Polyrhythms is proud to announce that the 10th Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024
will be held on August 16th, 17th, and 18th...Friday Saturday and Sunday! This FREE 3 day festival will feature 9 different bands showcasing the diverse music of the midwest as well as many other artists, authors, and youth performers! Friday and Saturday will be held at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Rock Island, Illinois featuring live music on Friday August 16th by The Polyrhythms Trio performing
The Music of Bill Bell...Jerm Theory will be laying down some original funky rock from the
midwest...John Miller and The Romaniacs will headline by performing the exciting french-swing
sounds of traditional "gypsy jazz"! Also on Friday our Black Author’s Forum and Book Fair will take place inside the King Center at
6pm as Polyrhythms is excited to host once again this wonderful panel of local and regional authors discussing their books during the Bill Bell Jazz and Heritage Festival! On Saturday August 17th starting at 10am enjoy “Soul of the City” MLK's FAMILY FUN DAY
which will feature a morning parade, food and merchant vendors, informational booths, bounce houses and playground for the children as well as many other activities for families, including 12 youth performances on our Francis Clay/Moe Payton Memorial Stage with talent from young dancers, musicians, poets, and much more from 1-4pm!
The Main Stage music begins at 5pm and features Quad City Griots fusing the elements of hip hop and jazz improvisation...the incredible songstress Semenya McCord on vocals and Frank Wilkins from Boston on piano will bring to life the exciting standards and originals from the Great American Songbook...and headlining Saturday night are BYOBrass from Cedar Falls Iowa and they will be performing music in the stye of New Orleans with their second-line 10-
piece brass band!
On Sunday August 18th the festival moves to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities located in Davenport, Iowa and will feature the Kuchina Jazz Trio playing latin- infused compositions and arrangements lead by percussionist James Culver with special guest Saul Lubaroff on saxophones...Semenya McCord and Frank Wilkins will perform the 2nd set of their jazz vocal quartet show showcasing those lovely tones...and our final headliner for this years festival will be The Swampland Jewels from Iowa City taking you on a trip down south embracing the diverse influences of Iowa down to the Gulf Coast with the sounds of TexMex
and Cajun-Creole tunes!
All of this and much more is FREE and open to the public at this years Polyrhythms 10th
Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024!
---------------------------------------------------
Polyrhythms 10th Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024
---------------------------------------------------
Friday August 16
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
630 9th St
Rock Island, IL 61201
MLK Center - Official Website
https://www.mlkcenter.org/
5p - Intro / Drum Circle (James Culver - Germany)
6-7:30pm - Inside MLK (Ida Robinson Banquet Room, 630)
Black Author’s Forum and Book Fair
Inside the King Center, Polyrhythms is excited to host once again the Black Authors Forum and
Book Fair during the Bill Bell Jazz and Heritage Festival. Shellie Moore-Guy hosts a Black
Author’s Forum: with local authors returning to the area to present their work and to speak
about their writings. Authors will also be vendors selling their books!
Act 1
6-6:45pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
The Polyrhythms Trio plays the music of Bill Bell (Jazz Piano Trio - Quad Cities, USA)
Manuel Lopez III - drums/vocal
Ron Wilson - bass
Corey Kendrick - piano
The Polyrhythms Trio - Audio
https://m3portal.bandcamp.com/album/love-2-the-3rd-power
The Polyrhythms Trio provides us with a seasoned group of musicians assembled by Nathaniel
Lawrence in 2021 to accompany any of our future performers at anytime. Consisting of Musical
Director Manuel Lopez III on drums, lifelong friend of Polyrhythms Ronald Wilson on the bass,
and one of the very special generations of musicians that Polyrhythms has embraced over the
years, Corey Kendrick on the piano.
Manuel Lopez III
Manuel Lopez III is a gifted musician who has served as an invaluable consultant for many
bands and organizations in the arts over the years as well as musical director for the
Polyrhythms organization in the Quad Cities for the past 10 years. Performing with countless
artists in many different genres of music from jazz to country to hip-hop, Manuel has
established himself as a sought-after musician for both local and visiting artists. As a vocalist
and composer he sings with many groups in many different styles and has released 12 albums
of original material playing all instruments and producing some deep grooves.
Ron Wilson
Ron Wilson has been a staple of musical knowledge and dependability to many acts and
groups for over 30 years in and around the Quad Cities area. Coming from a musical family and
following the footsteps of his father, the bass has become a very special part of his life and he
relishes every opportunity to swing. He has been featured with many artists coming through
the midwest with Vegas-style revues and shows featuring the most in-demand impressionists
in the biz performing the music of Dolly Parton, Elvis, Johnny Cash and The Rat Pack.
