July will be in high gear for jazz lover as the annual Indianapolis Zoo’s Animals and All That Jazz program kicks off. The six-week series salutes local vocalists on the theme of “Sing the Night Away.” Thursday night concerts at the Indianapolis Zoo’s Café on the Commons Stage run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. In the event of rain, concerts will be held in the Party Pavilion. Zoo admission fee is $13.50 per adult and $8.50 for seniors and children ages 2-12.

July

17: Shannon Forsell & Jimmy Guilford & The Cool City Swing Band

24: Everett Greene & Larry Greene & Friends

31: Gregg Bacon Band featuring vocalist Stacie McCrackin, 11-year-old sax prodigy Bryan Thompson and St. Vincent’s doctors’ six-piece band, What’s Up Doc

August

7: Elizabeth Souza & Ipanema

14: Brenda Williams & Friends

21: Cynthia Layne & All Star Band

More July outdoor jazz

6: Jazz at Washington Park, The Finnell Factor, 5 p.m., free

9: Lunchtime Concert on the Canal, John Harden Project, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m, free

12: Groovin’ in the Garden, Easley Winery,  Bill Lancton, 2 p.m., free

17: Concerts on the Canal, Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra & Everett Greene, 6-8 p.m., free seating on the steps

19: Groovin’ in the Garden, Easley Winery, Michael Beck and Kenny Kipp, 2 p.m., free

19: Music in the Garden, Garfield Park,  Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra, 6:30-8:30 p.m., free

26: Groovin’ in the Garden, Easley Winery, Monika Herzig, 2 p.m., free

27: Jazz at Watkins Park, The Jazz Masters, 5 p.m., free

29: Groovin’ in the Garden, Easley Winery, Shirley Judkins, 5 p.m., free

31: Concerts on the Canal, Hopkins & Miller and the Little Big Band, 6-8 p.m., free seating on the steps

J.J. Johnson honored

June 14 on the main stage of the Kroger Indy Jazz Fest, Ken Hanlon, CEO/president of the International Trombone Association, presented an award to Carolyn Johnson, the wife of the late iconic Indy jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson.

“In unanimous voting, trombonists all over the world, not just jazz players but classical as well, showed the kind of respect they have for J.J. Johnson,” Hanlon said. “J.J. Johnson’s name will also be on the masthead of every Journal from now on as long as there is an International Trombone Association and on our Web site as one of the greatest trombone players of all time.”