Hall of Fame Banquet

COMMUNITY JAZZ CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES HONORS LOCAL JAZZ HEROES
Every city has its jazz heroes, and Des Moines is no exception. For the past 23 years, the Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines (CJC) has honored these heroes with its Annual Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Awards. This year’s event is scheduled for the evening of Sunday, October 27, at Noce in downtown Des Moines.

John Krantz will be the 61st person included in the Des Moines Jazz Hall of Fame at this year’s event. An avid jazz advocate in Des Moines for decades, John’s involvement with CJC includes starting the first CJC website, Facebook page, and founding the annual CJC Hall Of Fame in 2001.  John has been the artistic director for Jazz in July at Hoyt Sherman Place since 2019 and books other local jazz musicians regularly.  He also enjoys playing piano frequently at various Des Moines venue.

Other awards to be presented at the event include:
  • Special Recognition Awards will be given to saxophonist/educator Steve Britt, trombonist/band leader Keith Nash (deceased) and The Continental for its ongoing support of the jazz community.
  • The Next Generation Award, which focuses on up-and-coming musicians who are making an impact on music in Des Moines, will be presented to trombonist/educator Paul Lichty.
  • The Bobby Dawson Award, presented to a student musician who has been involved with the CJC monthly jam sessions, will be awarded to trombonist Brody Haugh, a junior at Northwest High School in Waukee.
 
This year’s Hall of Fame will be held October 27, 2024 at Noce, 1326 Walnut Street in downtown Des Moines. The Hall of Fame event will kick off at 5:00 p.m. with a reception and dinner. The awards ceremony will begin at 6:00 p.m. which will include performances from this year’s winners as well as past Hall of Fame winners and special guests.

Admission is $20 for advanced tickets and $25 at the door. Food and drinks will be available for an additional charge from the family of the former Raul’s Mexican Restaurant. Proceeds from this event fund the Community Jazz Center’s youth activities.

Tickets can be ordered online here. They are also available by calling 515-279-6452 or emailing [email protected].

​The CJC Hall of Fame is always a very special night jam packed with live jazz performances and tributes that you won’t want to miss!  Visit cjc-dsm.org for more information about the event and the Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines.