Summer of the Arts

Kiersten Conway
2023-06-30 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Kiersten Conway is a dynamic songwriter, contemporary jazz vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist known for her inventive interpretations of jazz standards and compelling original compositions. A native of Iowa City, she has performed at top venues including Noce Jazz Club and Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, and has been featured at the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
In 2024, Kiersten brought her artistry to the Rochester International Jazz Festival, sharing the stage with Laila Biali, and also performed at the prestigious Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans. A three-time recipient of the DownBeat Student Music Awards (2023–2025), she was recognized as a Vocal Jazz Soloist, for her original composition “Black-Eyed Susan,” and as an Outstanding Soloist in a Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.kierstenconway.com/
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Artist Booths and Fun Stops Open
2023-06-30 17:00 - 20:30, 2023-07-01 11:30 - 20:30, 2023-07-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Clinton St., 10 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
In addition to the music, artist booths and Fun Stops round out the music festival atmosphere!
Artists
Let Us Color for Peace
Alegria Handmade
Glen Arthur Lowry
Josina Supplies
Vintage Jewelry & Treasures
Glassando
Willustrations
Fun Stops
Faceworks
FTC Robotics/Trobotix
Englert Theatre
Iowa City Hospice/VNA of Johnson County (Friday)
Willowwind School (Saturday)
Johnson County Ambulance Service
Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center
KCCK Jazz Radio

Beverage Garden and Culinary Delights Open
2023-06-30 17:00 - 22:00, 2023-07-01 11:30 - 22:30, 2023-07-02 12:00 - 16:00 | Iowa Avenue, 105 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Enjoy cold beverages and delicious food from a variety of local and regional food vendors!

Jon Ailabouni
2023-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Marva Abel and Richard Knoedel

About: Trumpeter, composer, and educator, Jon Ailabouni is a sought-after freelance artist based in La Crosse, WI. Steeped in Western European classical and Black American jazz traditions, Jon’s creative work focuses on instrumental composition and improvisation that uses deeply felt stories as a focal point for expression. Ailabouni’s 2023 album You Are Not Alone features his original compositions and is available for purchase via Bandcamp and SkyDesk Music. Ailabouni’s improvisation as a soloist has been described as “sharp and resourceful” (AllAboutJazz.com). An emerging national leader at the intersection of jazz and liturgical traditions, Jon regularly serves as a guest worship director, bringing the sophistication and soulfulness of the jazz tradition into familiar hymns and liturgy in churches across the Midwest, Colorado, and Texas. He has self-published over 50 arrangements of hymns available on his website JonAilabouniMusic.com. Ailabouni taught on the music faculty of Luther College in Decorah, IA for eight years and currently serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse where he teaches the trumpet studio, Music Appreciation class, and directs the Jazz Ensemble and Hoefer Brass Quintet.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.jonailabounimusic.com/
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Goliath
2023-06-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Hire A Helper

About: The hard hitting contemporary quartet “Goliath” is a project led by Dave Thaker, local jazz guitarist. The group features Jerome Gillespie Jr. on drums, Blake Shaw on bass, and Jarrett Purdy on keyboards. All members are graduate students from the University of Iowa, and their combined inspirations from their time at the university and beyond are on full display in this group.

Each of Goliath’s individual members have an overall breadth of work that includes touring across the U.S., guest artist work, and a multitude of recording projects. In addition to original music, the group is excited to bring fresh, new arrangements of all kinds of jazz virtuosos, from Herbie Hancock to Ben Wendel to Braxton Cook.

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Benny Benack III Quartet
2023-06-30 20:00 - 21:30 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: By age 32, Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be that rarest of talents: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the post bop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. This duel-threat ability was recognized by the 2022 Downbeat Critics Poll where he appeared as not only the #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist, but a top Rising Star Trumpeter as well. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). On top of it all, he’s a highly capable pianist as well.

