Jazz on the Front Porch – Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Michael Cruse will return home as the featured artist for the Fifth Annual Jazz from the Front Porch Series, presented by Phoenix Rising Lexington in partnership with Lexington Parks & Recreation, at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden.

Michael’s homecoming presents a wonderful opportunity to build upon the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden and the Jazz from the Front Porch concert series and further showcase Lexington as a city where music, history, public art, neighborhood revitalization, and authentic cultural experiences come together.

The concert will take place at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, one of Lexington’s most distinctive cultural destinations. Conceived as an interactive public art landscape honoring the legacy of Isaac Burns Murphy and Lucy Murphy, the Art Garden celebrates the intersection of African American history, public art, music, hospitality, and neighborhood renewal. The annual Jazz from the Front Porch series continues that legacy by bringing outstanding musicians and the community together in a place where history and contemporary culture meet.

Michael’s journey is, in many ways, Lexington’s story. Raised here, he developed his gifts through the encouragement of family, teachers, mentors, churches, and community institutions. His musical lineage includes his great-uncle Charles Quillings (“Mr. Q.”), the legendary band director at historic Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He was mentored by respected Lexington educator Charles Little, inspired through Chester Grundy’s Spotlight Jazz Series at the University of Kentucky, and later refined his artistry at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Today, Michael performs regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, headlines performances at the renowned Dizzy’s Club, hosts its celebrated Late-Night Jam Sessions, and serves as Band Director of the Middle School Jazz Academy. His career has also included collaborations with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Bootsy Collins, and appearances in Miles Ahead, Lovecraft Country, and The Color Purple.

While these accomplishments are extraordinary, the heart of this celebration is something even more meaningful.

This is a hometown saying, “Welcome Home.”

It is an opportunity for Lexington to celebrate one of its own while inspiring young people to see what is possible when talent is nurtured by family, education, mentorship, and community.