Who would have thought that New York City musicians who have sat in with jazz greats would wind up at a Batesville Memorial Public Library After Hours Concert Series show?

Library director Mike Kruse is still pinching himself that he made lemonade out of lemons. When a band cancelled at the last minute in October, he asked son Adam, a Shelbyville schools band teacher, where he could find a replacement.

Adam Kruse suggested contacting area colleges.

Ball State University professor Mark Buselli, also a well-recognized jazz trumpeter in Indianapolis, couldn’t save the day in October, but soon the director received this e-mail: “I have four great artists from NY flying in for my Art of Jazz concert series” in April, so Mark Buselli & Friends will appear here April 17 (please see box on page 7).

The concert just happens to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month and National Library Week. Alto saxophonist Andy Fusco has played with Buddy Rich, tenor saxophonist Gary Keller with Gerry Mulligan, bassist Bob Bowman with Karin Allyson, drummer Joel Spencer with Wynton Marsalis and pianist Frank Puzzullo with Dizzy Gillespie.

Kruse predicts, “This is just going to be very special. These are all guys with great chops. We’re really lucky to have timed this out just right.”

The director is still firming up five of the performances. “I’m excited to see performers coming back and I’m excited to see new performers and to share those people with our After Hours concert audiences.” He previews each group either live, by CD or online before booking them.

While the Batesville High School jazz band has played in March in the past, “this year we’re just trying something a little different.” He has invited some of the groups of Batesville middle and high school students music teacher Leon Enneking works with and that show, which could feature perhaps steel drums, African xylophones or other unique instruments, may be in a different month.

Making music this Saturday is Lafayette’s Michael Kelsey, who has performed at the library before. The director reports, “He calls what he does progressive aggressive acoustic guitar. Unless you’ve seen him play, you really can’t appreciate what he does.” Kelsey is “virtually a one-man band who gets music out of everything in the room.”

How does the director find enough money to lure bands here? He allows, “We are watching the budget closely, which we have to do with everything here. Fortunately, between the programming budget and the grants and donations,” the series, which costs about $7,000, will be funded for the 11th year. For the first time, Friends of Batesville Memorial Public Library are contributing. Financial backers also include the Ripley County Tourism Bureau, Columbus Area Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

Kruse hopes this year’s listeners include more than the regulars. “These are all very high-quality performers,” he points out. “They are sought after in venues all over the Tristate area .... It’s just a comfortable night out and you can expose your kids, friends and yourself to some really fine music. It’s up close and personal … you are right there.”