Third in a generational line of Pittsburgh jazz notables, Benny follows in the footsteps of his trumpeter/bandleader grandfather, Benny Benack, Sr. (1921-86), and his father Benny Benack, Jr., a saxophonist/clarinetist who gave the young Benny his first professional experience. Benny, Sr. hailed from a Pittsburgh lineage that also produced Roy Eldridge, Earl Hines, Art Blakey, Billy Strayhorn and so many more. He recorded the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 theme song “Beat ’Em Bucs” and toured with Tommy Dorsey and Raymond Scott, among others. Benny III returns to Pittsburgh often to perform, saluting his family forebears and the jazz heritage as a whole, nonetheless staking his bold and highly individual artistic claim. He is an endorsing artist with Torpedo Bags cases, CarolBrass flugelhorns, as well as various menswear fashion lines including X-Suit, Alain Dupetit, Proper Cloth & Vittone.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.bennybenackjazz.com/
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Blake Shaw Quartet Jam Session
2023-06-30 21:30 - 22:30 | Wilder, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Blake Shaw is a composer/arranger, bandleader, double/electric bassist, vocalist, private lessons teacher, and jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt Mercy College. Originally from Lisbon, Iowa, Blake has earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College as well as a Bachelor of Music (‘13) and Master of Arts (‘17) degree both from the University of Iowa. He has called Iowa City, IA home for the past 14yrs where he has provided insight on festival boards for around half that time for the Iowa City Jazz Festival as well as the Iowa City Pride Fest where he serves as Entertainment Director. Shaw is a frequent performer and band leader in many different groups across Iowa and the US. He can also be found teaching private lessons to young dedicated classical and jazz double bass players. Shaw has had the pleasure of playing with jazz greats like Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Eckroth, Dave Pietro, O’had Talmor, and Dick Oatts. He’s also been in groups opening for bands like Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Donny McCaslin, Margaret Glaspy, John Raymond and the Real Feels, Bridget Kearney, Caroline Smith, The Marcus King Band, and Euforquestra. You may go “like” all of his cute pics on instagram @theeblakebass.

Contact Information:
Web: https://blakeshawbass.bandcamp.com/music
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/blakeshawbass

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United Jazz Ensemble
2023-07-01 11:30 - 12:10 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by West Music

About: Every Summer, this collaborative high school jazz combo comes together to prepare for their performance on the main stage at the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Directed by Aaron Ottmar, Ryan Arp, and Brian Zeglis, the band is comprised of students from City, Liberty, and West high schools from the Iowa City Community School District. For 25+ years, this group has served as one of the signature elements of the Jazz Festival’s commitment to jazz education in the public school setting. The opportunity for these students to perform at the Jazz Festival not only deepens their growth as musicians but also fosters wonderful collaboration between all three high school jazz programs.

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North Corridor All-Star Combo
2023-07-01 12:15 - 12:55 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by West Music

About: The North Corridor All-Star is made up of musicians from high schools along the north I-380 corridor and is under the direction of Coe College music professor, Steve Shanley. Individuals in this group have been recognized as members or alternates of the prestigious Iowa All-State Jazz Band, and all are pursuing private jazz studies. They are honored to be a part of this year’s festival and look forward to performing a mix of original compositions and standards.

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Gizmojazz
2023-07-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Gizmojazz tends to be musically creative and mischievous, playing jazz with a sense of camaraderie and a dash of humor. The group has played in many clubs and concert venues across the state of Iowa and beyond. We are also known for using many special effects and sounds as part of our overall approach to this music.
Gizmojazz are Steve Grismore (guitar), Rich “the bone” Medd (trombone), Danny Oline (bass and sarcasm) and James Dreier (drums and percussion). We play original compositions and arrangements as well as the music of Ornette Coleman, Herbie Nichols, Steve Lacy, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, John Abercrombie, Wayne Shorter, Paul Motion, Dave Holland, and on and on……..

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Shorter Stories: The Music of Wayne Shorter
2023-07-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by: Brock Family Music

About: Christopher Merz, Professor of Music, has served as Director of Jazz Studies and Director of the award-winning UNI Jazz Band One at the University of Northern Iowa since 2002. Under his direction, the band has traveled to Cuba, Thailand and South Africa as well as the east coast of the US, and has recorded 16 CDs featuring many original compositions and arrangements by student and faculty writers.
The 2006 recipient of the CHFA University Book and Supply Outstanding Teaching award, Merz was also the 2016 recipient of the John L. Baker Faculty Development award, and was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Educators’ Hall of Fame in 2015. He is a Past President of Jazz Educators of Iowa (JEI), and the founder and director of the UNI Combo Camp, an annual event for high school jazz students and music educators, which takes place each June.
His recording credits include Steve McCraven, Darius Brubeck, Bob Washut, John Rapson and Jon Snell, as well as his own projects; Counterculture, the Chris Merz/Bob Washut Duo, The X-tet, and Equilateral. His 1997 release with the X-tet, Mystery is My Story, prompted Dave Brubeck to write, “I am very pleased with this wonderful band. Naturally I would admire a group like yours that, to me, is a grand extension of what we were doing…when we were the ‘new thing’”. His current projects include The Iowa Jazz Composers’ Orchestra, Steve Grismore’s Big Fun, Shorter Stories: The Music of Wayne Shorter, and Christopher’s Very Happy. Band, which recently released their second album, While We Wait, on SkyDeck Records.
An accomplished composer/arranger for large jazz ensembles, Merz has received commissions from university and high school big bands throughout the country, and is published through UNC Jazz Press and ejazzlines. He is also a highly sought-after guest soloist, clinician and conductor at university and high school jazz festivals nationwide, and is endorsed by D’Addario and TM Custom tenor saxophones.
When not writing, playing, listening to, or thinking about music, Christopher Merz enjoys cooking and trying to make his kids laugh hard enough to shoot milk out their noses.

