Our 2024-2025 Season
All concerts 7:30pm at the Turner Jazz Center, 25th and Forest Avenue
Thurs. October 10 The Great American Songbook
Featuring Tunes by the Masters
The Great American Songbook is the canon of the most influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century that have stood the test of time. Songs for dancing and romancing by the likes of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein represent this highest form of popular song. Join us to celebrate these masters as we play selections from this golden age of jazz.
The Great American Songbook is the canon of the most influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century that have stood the test of time. Songs for dancing and romancing by the likes of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein represent this highest form of popular song. Join us to celebrate these masters as we play selections from this golden age of jazz.
Thurs. November 7 Good Vibes
Featuring Peter Schlamb
Inspired by the discovery of Lionel Hampton in his early teens, Kansas City native, Peter Schlamb, moved to New York where he graduated from The New School of Music. In addtiion to teaching at the Universtiy of Missouri - KC, he’s an active part of the New York jazz landscape. He regularly plays alongside Logan Richardson, appearing on Richardson’s album, Afrofuturism. He maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally and internationally, and recently released his second album, Electric Tinks.
Inspired by the discovery of Lionel Hampton in his early teens, Kansas City native, Peter Schlamb, moved to New York where he graduated from The New School of Music. In addtiion to teaching at the Universtiy of Missouri - KC, he’s an active part of the New York jazz landscape. He regularly plays alongside Logan Richardson, appearing on Richardson’s album, Afrofuturism. He maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally and internationally, and recently released his second album, Electric Tinks.
Thurs. December 19 All That Holiday Jazz!
Featuring Holiday G.I. Jukebox with Elaine Dame
A mainstay of jazz in Chicago, Elaine Dame, who Time Out Chicago calls “a jazz dynamo” has been turning heads — from appearances at New York City’s Rainbow Room to headlining the Chicago Jazz Festival — for the past 20 years. Elaine takes us back to the WW II era when distances separating loved ones gave rise to some of the traditions we know today. Many of the holiday tunes from this era were worked into films during and after the war, and became instant holiday classics for members of the Armed Services.
A mainstay of jazz in Chicago, Elaine Dame, who Time Out Chicago calls “a jazz dynamo” has been turning heads — from appearances at New York City’s Rainbow Room to headlining the Chicago Jazz Festival — for the past 20 years. Elaine takes us back to the WW II era when distances separating loved ones gave rise to some of the traditions we know today. Many of the holiday tunes from this era were worked into films during and after the war, and became instant holiday classics for members of the Armed Services.
Wed. February 12 Jazz for Lovers and Friends
Featuring Bradley Sinclair
After being a finalist on Season 20 of The Voice, this talented singer hasn’t wasted any time. He has performed in more than 20 countries around the world for a wide variety of audiences and worked with legendary singers John Legend and Nick Jonas. Last year he released his first Big
Band recording, The Christmas Album. In the words of John Legend, “serious vocal range” is what drives Sinclair’s performances, and we’ll be happy to supply him with a smokin’ band. Expect some Sinatra tunes.
After being a finalist on Season 20 of The Voice, this talented singer hasn’t wasted any time. He has performed in more than 20 countries around the world for a wide variety of audiences and worked with legendary singers John Legend and Nick Jonas. Last year he released his first Big
Band recording, The Christmas Album. In the words of John Legend, “serious vocal range” is what drives Sinclair’s performances, and we’ll be happy to supply him with a smokin’ band. Expect some Sinatra tunes.
Thurs. March 27 M & M: Mingus and Monk
Featuring the Music of Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk
Pianist Thelonious Monk and bassist Charles Mingus were born and died within a handful of years of each other. They both found early inspiration in Duke Ellington’s music and had a large hand in shaping what we know to be modern jazz. Yet the record shows their paths didn’t cross much,
perhaps because they grew up on opposite coasts. Monk was known for a spare and percussive style of playing and played mostly in trios and small combos. Mingus’ music was more complex, layered with thick harmonies. They both played crucial roles in making jazz what it is today.
Pianist Thelonious Monk and bassist Charles Mingus were born and died within a handful of years of each other. They both found early inspiration in Duke Ellington’s music and had a large hand in shaping what we know to be modern jazz. Yet the record shows their paths didn’t cross much,
perhaps because they grew up on opposite coasts. Monk was known for a spare and percussive style of playing and played mostly in trios and small combos. Mingus’ music was more complex, layered with thick harmonies. They both played crucial roles in making jazz what it is today.
Thurs. May 1 Corn-Fed Jazz: The Next Generation
Featuring the Newest Iowa Hybrids
Iowa has a surprisingly rich history of producing jazz arrangers and composers. Bix Beiderbecke, born in Davenport in 1903; Glenn Miller - Clarinda 1904; Art Farmer - Council Bluffs 1928; Frank
Perowsky - Des Moines 1935; Charlie Haden - Shenandoah 1937, and Herbie Hancock attended Grinnell College in the late 1950’s. You’ve already heard works by Iowa native Chris Merz and Iowa transplants John Benoit, Andy Classen, Damani Phillips and Dave Sharp. Now in store for you is a whole new crop of Iowa corn-fed arrangers and composers.
Iowa has a surprisingly rich history of producing jazz arrangers and composers. Bix Beiderbecke, born in Davenport in 1903; Glenn Miller - Clarinda 1904; Art Farmer - Council Bluffs 1928; Frank
Perowsky - Des Moines 1935; Charlie Haden - Shenandoah 1937, and Herbie Hancock attended Grinnell College in the late 1950’s. You’ve already heard works by Iowa native Chris Merz and Iowa transplants John Benoit, Andy Classen, Damani Phillips and Dave Sharp. Now in store for you is a whole new crop of Iowa corn-fed arrangers and composers.