This year marks the 25^th anniversary of its with concerts, lectures, workshops and clinics Feb. 13-17.

The theme is “Third Stream: The Fusion of Jazz and Classical Music,” and the featured artist is Emmy Award-winning trumpeter, composer and educator, , who is also founder and musical director of the  He’ll be joined by members of the philharmonic, which bills itself as “America’s definitive third stream orchestra, where jazz and classical meet in harmony.” 

Davis will play with the UofL Symphony Orchestra and UofL Jazz Studies students in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in Comstock Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for students and free for UofL students with ID at the door. 

Jerry Tolson, jazz professor, started the African American Heritage Institute a quarter century ago and has since programmed it to explore African American influence in a variety of genres such as gospel, jazz, classical and others.

“I’ve been doing it ever since to help expose our students to more diversity in music,” Tolson said.

In addition to UofL students, there will be about 300 local grade school students in attendance, learning the fine art of jazz.   

The School of Music is also hosting its annual Feb. 21 and 22, which brings jazz music’s most celebrated names to Louisville for concerts, workshops, master classes and camaraderie for players and the public alike.

Acclaimed Jazz Trombonist and pianist  will headline the School of Music’s 28th annual festival.

Garling has been in high demand for 30 years as a performer, composer, arranger, recording artist, producer, teacher, director and clinician. He’ll play with UofL’s Jazz Ensemble I at 8 p.m. Feb. 21 in Comstock Concert Hall.

Goldberg was described by  as a “post-bop pianist of exemplary taste and range” and has released five albums as a solo artist. He’ll perform with UofL’s jazz faculty at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 in Comstock Concert Hall.

Tickets to Jazz Fest concerts are $15 for general admission and $5 for students with ID. 

Tickets may be reserved by calling (502) 852-6907 or they may be purchased at the door.

UofL’s Jazz Fest celebrates America’s indigenous music and is also part of the university’s observance of Black History Month.

Since 1992, Jazz Fest has brought jazz music’s most celebrated names to Louisville for concerts, workshops and master classes and is no different. The festival kicks off at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 in Bird Recital Hall with an International Night of Jazz featuring musicians from Colombia, Brazil, Republic of Georgia and other countries.

, director of the festival and the School of Music’s jazz studies program, met several of the musicians as a Fulbright Senior Specialist to Tbilisi, Georgia, where he taught workshops and performed at the Kavkaz Jazz Festival.

“This night is really a highlight for me. It brings the collaboration between UofL and the Tbilisi State Conservatoire full circle,” Tracy said.

The festival kicks off with  performance at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 in Comstock Concert Hall. The quintet is the resident ensemble for JazzReach, a nationally recognized New York City nonprofit dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and education of jazz music.

Gordon will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 in Comstock. His technique, signature sound and mastery of the plunger mute has solidified him as a top trombonist of his generation. Downbeat Critics Poll named Gordon “Best Trombone” for the last four years and the Jazz Journalists Association named him “Trombonist of the Year” for the past nine years. In 2015, Gordon was dubbed “Best Trombone” by the Jazzed Reader’s Poll and the Swing Jazz Culture Foundation awarded him with the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize.

celebrates America’s indigenous music and is part of the university’s observance of . Since Tracy started the festival, it’s become a beloved Louisville tradition, furthered the education of hundreds of students and drawn jazz greats to Louisville such as Dave Brubeck, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Dr. Billy Tayor, Marian McPartland, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Toots Thielemans, Paquito D’Rivera, The Heath Brothers and more.