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Vivian Shanley Quartet
2023-07-01 15:00 - 16:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: The Vivian Shanley Quartet is a jazz combo made up of Iowa-based performers, composers, and educators. Vivian Shanley is a DownBeat award-winning bassist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and she is currently studying music education and bass performance with Mark Urness at Lawrence University. Ana Koch studies guitar at the University of Iowa, where she is pursuing a nursing major and has completed her music minor. Sam Ross is a saxophone student at The University of Iowa, pursuing a BM in Jazz Performance and studying with Dr. Damani Phillips. Farren Johnson is an elementary art teacher in Grinnell, and she drums with the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra, the IWJO Sextet, and Chameleon Society

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Hannah Marks Quartet
2023-07-01 16:00 - 17:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Hannah Marks is a bassist, bandleader, composer, and educator living in New York City. As a bandleader, she has performed at several major festivals, including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, 80-35 Music Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, and Indy Jazz Festival. Her current groups as a leader are Hannah Marks: Outsider, Outlier, a genre-defying, lyric-based project, and the Hannah Marks Quartet. She worked with jazz luminaries like Geoffrey Keezer, Nasheet Waits, Terri Lyne Carrington, Miles Okazaki, Ingrid Jensen, Kalia Vandever, Matt Wilson, Ted Nash, Morgan Guerin, and Marcus Printup, and has performed at heralded NYC venues like Birdland Jazz Club, The 55 Bar, The Stone, and The Jazz Gallery. Her former project, Heartland Trio, released their debut album in November 2018. Marks is an alum of the Stanford Jazz Workshop Mentor Fellow program (2022), the Woodshed Network (2021), Betty Carter Jazz Ahead (2019), the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music (2018), and the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony (2014). She is on faculty at The Spence School and runs her own private lesson studio.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.hannahmarksbass.com/about
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Aviana Gedler Quartet
2023-07-01 17:00 - 18:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Aviana Gedler is a Des Moines-based jazz singer, violist, pianist, arranger, and composer with an unwavering passion for music and performing. She has taken the Des Moines music scene and beyond by storm ever since she earned her Associate Degree in Professional Music in May of 2022 from the School for Music Vocations in Creston, Iowa, under the direction of Tobi Crawford and Grammy-nominated Dr. Jeremy Fox. There, she studied jazz voice under Four Freshman members Tommy Boynton and Ryan Howe, winning the Downbeat Magazine award for best jazz vocalist in the community college division two years in a row. Along with gigging, she is the choir piano accompanist at Stilwell Junior High School and teaches privately at the Central Iowa Music Lab under the direction of James Biehn. Aviana is joined by her stellar rhythm section including Nate Sparks, Blake Shaw, and Zane Gedler.

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Huntertones
2023-07-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Huntertones brings people together around the globe with fun, imaginative and fearless music. Their high energy, horn-driven sound features genre bending composition and unconventional covers. Every show is a social experience celebrating the joy of music.
The band formed in Columbus, Ohio and is now based in Brooklyn, NY. They’ve performed in over 20 countries world wide and continue to tour the US and abroad. Huntertones claims more authority than ever as they drive into their 10th year. Their upcoming release, Engine Co., is six songs tracked together in the live room of Atomic Studios in Brooklyn, NY, serving as a reminder both to Huntertones and their listeners that the best way to get to the heart of any song is simply in the moment.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.huntertones.com/
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Luke Sanders Trio
2023-07-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Luke Sanders Trio ft. Luke Sanders (guitar), Michael Gedden (bass), Jeremiah de la Peña (drums).
Luke Sanders is an active Eastern Iowa guitar player based in Waterloo. Luke is the guitar instructor at both Luther College in Decorah and Wartburg College in Waverly. Michael Gedden is a bass player originally from Johnston, IA. After completing a degree in jazz studies at UNI, Michael relocated to Kansas City where he maintains an active performance schedule. Jeremiah de la Peña is originally from Palatine, IL. Jeremiah got his degree in percussion performance from Coe College. After Coe, Jeremiah moved back to Chicago to perform regularly throughout the Midwest.
Spectators should expect to hear genre-bending and euphoric originals in the mold of guitar favorites like Bill Frisell, Jim Hall, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Gilad Hekselman.

