Indy Jazz Fest Lineup Announced

The main announcement came out last week, but I'm just now catching up with the time to post my thoughts about it. And they're mostly good thoughts:

• The tribute to jazz giant and local hero Freddie Hubbard is the centerpiece of the festival, and deservedly so. This man was a monster of a player, and his contributions deserve to be recognized. That he actually played one of the jazz festivals before his death was a special event, and paying homage to his legacy in the Madame Walker Theater is the right thing to do.
• The talent gathered for this tribute is a fantastic lineup, including bassist Rufus Reid and stellar horn players Nicholas Payton and Randy Brecker. Nice choices!
• The inclusion of Charlie Hunter is a great move, even if it is on a "jam" night. He carries forth in the soulful side of jazz quite well, and it's nice to see his inclusion round out the offerings of the festival.
• Headliners Branford Marsalis and Kurt Elling represent jazz heavyweights without dealing with smooth jazz like Dave Koz or Spyro Gyra.
• Good local representation by artist like Brandon Meeks is much appreciated.
• Multiple locations leading up to the main event are a great idea - it makes it feel more like a festival rather than just an elongated concert.

My only regret is that they didn't bring in somebody like Hiromi's Uehara (expansive fusion), or possibly some more funky jazz like Roy Hargrove or Christian McBride (who are both mining more traditional fare on their latest albums, but they're capable of killing on either side of that fence). But as it stands, it's a good lineup - can't wait for it to get here.