After 15 months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Davenport Central High Jazz Band will play at a free event in Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport Friday, May 21, starting at 5:15 p.m.

The 19-piece ensemble is itching and excited to play for a live audience, according to assistant band director Brian Zeglis. The 19-piece

The free “Heights of the Era” music festival will be all day Saturday, July 24, in Lindsay Park, Village of East Davenport.

ensemble consists of keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, and lots of brass players.

In the case of rain, the live music concert will be held at the Village Theatre just steps away from the park – at 2113 E. 11th Street – where masks will be provided and Covid protocols in place for the benefit of the student band.

The band will perform traditional “Bix style” jazz pieces as well as modern big band, as a lead-in to promote the new “Heights of the Era” 15-hour free music festival on Saturday, July 24 (Bix 7 Race Saturday).

That will take place at the same place – Lindsay Park’s lawn – which will honor the genres of 1910s – 1920s vintage “Bix style” jazz, “O Brother Where Art Thou” style bluegrass, Delta blues, Traditional Irish, barbershop quartet, and a cappella.

The July 24 event has been created to offer a genuine feeling of taking a step back in time, while simultaneously stepping forward into our future.

“2020 was a year of stress and loss for many,” according to a Wednesday event release. “Benefactors of The Heights of the Era are making the event happen to provide a day of carefree nostalgic bliss for our community. It will be lovely morning, day, and evening on the Mississippi River riverfront.”

For more information on the festival, visit theheightsoftheera.com.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.