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Christian McBride's New Jawn
2023-07-01 20:00 - 21:30 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Christian McBride is an eight-time GRAMMY Award winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. McBride is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Christian is also a respected educator and advocate as the Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS, and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to consistent touring, McBride hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian” on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always of the music. From jazz to R&B, pop/rock, hip-hop/neo-soul, to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him.

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.christianmcbride.com/
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City of Iowa City Fireworks
2023-07-01 21:30 - 22:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Saturday night of Jazz Fest goes out with a bang, courtesy of the City of Iowa City’s fireworks.

Blake Shaw Quartet Jam Session
2023-07-01 21:30 - 23:00 | ReUnion Brewery-Iowa City, 113 E College St, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Because of City fireworks at 9:30pm, this jam session will start sometime between 9:30pm-10:00pm

About: Blake Shaw is a composer/arranger, bandleader, double/electric bassist, vocalist, private lessons teacher, and jazz professor at Cornell College and Mt Mercy College. Originally from Lisbon, Iowa, Blake has earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College as well as a Bachelor of Music (‘13) and Master of Arts (‘17) degree both from the University of Iowa. He has called Iowa City, IA home for the past 14yrs where he has provided insight on festival boards for around half that time for the Iowa City Jazz Festival as well as the Iowa City Pride Fest where he serves as Entertainment Director. Shaw is a frequent performer and band leader in many different groups across Iowa and the US. He can also be found teaching private lessons to young dedicated classical and jazz double bass players. Shaw has had the pleasure of playing with jazz greats like Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Eckroth, Dave Pietro, O’had Talmor, and Dick Oatts. He’s also been in groups opening for bands like Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Donny McCaslin, Margaret Glaspy, John Raymond and the Real Feels, Bridget Kearney, Caroline Smith, The Marcus King Band, and Euforquestra. You may go “like” all of his cute pics on instagram @theeblakebass.

Contact Information:
Web: https://blakeshawbass.bandcamp.com/music
Other links: https://www.facebook.com/blakeshawbass

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Hickok Roberts Quartet
2023-07-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Vocalist Betsy Hickok performs sensitive and swinging interpretations of jazz standards. She has appeared in the Des Moines Metro Arts Jazz in July series, the Iowa City Jazz Festival, Noce Jazz Cabaret, and other regional venues with some of Iowa’s top musicians. Guitarist Ron Roberts is a Chicago area native who has played regularly with artists throughout central Iowa.
Ron and Betsy have performed together since 2010 and received a Special Recognition Award in 2019 from the Des Moines Community Jazz Center Hall of Fame. Ryan Smith is a woodwind specialist living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who has performed throughout the Midwest and in Brazil, Italy, Hong Kong, and China. Drew Morton, bassist and multimedia artist, is a regular musician with various groups in the area including Jack Lion, Koplant No, and Christopher’s Very Happy Band.

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Damani Phillips Quartet
2023-07-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Sponsored by Tony Fischer and Beth Newell

About: Damani Phillips is a native of Pontiac, MI, and currently serves as head of the Jazz Studies area at the University of Iowa. An active performer and scholar, Phillips has performed, taught and lectured throughout the world. He has performed with artists/groups such as Lewis Nash, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby McFerrin, Marcus Belgrave, Terrell Stafford, Hank Jones, Red Holloway and Pat Bianchi among many others. Phillips will be joined by an exceptional band including two of Indianapolis’ finest in bassist Brandon Meeks, Iowa jazz alum Cassius Goens on drums along with Iowa jazz piano standout Steve Shanley (Coe College).

