The 50th Annual Bix Jazz Festival Continues! Here's The Schedule Of Today's Events...

The Bix Jazz Festival continues today at the Rhythm City Casino Events Center, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport. This is the 50^th anniversary

The Bix jazz festival’s 50th anniversary logo.

for the jazz festival, to honor and continue the legacy of Bix, the great jazz cornetist, pianist and composer.

This year’s festival also features a special guest, Bix fest pioneer and trombonist Bill Allred (who was part of the Aug. 6, 1971 reunion in Davenport) will perform in part of some of the bands’

Nate Kraft, director of the Bix Museum and Archives, before this weekend’s festival.

sets. His performances have taken him to the major jazz festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has appeared with Jack Teagarden, Bill Butterfield, Warren and Allan Vache, Peanuts Hucko, Acker Bilk, Al Hirt, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Cohen, Zoot Sims, Snooky Young, Bob Cooper, Milt Hinton, Bob Harggart, Barrett Deems, Louie Bellson, Roy Williams, and Buddy DeFranco.

In 1995, Bill created the Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band, which has traveled and performed throughout the U.S. and abroad. The band made 13 recordings which can be enjoyed on the top music sites. Allred (who’s based in Orlando, Fla.) continues to perform locally and at several European jazz clubs.

In time for the 50^th anniversary fest, the Bix Beiderbecke Museum in downtown Davenport is now permanently displaying Bix’s tuxedo jacket and traveling trunk during his 1920s time playing for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. The artifacts are on permanent loan from Bix’s great-nephew, Chris Beiderbecke of Moline. The museum raised over $12,000 through a fundraiser to pay for the renovations.

Here’s the schedule for today’s events:

Leon Bismark (“Bix”) Beiderbecke was born in Davenport in 1903, seen here in 1927.

Saturday, Aug. 7 (Rhythm City Casino) –

11:30 – 12:15 – Bix Youth Jazz Band
12:30 – 1:15 – Southside Aces
1:30 – 2:15 – Cakewalkin’ Jass Band
2:30 – 3:15 – Graystone Monarchs
3:30 – 4:15 – Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles
BREAK – 4:15 – 6 p.m.
6:00 – 6:45 – Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys
7:00 – 7:45 – Graystone Monarchs (All-Stars)
8:00 – 8:45 – Chicago Cellar Boys
9:00 – 9:45 – Mortonia Sextet
10:00 – Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles

The Bix Museum will be open for extended hours this Saturday, August 7^th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so that Festival-goers and the public have an opportunity to see the new displays for the first time.

The Bix Museum is in the lower level of the River Music Experience at 2^nd and Main Street in downtown Davenport. The museum is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday typically by appointment only. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.bixmuseum.org. For tickets and more information on the festival, visit https://bixsociety.org/festival.php.

Sean Leary

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.

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