Des Moines big band coming to Indian Hills

OTTUMWA ? As part of Indian Hills Community College?s Homecoming activities, the Des Moines big band will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in St. John Auditorium.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1959, the band is Iowa?s premiere jazz ensemble. The elite 16-member group has backed many great jazz luminaries including Bobby Shew, Paul McKee, John Fedchock and Ritchie Cole. Led by trumpeter Jim Oatts, the band performs every Monday night from October through May at the Adventureland Inn in Altoona.

This special performance at Indian Hills will feature original compositions and arrangements by Indian Hills music professor David Sharp, who also will be a guest saxophone soloist with the band. Vocalist Laura Wiebe will be performing some of Sharp?s arrangements.