. By 1967, he had signed with Atlantic Records.

Throughout his career he was known for innovation. He was one of the first musicians to use the electric piano, clavinet and synthesizers, starting with his album “Layers” which featured 15 musicians and one 27-minute long song.

McCann continued to perform through the 80s and 90s. In addition to his work as a musician, he’s also known for his photography. McCann took more than 8,000 photographs over the years. An exhibition of his work was exhibited at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008.

His work as a watercolor artist has also been exhibited in galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Santa Barbara, California. He was also inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2008. McCann died on Dec. 29, 2023 at the age of 88.

Festival tickets

The Equinox Jazz Festival will showcase up-and-coming artists as well as headline performers, officials said. The events will give Lexingtonians the chance to see jazz musicians in settings designed for musical appreciation and community connection. The festival will also host film screenings, talks from local experts, listening sessions and more.

Shows will primarily happen at the Kentucky Theater, but some shows will take place at nearby venues. Tickets for some shows will be on a pay-what-you-can basis, while others, like headliners, will range from $25 to $35 per person.

For more information, or to get tickets, head to originsjazz.org/equinox-jazz-festival.

Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.