Jazz in July 2025: Night 1

5:30-6:15 PM: Valley High School Jazz Combo outside on John & Penny Krantz Stage
6:30-8:15 PM: Mike Conrad’s Hard Bop Express outside on EMC Plaza Stage

This free summer program wouldn’t be possible without the help of its premier sponsor, Principal Foundation, as well as expertise from our Jazz in July Arts Advisor John Krantz.

Attendees will be able to purchase food as well as beverages provided by the venue on site.

Mike Conrad, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies & Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa, is excited to be bringing a new project to Des Moines for Jazz in July. This sextet of Midwest jazz all-stars loves to dig into that classic hard bop sound associated with the Blue Note record label in the 50s and 60s, borrowing repertoire from artists like Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Hank Mobely, and Horace Silver.

Conrad’s compositions and arrangements have earned him four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, a SONIC Award from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, the 2023 Sammy Nestico Award, and many other accolades. He brings his arranging prowess to this group by putting creative spins on selections from the hard bop cannon, and mixes in some original pieces that explore the fertile landscape that this 3-horn instrumentation offers.

Pianist Mike Conrad is joined in the rhythm section by his longtime collaborator, the ultra-creative Drew Morton on bass, and by Kansas City titan John Kizilarmut on drums. The frontline is a “who’s who” of jazz improvisers in Iowa – Dave Rezek, top-call trumpeter and leader of the Des Moines Big Band; Simon Harding on saxophone, an amazingly versatile and imaginative voice on the instrument; and Jackson Churchill, an incredible young eductor (Valley High School), and outstanding trombonist (Finalist in the 2022 J.J. Johnson Jazz Trombone Competition).

All aboard the Hard Bop Express!