Local and national jazz legends will be honored during the annual Ralph Adams Jazz, Blues and Cultural Lifetime Achievement Awards on July 10 at the Cabaret at the Columbia Club downtown.
This year’s honorees will include J. Allen Hall, founder and president of Owl Studios; renowned photographer Duncan Scheidt; jazz drummer Ron Enyard and David Andrichek, owner of the Chatterbox Jazz Club.
Special performances will be given by national jazz recording artist and trumpeter Pharez Whitted, as well as vocalist Carol Harris and the Rhyne Connection.
The event is being sponsored by Adams, an Indianapolis based disc jockey and jazz promoter, with WICR-FM (88.7), The Jazz Kitchen and Jazz-City Radio.
“One of the goals of this event is to keep the legacy of jazz in Indianapolis alive,” Adams said. “This is a chance to offer people an opportunity to see what citizens and entrepreneurs are doing in this community, while also expressing appreciation for the artists who maintain the jazz legacy.”
Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with an interactive panel discussion with the award honorees, followed by performances and the awards ceremony at 6 p.m.
Launched in 2002, the Ralph Adams Lifetime Achievement Awards honor trailblazers in the jazz genre. Past award winners have included Red Holt, the original drummer with the Ramsey Lewis trio, national recording artist and jazz pianist Roy Meriwether, Jazz Kitchen owner David Allee, vocalist Mary Moss, pianist Reggie Duval, pianist Marvin Chandler and educator Dr. David Baker.
Previously, the event was held at the Jazz Kitchen. Although that venue was enjoyable, Adams said, he is hopeful that a move to the centrally located Columbia Club will reach a wider audience.
The unveiling of a special new scholarship, the Hazel Johnson Inner City School Scholarship, will be unveiled during the event.
“We have to make sure jazz has a solid foundation in this community so that it will continue to thrive for generations to come,” Adams said.
Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Advanced tickets are available at Larry and Jane’s Record Shop, 1024 Virginia Ave., or by calling (317) 989-2263.