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.damaniphillips.com/
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Apocalypso Tantric Noise Choir
2023-07-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Instrumental jazz funk, from tight originals to free-flowing improvisational excursions, ATNC has been making music together for more than two decades. Brothers Hurlin, David and Eric, man the percussion and keys respectively with James Moore on precision bass. Guitarist Jonnie Cohen often sits in adding textural refinements and aural outreach. The Noise Choir has played every setting from jazz venue to brewery to bar to dances to theaters to festivals, tapping into the emotional and physical contours of each setting. They’ve backed artists like David Lynch muse and Twin Peaks star Chrystabell, Belgian artist Eva de Roovere, New Orleans phenom Mike Dillon and rising artists like Elizabeth Moen, and played festivals headlined by Los Lobos, Rebirth Brass Band, David Lindley, Elephant Revival, Marco Benevento, and many others. The band’s influences span the gamut from jazz to funk to gospel to free form and from Sun Ra to Miles Davis to Thelonious Monk to Medeski, Martin & Wood to the Meters to Jimmy Smith to the JB’s to Sex Mob to Ramsey Lewis to Soulive to Greyboy Allstars. Apocalypso’s most recent release “SO FAR SO WHAT” was recorded at Flat Black Studios in Lone Tree, Iowa and is due out this summer.

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Orquesta Alto Maiz
2023-07-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Strauss Community Stage – Iowa City Jazz Festival, 16 N Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Orquesta Alto Maiz is something of a musical enigma. It is a popular Latin-jazz-dance band made up of musicians now living in the “heartland” of America. The Latin tinged music they perform, usually found in the clubs of New York City, L.A. or Miami, has secured them a reputation as one of the hottest bands in the Midwest.
This strange mix of “salsa” and tall corn works because of the years of musical experience the band members bring to the group, and because of their love for the music. Alto Maiz has been performing regionally and internationally since 1986 and has steadily built a strong base of Latin music fans and supporters wherever they’ve played.
Orquesta Alto Maiz plays a wide range of Latin musical styles, including merengue, samba, cha-cha-cha, salsa, calypso, and boleros. In addition to Latin-jazz standards by Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Ismael Miranda, Mario Bauzá, Poncho Sanchez and others, the band has produced many successful original compositions as well.
Alto Maiz has recorded much of this music, producing two cassette tapes; Puerto de Tierra (1989), Casa del Fuego (1991), and eight compact discs; Dancing in the Corn (1993), Azucar Caliente (1995), Década (1997), Live at Montreux (1999), Añejando (2001), Ritmo en Azul (2004), Veinte (2006) and Live On Fire (2008).
Regardless of age group or musical preferences, Orquesta Alto Maiz strikes a common chord with its audience. Once exposed to this vibrant, pulsating music, people find it so irresistible that their feet won’t keep still!
Audience participation (dancing, singing) is enthusiastically encouraged. And remember, dancing is good for you, and dancing like no one is watching is even better! Once you experience them you will never forget them, Orquesta Alto Maiz, “The Salsa Band.”

Contact Information:
Web: https://www.salsaband.band/
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The MJ Group
2024-07-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Oaknoll Side Stage-Iowa City Jazz Festival, 25 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
About: Embark on a musical odyssey with The MJ Group, fronted by the dynamic duo Marvin Truong and Jerome Gillespie II. Gillespie has performed at The White House and recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder’s Studio with the late Rudy Van Gelder himself during his high school years, and has played alongside Benny Green, Frank Lacy, Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander, Antonio Hart, Dayna Stevens, Reggie Workman and Terance Blanchard to name a few. Truong draws inspiration from mentors like Damani Phillips, Marcus Strickland, Alex Hahn, William Menefield, and Curtis Taylor, crafting a unique sound that pushes the saxophone’s boundaries. His global recognition includes being selected as a rising young artist for the IASJ Conference, studying under jazz luminaries at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland where he studied under Dave Liebman, Tim Hagans, Aaron Goldberg, and Anders Jormin. Their enduring friendship, cultivated at the University of Iowa, brings them back together for a much-anticipated musical reunion.

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Artist Booths and Fun Stops
2024-07-05 17:00 - 20:30 | Clinton St., 10 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Check out the artist booths and Fun Stops on Clinton Street, as you go to and from the Main and Side stages! The artists feature a variety of items, and local organizations provide a range of activities at Fun Stops.

Culinary Delights and Beverage Garden
2024-07-05 17:00 - 22:00 | Iowa Avenue, 105 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA, 52240, United States
Grab food from one (or more) of many vendors, then stop by the Beverage Garden!
Parents/Guardians: please note that you can bring minors into the Beverage Garden.
Last call in the Beverage Garden: 30 minutes before closing
Sales stop in the Beverage Garden: 15 minutes before closing
