By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

“Electrifyingly new and strangely familiar at the same time…with his mix of modern sounds and old-fashioned feeling, Raymond is steering jazz in the right direction.” (DownBeat Magazine)

As a trumpeter, educator, and composer, Raymond brings a modern take to the classics we all have come to love. He was worked with musicians such as Billy Hart, Orrin Evans, Linda Oh, Gilad Hekselman and Dan Tepfer, and his latest album – “Foreign Territory” – has received critical acclaim. Currently residing in New York City, Raymond teaches at the United Nations International School.

John Raymond & Real Feels will be performing at the main stage at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 2nd.

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

“A deeply thoughtful, resolutely individual artist who offers an ‘uncommon creative adventure.’ Davis draws you in so effortlessly that the brilliance of what she’s doing doesn’t hit you until the piece has slipped past.” according to JazzTimes.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano from the University of Toronto and attended the Banff Centre for the Arts jazz program in 1997 and 2000. Davis made her debut on record as a leader for Lifespan with three albums. Davis’s 2011 solo piano album on Clean Feed, Aeriol Piano, appeared on Best of the Year lists in The New York Times, JazzTimes and Art Forum.

With a strong and diverse background in jazz piano, Kris Davis will be sure to bring the audience to a musical exploration with her quintet during this year’s festival. 

The Kris Davis Quintet plays at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 1st at 7 p.m. on the main stage.

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

“The jubilant sound of Christopher’s Very Happy. Band. results from a combination of bright sounding compositions played with joyous abandon by its members.”

Christopher Merz brings the audience an innovative type of sound, Happiness, through jazz, rock, pop, and classical influences. Merz and fellow musicians Michael Conrad, Dave Tiede, and Drew Morton create a wonderful and energetic experience that melt away the stigmas of jazz music while creating an uplifting and creative sound.

Christopher’s Very Happy. Band will take the main stage on Saturday, July 1st at 3 p.m.

By Jordan Maldonado, KCCK Programming Intern

Laura Caviani has performed and recorded for over 15 years. The Minneapolis Star Tribune hailed her debut CD, Dreamlife as “...in a word, outstanding“. Marian McPartland called it “…sparkling and inventive“. Her second release, As One, was touted as “stunningly fresh” by Jazz Times.

Caviani is a veteran of both jazz and classical composition, recording, teaching, and performance. She has earned a bachelors of music in Composition from Lawrence University, and a masters of music in Improvisation from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She currently resides in Minnesota teaching at Carleton College and St. Olaf College.

This trio has recently been working on classical-jazz compositions and exploring the mind of Thelonious Monk.

The Laura Caviani Trio takes the main stage at the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 2nd at 2 p.m.

Marquis Hill at the 2016 Iowa City Jazz Festival

Monday, May 29th 6:00 AM – 1:35 AM Tuesday, May 30th    

Hear all the Main Stage performances from last summer’s festival plus KCCK’s exclusive, behind the scene, backstage interviews with each group’s leader! Our special holiday broadcast features the Akiko Tsuruga Trio with Jeff Hamilton, Marquis Hill Blacktet, Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band, Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom, Miguel Zenon Quartet, and more! For our complete broadcast schedule go to: https://www.kcck.org/blog/2016-iowa-city-jazz-festival-memorial-day-broadcast-schedule