The inaugural Burlington Jazz Festival is this weekend.
There will be a dozen concerts and more than 80 musicians in town — and every show is free.
The festival takes place Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at several downtown venues, including The Washington, The Capitol Theater, Burlington Art Center, Burlington Riverfront Entertainment, and the Heritage Garden Events Center.
Festival organizer and local musician Emma Reynolds said it’s a chance to highlight both Burlington’s jazz legacy and a thriving local arts scene.
“Because we have so many beloved and historic venues right in the heart of our downtown within half a mile of each other that a lot of people even in Burlington have never even been to, we wanted to give them some foot traffic and recognition as beautiful venues,” Reynolds said.
The festival features bands and musicians from across the Midwest and local ones from both sides of the Mississippi River.
But it would be a mistake to think any act will sound like any other. The festival features a wide range of styles, from Latin and soul jazz to swing, gospel, and big band.
Reynolds said if you think of jazz as one specific time period, your scope is limited.
“It crosses a huge timeline and it crosses all borders. So you can dress it up, but you can also dress it down. You can come as you are, wear your flip flops and Hawaiian shirt. It doesn't have to be a fancy affair,” she said.
Organizers made this festival free so that everyone could experience that diversity of jazz and understand its evolution as it traveled up the Mississippi River from New Orleans and beyond.
Children are also welcome and there will be some Q&A sessions as well.
“It's a really good opportunity for students, community members, and travelers. Whoever's interested in what it is to be a jazz musician professionally or questions about jazz education, right? How to go about that. Just such a great resource to be able to ask these artists directly. How they approach music, how they approach soloing, how they approach working together with their band,” Reynolds said.
In addition to the performances, the Burlington jazz festival will include a Bart Howard Cocktail Competition, a block party along Third Street, and late-night jam sessions
Burlington’s jazz history includes the fact that Steamboat Days was originally a Dixieland jazz festival. Louis Armstrong played it in 1964. And Bart Howard, who wrote the jazz standard “Fly Me to the Moon,” was born in Burlington.
“Jazz, like the Mississippi, moves” Reynolds said. “It builds community. It refuses to sit still.”
Here’s the full concert schedule:
Friday, July 25
· 3 to 4 p.m., Jormilit Garcia Quartet of Kalamazoo, Mich., at Night Cap. Latin-jazz vocals led by Venezuelan-American Jormilit Garcia, known for soulful interpretations and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Wear your dancing shoes!
· 4:30 to 6 p.m., Tommy Boynton Sextet of St. Paul, Minn., at the Art Center of Burlington. Contemporary sextet featuring multi-instrumentalist/composer Tommy Boynton with artist Q&A.
· 6:30 to 8 p.m., Blake Shaw BIG(ish) Band of Iowa City at The Capitol Theater. Eleven-piece ensemble led by bassist/vocalist Blake Shaw, performing original big-band arrangements mixing swing, soul, and modern styles
· 9 to 11 p.m., Jam Session hosted by Matt Landon at The Washington. Informal, community-led jam for anyone to join or enjoy.
Saturday, July 26
· 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Entropy Jazz Orchestra at Burlington Riverfront Entertainment. A lively ensemble of musicians from around the Southeast Iowa area performing on the Mississippi riverfront. Bring a blanket or chair with you and enjoy the brunch food and drinks available for purchase.
· 12 to 1 p.m. | Elisha Organ Trio of Milwaukee/Chicago at Heritage Garden Event Center. Gospel-soul, hip hop-inspired jazz trio featuring organ, guitar, and drums
· 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Matthew Fries of Kalamazoo, Mich., at the Art Center of Burlington. Solo piano performance blending joyful swing and introspective originals.
· 3 to 4 p.m., Joshua Achiron Trio of Chicago at Heritage Garden Event Center. Contemporary jazz guitar trio led by Berklee-trained composer Joshua Achiron.
· 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dave Katz Sextet of Chicago at The Capitol Theater. Trumpet-driven sextet with performance and audience discussion led by the seasoned educator/
· 6:30 to 8 p.m. Pete Ellman Big Band of Chicago at The Capitol Theater. Classic 18-piece big band swing ensemble.
· 6 to 11 p.m., Third Street Block Party. Street festival featuring a lineup of local musicians, children's activities, art, food, merchandise, the Bart Howard Cocktail Competition award ceremony, and ending with the final festival jam session.
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