Schedule: Jazz Under the Stars coming to Noelridge Park, McGrath Amphitheatre starting Aug. 2

The Gazette

Jul. 28, 2018 11:01 am, Updated: Jul. 30, 2018 1:02 pm

Schedule: Jazz Under the Stars coming to Noelridge Park, McGrath Amphitheatre starting Aug. 2

CEDAR RAPIDS — Hot August nights are about to get a little hotter, as KCCK-FM launches Jazz Under the Stars on Thursday nights, Aug. 2 to 23.

The first three concerts will be held at Noelridge Park, 4900 Council St. NE, and the finale will move to the McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW. The slate is dedicated to the memory of legendary KCCK air personality Gordon Paulsen of Cedar Rapids, who died in April.

'Jazz Under the Stars was Gordon's favorite event,' said Dennis Green, KCCK's general manager, in announcing the series.

The Jazz Standard, led by Paul and Gail Williams of Cedar Rapids, launches the season Aug. 2.

Reigning International Blues Challenge winner Kevin 'B.F.' Burt of Coralville will step into the spotlight on Aug. 9 with the Corridor Blues All-Stars.

Burt took the annual Memphis competition by storm in February with a soulful rendition of 'Eleanor Rigby' to beat out entrants from all over the world. He is the first musician to win the solo/duo competition and the Lee Oskar Best Harmonica Award and the Cigar Box Guitar award for Most Promising Acoustic Act.

Another highlight brings audience favorite The Funk Daddies back to Jazz Under the Stars on Aug. 16, after a 10-year absence.

The Aug. 23 finale features Coe College professor and Cedar Rapids Municipal Band Director Steve Shanley directing an all-star big band, accompanying some of the Corridor's most popular singers. Slated to appear are Amy Friedl Stoner, Craig Boche, Eddie Piccard, Prairie High School student Lydia Jennisen and KCCK's own Hollis Monroe.

WHAT: KCCK's Jazz Under the Stars

TIME: 7 p.m. Thursdays in August

AUG. 2: The Jazz Standard, Noelridge Park, 4900 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids

AUG. 9: Kevin 'B.F.' Burt and the Corridor Blues All-Stars, Noelridge Park

AUG. 16: Funk Daddies, Noelridge Park; with KCCK's CD sale

AUG. 23: Eastern Iowa All-Star Big Band with Singers, McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids

ADMISSION: Free

EXTRAS: Bring seating and picnics or buy from food vendors on-site; in case of rain, go to KCCK-FM, 88.3, Kcck.org, Facebook or @jazz883kcck on Twitter for cancellation or rain location sites

DETAILS: Kcck.org/juts/

KCCK-FM Kevin 'B.F.' Burt of Coralville, winner of the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, will perform with the Corridor Blues All-Stars on Aug. 9 at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids, part of this year's KCCK Jazz Under the Stars outdoors series.

KCCK-FM This year's Jazz Under the Stars season is dedicated to the memory of legendary KCCK on-air personality Gordon Paulsen of Cedar Rapids, who died in April. Concerts are held the first three Thursdays in August in Noelridge Park, with the finale Aug. 23 at McGrath Amphitheatre. Both venues are in Cedar Rapids.