All are invited to the inaugural Java and Jazz Saturday, Feb. 19, when the Greene County Jazz Band will perform and then host the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra. The high school jazz band will perform at 3 pm, followed by jazz combos at 3:45 pm, and ending with a full set from the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra (IWJO) at 4:30 pm.
According to the IWJO website, the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra (IWJO) is a jazz big band made up of women musicians from across the state dedicated to showcasing and encouraging the participation of women and girls in jazz.
The IWJO has performed as a featured ensemble at the Iowa Bandmasters’ Association conference, as well as at multiple jazz festivals around the state of Iowa. They are a unique and dynamic group with excellent soloists and a huge Big Band sound, and they are excited to perform in Greene County’s state-of-the-art auditorium for a crowd of Greene County jazz fans. “There is nothing quite like hearing Big Band Jazz live and in person. This promises to be an excellent experience for students and audience alike,” high school band director Wes Anderson said.
The event is made possible by a generous donation from BOOST to cover performance fees of the IWJO. Greene Bean Coffee is donating coffee for the event. Donations will be accepted that will go toward the cost of high school instrumentalists traveling to DisneyWorld next December.
