Jazz Festivals in Eastern Iowa compiled by The Jazz Society of Eastern Iowa
For information on all jazz events in Eastern Iowa, check out our general listing of events and find out about membership
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The Festivals and Annual Jazz Events

Dates vary
Ray Blue Jazz Festival
http://JazzInEastIowa.homestead.com/files/RayBlueFestival.html
February, 2001
August, 2000

February
Coe College Jazz Summitwww.coe.edu/JazzSummit
The last weekend in February consists of a two day festival at which major, invited artists provide clinics during the day, and perform during the evening. A portion of the two-day festival also consists of a high school jazz band competition. See
http://www.coe.edu/~wcarson/JSSched2K.html
for the schedule for the 2000 Summit.
For information about current and previous Jazz Summit concerts, see
http://www.coe.edu/~wcarson/summit.htm#Past, Present, and Future

March
The Follies http://www.crsymphony.org/faq/guild.html
The relationship between Broadway and jazz is undeniable. Come to see this annual Broadway review the first two weekends in March each year.
http://www.iowaalive.com/features/fea095.htm
http://www.iowaalive.com/features/fea096.htm

JSEI Jazz Masters Series: Gerswhin Festival on March 9 and 16, 2001 http://JazzInEastIowa.homestead.com/files/Gershwin2001.html

Jazz Spring and Fall Festivals at Kirkwood College
http://www.kirkwoodcollege.com/artshumanities/jazz_program/guest.htm
Check the web page above. The dates vary. However, Kirkwood College sponsors jazz festivals every spring and fall at which major, invited artists provide private AND public jazz lessons (clinics) and perform during the evening.

Show Choir Invitational Competition, Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids
This annual competition provides for high school and middle school vocal jazz and show choir groups the ability to compete. See the review for the Year 2000 show in the Cedar Rapids Gazette
http://www.iowaalive.com/features/fea105.htm
Standards for State competition for Jazz Choir are significant
http://www.icdamusic.org/events/asjc2000/audition-rubric.html

April
Fab Five Cedar Rapids High School Show Choir Concert
This annual concert, spanning two evenings, displays the BEST of the Cedar Rapids Area high school jazz and show choir groups in a large review production. The concert is held at the U.S. Cellular's Paramount Theatre.
http://www.uscellularcenter.com/
Standards for State competition for Jazz Choir are significant
http://www.icdamusic.org/events/asjc2000/audition-rubric.html

Cedar Rapids Area Jazz and Show Choir Festival - in March, April and May - and enormous amount of the BEST of the high schools and colleges, along with GREAT professional guest artists.
http://JazzInEastIowa.homestead.com/files/schools2001.html

June
Jazz in the Streets http://www.mcginsberg.net/home.html
This could be Paris, but it is Iowa City, with jazz every Friday during the noon hour, outdoors at the Pedestrian Mall, adjacent to Ginsberg Jewelers. Come down, and start the weekend off right, every Friday at noon.

Iowa City Downtown Association "Just Jazz" Saturday Night Jazz Festival http://www.icdowntown.com/justjazz.html

Freedom Festival is a two week festival ending at the Fourth of July, which provides an enormous variety of events around Cedar Rapids, including a variety of jazz music http://www.freedomfestival.com/

July

Freedom Festival is a two week festival ending at the Fourth of July, which provides an enormous variety of events around Cedar Rapids, including a variety of jazz music http://www.freedomfestival.com/

Iowa City Jazz Festivalhttp://www.IowaCityJazzFestival.com/default2.htm
Two days around the Fourth of July, approximately

Iowa City Downtown Association "Just Jazz" Saturday Night Jazz Festival http://www.icdowntown.com/justjazz.html

August
Jazz Under the Stars, Noelridge Park, Cedar Rapids, http://www.kcck.org/specevent.html
First four Thursdays in August

Iowa City Downtown Association "Just Jazz" Saturday Night Jazz Festivalhttp://www.icdowntown.com/justjazz.html

September

Iowa City Downtown Association "Just Jazz" Saturday Night Jazz Festival http://www.icdowntown.com/justjazz.html

November
Jazz Fall and Spring Festivals and at Kirkwood College
http://www.kirkwoodcollege.com/artshumanities/jazz_program/guest.htm
Check the web page above. The dates vary. However, Kirkwood College sponsors jazz festivals every spring and fall at which major, invited artists provide private AND public jazz lessons (clinics) and perform during the evening.
for a listing of previous festivals.

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