Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble

The Julia Keefe Indigenous Jazz Ensemble is rewriting jazz history—one long-overdue note at a time. Drawing from deep-rooted Indigenous musical traditions and the untold legacy of Native jazz pioneers, the ensemble transforms traditional songs and rhythms into bold new works infused with the language of jazz. Led by vocalist Julia Keefe and co-director Delbert Anderson, the band is a rare and vibrant force: an ensemble of Indigenous musicians claiming their place in jazz’s past, present, and future. With a lineup spanning North and South America and a mission to uplift the next generation, they honor a rich jazz lineage while forging new sonic pathways.

Supported by the Logan Center Jazz Forever Fund, a gift of the Revada Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Presented in partnership with Chicago Jazz Magazine, DownBeat, Jazz Institute of Chicago, and WDCB 90.9 FM.