Hall of Fame Banquet

Every city has its jazz heroes, and Des Moines is no exception. For the past 21 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 23, at Noce in downtown Des Moines.

​This year’s Hall of Fame will be held October 23, 2022 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.

CJC will be inducting pianist Tanner Taylor and saxophonist/educator John Morgan into the Hall of Fame, which now numbers a total of 56 individuals from the jazz community.
  • Tanner Taylor — As a young pianist growing up in Jefferson, Iowa, Tanner Taylor’s interest in jazz was nurtured by Jack Oatts, hall of fame honoree and the “dean” of jazz educators in Iowa as well as the entire Oatts family. It wasn’t long before he made a name for himself in the Des Moines area, but in 2001 Tanner decided to try his luck in the Twin Cities. He quickly became a first-call pianist for many local musicians and clubs as well as visiting jazz notables such as Lew Tabackin, Eric Alexander Delfayo Marsalis and many others.  Since returning to Central Iowa several years ago, you’ll find Taylor taking his rightful place behind the piano at jazz venues and events throughout the area.
  • John Morgan -- He may appear to a quiet and unassuming man, but when he puts a saxophone in his mouth, John Morgan roars. He’s been doing just that as a long-time member of the Des Moines Big Band, the Turner Jazz Center Orchestra, the Don Hoy Orchestra, the Russ Morgan Orchestra, the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Orchestra, his own groups and big bands, even The Java Jews. A consummate player, Morgan is also a more than capable orchestrator and arranger and a well-respected middle-school educator and private teacher. You know you’re going to hear something special, when John walks onto the bandstand with his arsenal of saxes and clarinet.

Other awards to be presented at the event include:
  • Special Recognition Awards will be given to pianist Nick Rueckert and performance venues The Cave DSM and Franklin Junior High 
  • 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 drummer Zane Gedler.
  • The Bobby Dawson Award, presented to a student musician who has been involved with the CJC monthly jam sessions, will be awarded to guitarist David Harper who recently graduated from Gilbert High School and currently attended Iowa State University. 
Admission is $20 for advanced tickets and $25 at the door. Food and drinks will be available for an additional charge. Proceeds from this event fund the Community Jazz Center’s youth activities.

Tickets can be ordered online at www.cjc-dsm.org or www.nocedsm.com. They are also available by calling 515-279-6452 or emailing abegold1951@gmail.com.

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 dmcommunityjazzcenter.org for more information about the event and the Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines.