Jazz pianist Christopher Pitts’ goal is always the same at the concert keyboard.
Audience members can have that in mind when he and his trio form the entertainment and the heart of the evening at 6 p.m. Thursday when the African American Foundation of Bartholomew County hosts its 10-year Anniversary Dinner at The Commons in downtown Columbus.
“Part of being a good artist is being able to provide listeners a transformative experience away from the day to day mind stuff, and provide a new perspective,” Pitts said in an interview with The Republic last year. “Sometimes with music, that can come with an emotional joy that brings you out of something that was really dragging you down. And sometimes it can help to give you a whole new thought.
“That’s one of the basic purposes of art. And it’s always nice when someone in the audience recognizes that.”
The 34-year-old Pitts has earned substantial respect from Indianapolis’ music scene leaders since arriving there in 2017. He has been a staple at such well-known Indy hangouts as The Jazz Kitchen, the Chatterbox, and monthly appearances at McGowan Hall. Plus, he performed in 2022 with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
He was named among Gritty Vibes’ 2021 Top 30 Black Creatives to Watch. And his artistic gifts are allowing him to reach beyond music to make an impact. Last year, he helped organize a Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.-inspired event with poets, dancers and others at Newfields in Indianapolis.
“But I’ve been collaborating with a lot of different artists for years,” Pitts said.
Tickets were still available at press time at the Facebook page for the African American Fund of Bartholomew County.
