CEDAR FALLS—On Aug. 28, jazz lovers can enjoy an outdoor musical experience featuring University of Northern Iowa faculty members in Seerley Park. The event, which was also organized in part by UNI faculty members, is free and open to the public. 

Trilogy + 2, the headliner of Jazz in Seerley Park, will begin playing at 7 p.m., featuring professional musicians Simon Harding and Chris Merz on saxophone, Josh Hakanson on drums, Alex Pershounin on bass and Mike Conrad on piano.

Two additional jazz groups will lead up to the main event. 

Local amateur group Melodious Thunk will perform at 5 p.m., with Roland Ganter on piano, Michael Walter on bass, Greg Hoekstra on trumpet and Deb Roper on vocals. Beauty's Beast, a group of UNI jazz students including Johnny Hartleip on saxophone, Jackson Schou on drums, Oisin Leopold on keys, Miles Rockford on bass and Riley Jermier on trumpet, will take the 6 p.m. slot. 

Two years ago, Hakanson and Harding spearheaded a spontaneous jazz evening in Seerley Park in honor of Charlie Parker’s birthday (August 29).

“Not having the chance to perform due to the pandemic was really hard on many musicians, and we were beginning to try and navigate ideas of how to play and be safe,” said Harding, a local jazz musician and co-owner of J&H Winds. “Josh called and asked if I wanted to put on a show with him at the park. It was the perfect way to enjoy community, music and socialize from a distance!" 

The 2020 outdoor concert also motivated UNI professor of Interactive Digital Studies Bettina Fabos, who lives across from Seerley Park and is a member of the College Hill Partnership, to organize similar events.

“It was the loveliest thing ever to hear live jazz in the park, especially during the pandemic when we were so starved to see members of our community,'' said Fabos. “We have so many talented jazz musicians in our midst, and I thought we absolutely need more of this.”

Hannah Crisman, president of the College Hill Partnership (CHP), which is sponsoring this event, says that the Jazz in Seerley Park event is exactly the type of activity that the CHP would like to see the park used for. 

“We would love for Seerley Park to become a cornerstone of the College Hill Neighborhood,” said Crisman. “We are currently working alongside the city of Cedar Falls to bring improvements to Seerley Park such as an enclosed play area and a new shelter, which will serve as a stage for similar events in the future,” said Crisman. “The park is already used by many neighbors, but the CHP would love to sponsor regular events such as movie nights or yoga in the park for all community members to enjoy. Jazz in Seerley Park is the perfect event to kick off what will hopefully become a vibrant community space.”

Food trucks from Cottonwood Canyon, La Calle, and Scoopski's will be serving their specialties and drinks. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating on the lawn. 

The College Hill Partnership will be collecting donations for the upcoming Seerley Park Improvement Project.

Contact:

Hannah Crisman, 319-231-4283, hannahcrisman10@gmail.com

Simon Harding, 843-254-2006, simonhardingsax@gmail.com