About Equinox Jazz Festival

As Lexington celebrates its 250th anniversary year, Origins Jazz Series is excited to present the Equinox Jazz Fest — a five-day celebration joining tradition and innovation, honoring both Jazz's rich legacy and its boundless future. From intimate showcases to electrifying headliner performances, this festival embodies the spirit that has driven Jazz forward for over a century. Each performance promises to illustrate Jazz's endless capacity for reinvention and its deep roots that make this music so enduring.

Equinox Jazz Fest’s carefully curated lineup spans the full spectrum of contemporary Jazz featuring established legends alongside rising stars and foregrounds an array of vocal artistry and instrumental virtuosity. The result is a remarkable constellation of artists - from NEA Jazz Master Kenny Garrett and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra veteran Camille Thurman to progressive rhythm masters Nate Smith and Brandon Meeks.  Whether you're drawn to the sophisticated songcraft of Kandace Springs and Rose Colella, or the cutting-edge percussion explorations of Tim Daisy and Chris Corsano, Equinox Jazz Fest offers something for every jazz lover-and plenty to convert newcomers to this most American of art forms.

Equinox is rooted in Lexington's deep jazz history, including the complex legacy of the Narcotic Farm that once housed legends like Sonny Rollins and Chet Baker. This festival is an extension of Origins Jazz Series' mission to present high quality performances in compelling venues, promoting jazz literacy, and uniting our community through music. Each night offers audiences the chance to witness the artform's most compelling voices in settings designed for genuine musical appreciation and community connection.