Nexus Brass, a young artists group based in Iowa City, performs in a wide variety of genres, from classical to pop. The quintet will open for the Eddie Piccard Quartet at KCCK's Aug. 24 Jazz Under the Stars finale at Noelridge Park in northeast Cedar Rapids. (Courtesy of KCCK)

Iowa composers, Spyro Gyra, old-school funk and soul, and New Orleans Jazz will be swinging under the setting sun when KCCK’s Jazz Under The Stars unfolds the first four Thursdays in August at Noelridge Park, 4300 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra opens the series Aug. 3, with new jazz compositions by Iowa writers.

“Mike Conrad from UNI is an award-winning jazz composer, whose work has been performed all over the world,” KCCK General Manager Dennis Green said. “He’s gathered Iowa’s best players to perform not just his work, but also the music of legendary Iowa performers and writers like Bob Washut, Chris Merz, and John Rapson. The group even plays an arrangement of Iowa’s first jazz pioneer, Bix Beiderbecke.”

Old-school funk and soul hits the stage Aug. 10 with the Diplomats of Solid Sound. On Aug. 17, sax player Damani Phillips and his band, Road Scholars, pays tribute to Spyro Gyra, a group that influenced him as a young player. The series concludes Aug. 24 with hometown favorite Eddie Piccard, featuring Wisconsin’s Busch Brothers horns adding a new dimension to the legendary piano master and his quartet.

“The other three weeks will be just as fun. Spyro Gyra was one of my gateway drugs into jazz, just as it was for Damani Phillips. So, I’m really excited for his new group, Road Scholars,” Green said. “We’re also excited to bring back Eddie Piccard, one of Iowa’s true jazz icons, as well as The Diplomats of Solid Sound, whose music has literally been streamed millions of times all over the world.”

Each concert will open with a student ensemble, including a group coming up from southwest Iowa. Other student groups include Ship Of Fools from the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, and two groups composed of UI students, both led by women.

All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. at Noelridge Park, and are broadcast live on 88.3 KCCK. KCCK also will hold its annual Album and CD Sale during the Aug. 17 concert. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Audience members also are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic.

In case of inclement weather, listen to KCCK for cancellation or rain location information, at 88.3 FM, online at kcck.org or follow @jazz883kcck on Instagram or Facebook.

Aug. 3: Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra; Young Artists: The Ana Koch Quartet. Ana Koch is an Iowa City City High graduate whose major in nursing at the University of Iowa isn’t stopping her from continuing to study and perform as a jazz guitarist and singer. Joining her will be Marvin Truong, sax; Bennet Walker, bass; and Peter Stoltz, drums.

Aug. 10: Diplomats of Solid Sound; Young Artists: Ship Of Fools, the premiere band from the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, performing a soulful mix of blues and rock. The members range in age from middle school to high school.

Aug. 17: Road Scholars with the music of Spyro Gyra; Young Artists: The Harlan Jazz Combo; and KCCK album and CD sale. The Harlan Jazz Combo from Harlan in southwest Iowa, won the 3A division of the Iowa Jazz Championships and five students were chosen for the prestigious Jazz All-State Band. Several of these students also participated in the University of Iowa’s first High School Jazz Combo contest, where they won the prize of opening for UI jazz director Damani Phillips’ Road Scholars.

Aug. 24: Eddie Piccard Quartet with The Busch Brothers; Young Artists: Nexus Brass, an all-woman brass quintet based in Iowa City. They perform music from all genres, everything from classical and jazz to contemporary and pop song arrangements. Nexus Brass was founded on the principle that women belong in brass music, and the members remain committed to this philosophy through engagement with schools, recording projects and social media campaigns.