Press & Awards

Community Jazz Center Hall of
Fame inducts Scott Davis

Written by MICHAEL SWANGER | Des Moines Register

Scott Davis leads the East High School band during the East High commencement ceremony at Drake University’s Knapp Center. Davis, now retired from teaching, will be inducted into the CJC Hall of Fame in a ceremony today at Adventureland Inn in Altoona. / Register file photo

Every city with a rich jazz legacy is home to talented musicians and devoted non-performers alike who are deserving of wider recognition for their preservation and advancement of jazz music. Des Moines is no exception.

The Greater Des Moines Community Jazz Center today will recognize those who have contributed to the city’s jazz community by hosting its 12th annual Hall of Fame and special recognition awards ceremony and concert at Adventureland Inn in Altoona. The event is one of many ways in which the nonprofit group serves the local jazz community, including organizing youth and adult concerts and clinics.

“We are so fortunate that John Krantz came up with the idea in 2001 to start a CJC Jazz Hall of Fame. What better way is there to honor these well-deserving, talented musicians, than to bestow a recognition award to them for the years of entertainment that they have provided for us?” said Phyllis Leaverton, president of the CJC.

This year the CJC Jazz Hall of Fame will open its doors to trumpet/flugelhorn player, bandleader and educator Scott Davis, making him the 37th musician to be inducted.

Davis joins local jazz legends like Speck Redd, Irene Myles, Francis Bates, Ellsworth Brown, Julius Brooks, Frank Perowsky, Sam Salomone and Jim Oatts.

Special recognition awards will be given to bassist David Altemeier, singer Tina Haase-Findlay and Linda Bisignano, owner of Chuck’s Restaurant. Nathan Sparks, a Southeast Polk High School trumpeter and pianist, will receive the Bobby Dawson Award, presented annually to a student musician.

Acidic pancreatic juice can cause premature activation of amerikabulteni.com vardenafil india the digestive hormones. As a result, cheapest generic tadalafil the problems with erection may occur. The action of cialis 20 mg is that active ingredient increases the level of cGMP in the body during sexual arousal, the chemicals are released by the nerve messages that increase blood flow into the penis. Different levels of impotence are treated differently. tadalafil 20mg generic Pianist Nick Leo will receive the inaugural Next Generation Award, given to up-and-coming musicians who influence music in Des Moines.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie will proclaim the day “Jazz History Day in Des Moines” per tradition dating back to 2001 with then-Mayor Preston Daniels.

“There have been and still are many accomplished, world-class musicians in our fine city who have dedicated their lives to this great American art form,” said John Krantz, a Des Moines-based jazz pianist and CJC board member. “We are lucky they have remained in Des Moines to pass the tradition on to younger musicians and provide countless hours of late-night entertainment to thousands of jazz music fans over the years. They deserve some sort of recognition, and the CJC is the perfect vehicle to show our appreciation.”

Krantz said perhaps the most gratifying part of the event is the emotional reaction expressed by those being honored. For some, it is an overdue acknowledgment of years of hard work in pursuit of musical excellence.

“They truly appreciate the recognition. This is particularly true of the older inductees as they approach the end of their careers,” he said. “They often have family members travel from various points around the country to attend our event. It can be very heartwarming and emotional.”

Davis, 67, has been playing professionally for 39 years. He leads the Scott Davis Quartet and performs with the band Freestyle. Earlier this year he retired after teaching for 32 years in Des Moines. These days, he merges his enthusiasm for jazz and history by teaching an independent study class at Des Moines Area Community College titled “Jazz History and Appreciation.”

I’m real blessed right now,” Davis said. “I have a love of the history of jazz in Des Moines, and to be a part of that is pretty good. I’m honored to be mentioned in the same category as someone like Speck Redd. That’s really cool.”

Today’s event also allows jazz enthusiasts the opportunity to see several CJC Jazz Hall of Fame members in one room. Some of the metro’s finest jazz musicians, ranging in age from 16 to 80, will perform. They include the CJC Youth Combo, Fred Gazzo Band, Scott Davis Quartet and Tina Haase-Findlay, among others.

“A lot of people feel intimidated by jazz or the fact that this is some sort of closed ceremony. On the contrary, (today) is a celebration of Des Moines jazz, where we recognize the past, present and future of this great music in our community, and everyone is invited to attend,” said Krantz.