Iowa’s Jazz Station reunites two groups of college chums, makes the invisible visible, and revisits the great jazz organ trios during KCCK’s Jazz Under The Stars, August 1, 8, 15, and 22 at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids.
All concerts begin at 6:30pm at Noelridge Park, and are broadcast live on 88.3 KCCK.
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August 1
- BYOBrass
- Young Artists: The Sam Ross Quartet
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August 8
- The Invisible Band
- Young Artists: Next Gen Jazz Collective
- KCCK Album and CD Sale
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August 15
- Group X
- Young Artists: Murphy Fisher Quartet
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August 22
- Trio Grismore
- Young Artists: Ship of Fools
Meet The Artists
BYO Brass
BYO Brass opens the series on August 1. The members met as music students at UNI and formed the group in 2017 while still in school. Since graduating, members of this group have also become teachers and professional performers touring all over Iowa and the Midwest with high-energy original music as well as unique takes on familiar pop tunes. The band released its first full album “Now That You’re Here” in 2023.
The Invisible Band
The Invisible Band takes the stage August 8, led by Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of fame inductee Ken Duncan. He and the rest of The Invisible Band are also members of The Funk Daddies. Trivia: The Invisible Band had 15 minutes of fame in 1986, when their “Hawk Rap #7” became a popular tune among Iowa football fans.
Group X
Group X also is a product of the University of Northern Iowa, formed in 2007. The group released an album that received significant play on KCCK. In the years since, those students have gone on to become leaders in Iowa music. Jen Tiede leads the jazz program at Linn-Mar, her now-husband Dave is an in-demand jazz drummer. Joel Nagel directs the Cedar Rapids Washington Jazz Revolutionsists. Mike Conrad is an award-winning composer, professor at their alma mater and leads the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra. “Even though we haven’t played together as Group X in a long time,” laughs Jen Tiede, “don’t worry! We’ve been practicing.” Group X performs August 15.
Trio Grismore
Closing out the series on August 22 is Trio Grismore, led by guitarist Steve Grismore, co-founder of the Iowa City Jazz Festival and original member of Orquesta Alto Maiz, The Beaker Brothers, and many other groups. Trio Grismore draws its inspiration from the jazz organ trios of Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Jimmy Smith, and Larry Young. Mitch Towne from Omaha fills the organ chair, and Tim Crumley (Eddie Piccard Quartet, Dandelion Stompers) plays drums.
Young Artists
Sam Ross Quartet
- Sam Ross: Tenor sax
- Christian Montover: Guitar
- Bass: Vivian Shanley
- Ani Perez Brennan: Drums
Sam Ross is a musician in the Iowa City area currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Iowa. He has been involved in music and has played the saxophone for over 10 years. In addition to school-related concerts, Sam actively performs in jam sessions and other gigs at various local venues.
Next Gen Jazz Collective
- Carson Parker: piano
- Marvin Truong: saxophone
- Spencer Paulsen: bass
- Milo Savage: drums
The Next Gen Jazz Collective is made up of UI Jazz students who have been playing professionally not only in Iowa City but around the state, including gigs at Des Moines’ prestigious Noce Jazz Club.
Murphy Fisher Quartet
- Murphy Fisher: piano
- Edward Kenyon: sax
- Leo Burchett: bass
- James Kardos: drums
The Murphy Fisher Quartet is an Iowa City-Based Jazz quartet. They play a mix of original songs, standards, and transcriptions, with an album: Three Rectangles, Two Circles, A Triangle released everywhere. They have played at shows such as the FilmScene Refocus Festival, Iowa City Jazz Fest, and The Summer of the Arts Friday Night Concert Series.
Ship Of Fools
Ship of Fools is one of six youth rock bands at Eastern Iowa Arts Academy. EIAA is a nonprofit in Cedar Rapids who provides art and music opportunities to people of all ages. Youth are able to attend at little to no cost thanks to EIAA’s financial aid program called AccessArts. Bands rehearse once a week under the direction of local professional musicians: Ryan Phelan, Craig Erickson, Jeremiah Murphy, Naomi Ruckus Rose, as well as sound engineering and recording by Evan Stock. Rock Academy welcomes youth to audition to join bands at any time.
In case of inclement weather, listen to KCCK for cancellation or rain/heat location info. At 88.3 FM, online at www.kcck.org or follow @jazz883kcck on Instagram or Facebook.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at the concerts. Attendees are also invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and their own picnic if they wish.
Major support for Jazz Under The Stars comes from
Additional support provided by Kirkwood Community College and West Music.
Since 1988, Iowa’s Jazz Station has presented four free, family-friendly jazz concerts in August in Cedar Rapids’ Noelridge Park.