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Washington Evening Journal
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Fairfield Jazz Band to perform at state fair Aug. 17
The Fairfield Jazz Band will perform at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The band received the good news that it had been selected to perform that day from 2-3:30 p.m. on the MidAmerica Stage. This will be the first time the jazz band has performed at the state fair.
The band’s director, Jim Edgeton, said he and his wife LeAnne were at the state fair last year when they heard a jazz group perform at the Bill Riley stage. The band’s founder, Rodger Gillaspie, was also at the state fair, since he goes every year to play in the Iowa Military Veterans Band that performs on Veterans Day of the fair.
The three Fairfielders all had the same idea, which is that it would be great to see Fairfield’s own jazz band show off its skills at one of these prime locations during the state fair.
“Everyone was in favor of starting the process to see if we could get ourselves to the state fair, and we did,” Gillaspie said.
Edgeton said they got in touch with the lady in charge of booking acts for the fair, and she asked for a demo of the band’s work. Gillaspie sent her a couple of recordings, and she was impressed.
“She asked us, ‘How many times do you want to play?’” Edgeton said. “She was more than happy to put us on the docket.”
The band will play 19 pieces of music during its 90 minutes on stage. Gillaspie said the pieces feature genres such as jazz (of course), Latin, rock and funk. On four pieces, the band will be accompanied by vocalist Emily McIntyre.
The band was formed about 15 years ago, at the behest of Pastor Joe Phipps of the First Presbyterian Church to provide jazz music for worship services on the fifth Sunday of the month. Rodger Gillaspie reached out to local musicians to staff Joe's request, and the Fairfield Jazz Band was "born.“ The band has been a part of the fifth Sunday jazz services at First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church ever since.
Following its initial performances to support Sunday worship, the band has expanded its "mission" to include various venues, and occasions at which to perform. The band performs annually at "Thursday Night Live," in Washington; "Thirsty Thursday" at the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua, and the Fairfield Farmers Market.
The band has also provided music for several memorial services, the unveiling of the Lee Gobble statue in front of the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, FAIRfest, the Farmington Strawberry Festival, and many other events.
The group consists of 18 members, talented musicians from Fairfield and neighboring towns. He said they get together to enjoy each other’s company and make great music.
“The band is proud to be selected to perform at this year's Iowa State Fair,” Gillaspie said.
The band’s next performances after the state fair will be at the Thirsty Thursday on Sep. 19 at the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua; the Fairfield Farmer's Market on Sep. 28, and Jazz Sunday at First United Methodist Church on Sep 30.
