The Jon Ailabouni Quintet will offer an evening length concert of jazz from the Phelps Park Gazebo on Friday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is sponsoring the concert in place of its annual Friends and Neighbors Picnic, due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases from the Delta variant of the virus.Â
The program features debut performances of Jon Ailabouni’s original music, composed during the pandemic, reflecting on the themes of loneliness, resilience, and hope.
Some of Iowa’s best musicians are members of the quintet, including Jon Ailabouni (trumpet), Simon Harding (tenor sax), Mike Conrad (piano), Emiliano Lasansky (bass), and Tim Crumley (drums).
Bottles of water will be provided to all concert attendees, courtesy of Good Shepherd. Bring your own lawn chair! In case of rain, the performance will be in the Good Shepherd Sanctuary, 701 Iowa Avenue, Decorah, and masks will be required indoors.
A free will donation will be taken for Path To Citizenship, a northeast Iowa organization founded by a coalition of Decorah area faith groups, providing free legal advice on the immigration process.Â
Ailabouni commented, “Through live music, I’d like to create an opening for healing and hope. The message “You Are Not Alone” has resonated deeply with me in this year of isolation and loneliness. We’ve had to become more creative in the ways that we gather and seek connection. I’ve witnessed the tenacity of artists, musicians, students, teachers, churches, families, friends, neighbors, and community members. I am inspired at the efforts to center the needs of those who are marginalized and most at risk of illness or harm. That’s why I’m excited this event will help support the work of Path To Citizenship, which provides free legal counsel to those in our community who are navigating the immigration system.”
