With the school year ending, West’s jazz bands have one last performance to look forward to: the Friday Night Concert Series. It’s a different kind of concert, mainly because it’s outside and performed to the people of downtown Iowa City. The Concert Series started in 2007 as part of Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts. It runs every Friday evening from late spring (the middle of May) to late summer (the middle of September.)
Since the event’s inception, West High has been one of the first performances of the event, pairing up with City High for the series’ opening nights. This year, West and City will perform on the second Friday of the Series, May 24. West’s Jazz Collective will be playing “Four” by Miles Davis, “The Cardinal Shuffle” by Bob Washut, “The Chicken for the One and Only” by Aaron Ottmar and “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard. West’s Jazz Ensemble will be playing “Us” by Thad Jones, “Take the A Train” arranged by Sammy Nestico, “What is this Thing Called Love?” arranged by Alan Baylock, “Count Bubba” by Gordon Goodwin, “Boplicity” by Miles Davis and “Minuano” by Pat Metheny. West’s Jazz Collective director, Ryan Middleton, will be the featured soloist for “Count Bubba.”
West and City will perform on Friday, May 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Iowa City downtown ped mall near the Graduate Hotel.
Jazz Ensemble director Brian Zeglis will also perform in Jazz Fest this year on July 7.
