Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts - Jazz Festival History

Jazz Festival History

1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |

In The Beginning

The actual conception for the Iowa City Jazz Festival took place on a sunny spring day in 1991. I was standing in front of Ginsberg Jewelers visiting with Mark Ginsberg when he looked at me and said " Steve, lets start a jazz festival." Of course, not knowing if Mark was serious and unwilling to take the chance that he wasn't, I immediately said, "Ok, I'll take care of booking the bands and getting the sound system, etc.,..and you raise the money.

The first year the festival was called "The Washington Street Jazz Festival" for the obvious reason of location. But the second year we changed the name to "The Iowa City Jazz Festival" and it has remained that ever since.

Christian McBride

The City of Iowa City has been very helpful over the years and letting us shut the streets down for our first festival was a big deal at the time. The jazz festival was a one day affair for the first four years and always held on July 4th. The first two years of the festival attendance was only between four to five thousand but still a lot fun. But because of growing attendance and interest we expanded the festival in 1995 to include the evening of the the 3rd as well. We have been feeling the growing pains ever since. The average attendance the past three years has been about 25,000.

Through The Years

The stage has been placed at various locations and has been different sizes over the years in heart of downtown Iowa City. For the past five years we've added side stages to feature more local artists. A few years ago we announced the addition of the "All Youth Stage" featuring local jr. high and high school students.

We have always placed an emphasis on education and over the years have had numerous workshops and lectures led by jazz greats such as Paquito D'Rivera, T. S Monk, Paul McKee, Ed Wilkerson, Ron Carter, Marshall Allen, and members of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Steve Grismore, Executive director

A few years years ago, National Public Radio and "Jazz Set", hosted by Branford Marsalis returned to Iowa City for the 2000 Iowa City Jazz Festival. Becca Pullium and Duke Marcos was here to record the Festival for "Jazz Set" which is broadcast on over 200 stations nationally including our very own KCCK. NPR has visited us three times prior to 2000 and 2000's festival was recorded and then broadcast several times during the following year. You can still hear past years of the Iowa City Jazz Festival on "Jazz Set"

We have also won several "Tourism and the Arts Awards" for the state of Iowa, and have been named "Best Festival" by several local newspapers including the Iowa City Press Citizen in 2002.

I am looking forward to continuing the tradition this year with our biggest and best festival ever! See you there!

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The following is a list of all the different bands we have featured over the years on the main stage.

1991:

Tom Davis Quintet
Dox Big Band
Thompson/Grismore Quintet
Dourghty Davis McPartland
Dennis McMurrin and the Demolition Band
Paul Smoker Trio

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1992:

The crowds go wild.

John Scofield Trio

1993:

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1994:

Iowa State Fair Jazz Band
Voices of Soul
Duke Robillard
Tim Berne and Bloodcount
Mahlathini and Mohotella Queens
T. S. Monk

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The Fest now runs for two days: July 3 & 4

1995:

United Jazz Ensemble
The OftenEnsemble
U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors

Strange Pursuit
The Blues Instigators
Orquesta de Jazz y Salsa Alto Maiz
Von Freeman Quartet
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Roy Haynes Quartet

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1996:

United Jazz Ensemble
Voices of Soul
Sunny Wilkenson
Eight Bold Souls

Shade of Blue
Jerry Granneli and UFB
Larry Goldings Trio
Maceo Parker
Joe Lovano Quintet with Tom Harrell

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1997:

The Neville BrothersOdd Bar Trio
Fred Hersh Trio
Ray Anderson and the Pocket Brass Band
Poncho Sanchez
Kenny Garrett Quartet

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1998:

Real Time Work Shop
Motion Poets
Jimmy McGriff and Jack McDuff

Karl Montzka Quartet
Dominique Eade
Brad Mehldau Trio
Victor Mendoza
Dave Douglas Quartet

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1999:

Bob Washut Trio
Mark Turner Quartet
Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra
John Pizzarelli

The Sam Band
Max Vax Trio
Sam Newsome and Global Unity
Lou Donaldson with Dr. Lonnie Smith
Liquid Soul

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2000:

Eddie Picard
Charlie Kohlhase Quintet
Ravi Coltrane Quartet
Bill Frisell's New Quartet

Scea/Short Quartet
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio
Patricia Barber
Orquesta Alto Maiz
Christian McBride Band
John Scofield Trio

Click here to see photos from the 2000 Iowa City Jazz Festival!

The Fest now runs for three days: June 29, 30, & July 1

2001:

United Jazz Ensemble
Matt Wilson Quartet

Chris Merz Trio
Kenny Werner
Benny Golson Quartet
Carla Bley/Steve Swallow

Dave Zollo and Friends
Greg Osby Quartet
Pat Martino Trio fearturing Joey De Francesco and Billy Hart
Cubanismo

Click here to see photos from the 2001 Festival!

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2002:

United Jazz Ensemble
Bohemian Soul Tribe

Everette DeVan Trio
Bill Charlap and Warren Vaché
Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band
Legends of the Bandstand
Featuring Cedar Walton, Ray Drummond, Louis Hayes, Curtis Fuller, and David "Fathead" Newman

Oddbar
Malachi Thompson Freebop Band
Sex Mob
Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Click here to see photos from the 2002 Festival!

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2003:

United Jazz Ensemble
United Jazz Alumni Band
OftEnsemble (University of Iowa Faculty Ensemble)

Dennis McMurrin and the Demolition band
Geri Allen Trio (with Buster Williams and Lenny White)
Don Byron /Music for Six Musicians
Charlie Hunter Quintet

Fred Anderson Trio
Ron Miles Quartet
Andrew Hill Quartet
Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Click here to see photos from the 2003 Festival!

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2004:

United Jazz Ensemble
Orquesta Alto Maiz

Kevin "BF" Burt and the Instigators
David Berkman Quartet with Dick Oatts
Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana
Stefon Harris and Blackout
Soulive

Grismore/Scea Group
Guaranteed Swahili
Terell Stafford Quintet
Patricia Barber
Yellowjackets

Click here to see photos from the 2004 Festival!

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2005:

United Jazz Ensemble
The FunkDaddies

Ashanti (Latin jazz)
JUISE Big Band
Kim Richmond and Clay Jenkins (with Reggie Thomas on piano)
The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Kenny Garrett and his Quartet

Susie Miget Group
X-tet featuring Chris Merz
Henry Threadgill's Zooid
Eric Alexander
Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch present "The Latin Side of Miles"

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