Corey Kendrick
Corey Kendrick is a pianist, composer, recording artist, and educator currently living in
Davenport, IA. Kendrick is currently Director of Instrumental Music at Black Hawk College in
Moline, IL. Praised by Downbeat Magazine’s John Ephland as a “very accomplished, highly
gifted jazz pianist” with “a patient, maturing voice,” Kendrick has a skillful touch that is both
immediately recognizable and deeply expressive. Kendrick released his debut album, Rootless,
in June of 2016, which JazzTimes.com’s Travis Roger, Jr. called “a debut album that stands
among the finest albums of the year.” As a Quad City Arts 2018 visiting artist, Kendrick
performed educational outreach concerts for over 1,500 K-12 students over a 5 day guest
artist residency.
Act 2
7:15-8:15pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
Jerm Theory (Funky Rock - Geneseo, IL)
Jeremy Mills - drums
Rob Orendorff - bass
Hal Stadtwald - guitar
Cameron Hodgson - guitar
Frog - keys/synths
Germ Theory - Audio
https://jermtheory.bandcamp.com/track/love-sick
All life starts as a simple Germ, with the right environment and context a simple germ can
become much much more. Jerm Theory is a band of best friends and musicians who have
been germinating this sound since The early 2000’s.... When it comes to a home grown Blues -
Funk sound Jerm Theory is absolutely sick. Their passion for music and enthusiasm for
performance will most certainly leave you wanting more!
Act 3
8:45-10pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
John Miller & The Romaniacs (Gypsy Jazz - Peoria, IL / St. Louis, MO)
John Miller - guitar
Joe Park - guitar
Larry Harms - clarinet / saxophones
Andy Crawford - bass
John Miller and the Romaniacs - Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfgyPJlwHxA
The Romaniacs play a traditional “gypsy jazz” style of music, based on that played by Django
Reinhardt. This Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer alongside another influential artist
Stephane Grappelli on violin, assembled a quintet in 1935 playing their version of American
jazz, which had this french-swing Gypsy sound. The Romaniacs’ repertoire includes classic
Django tunes, modern Gypsy jazz and French musettes. This happy romantic music combined
with the talent and camaraderie of this quartet is sure to leave smiling and tapping your toes!
John Miller
John Miller has been playing and teaching for about 60 years. Based in Peoria, John has
toured with such as: Dobie Gray(Drift Away) crooner Jimmy Damon, one time country
newcomer of the year, Darlene Austin, and has played with many groups around central Ill. Also
has backed up such as: Bob Hope, Tom Jones, Cab Calloway, Jerry Van Dyke, and more
recently has had the Boss Trio and the Romaniacs. Teaching credits include Knox College in
Galesburg.
Larry Harms
Larry is a professor of music at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. He received a
B.M. in Jazz Studies and Studio Music from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and an
M.M. in Saxophone Performance from Illinois State University. His playing credits include The
Temptations, Harry Connick, Jr. , Aretha Franklin, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Gloria Gaynor
and the Four Tops. He performs locally with John Miller and the Romaniacs, the Nathan Taylor
Band and the Central Illinois Jazz Society House Band.
Andy Crawford
Bassist Andy Crawford is the managing director of the Music Performance Program at Knox
College including the Rootabaga Jazz Festival. A first-call bassist, Andy performs regularly with
multiple groups throughout the state and has been featured on dozens of recordings. Andy is a
member of the Derel Monteith Trio, Harry Tonchev Trio, Brazilianaires, John Miller and the
Romaniacs and more. Andy is also one of the organizers of the San Pancho Music Festival in
Nayarit, Mexico, an annual 3 day festival in its 19th year that welcomes over 5000 attendees
and features 30 musical groups over 3 days every February. Crawford is a former Peace Corps
Volunteer in Guatemala and returns occasionally, leading student immersion groups. Andy is a
great friend of Polyrhythms and has been featured many times over the years both on the
festival and for the Third Sunday Jazz Series!
Joe Park
Joe Park is a St. Louis based jazz guitarist. In addition to playing with the Romaniacs, Joe
plays with several St. Louis area groups including his own gypsy jazz band - The Hot Club of
St. Louis. A native of the Peoria area, he is the protégé of legendary Peoria guitarist John Miller.
---------------------------------------------------
Polyrhythms 10th Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024
---------------------------------------------------
Saturday August 17
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
630 9th St
Rock Island, IL 61201
10am-3pm - Outside MLK
MLK "Soul of the City" Family Fun Day & Parade!
“Soul Of The City” - MLK Event Page
https://www.mlkcenter.org/events/ffd24
Join MLK Family Fun Day, Rock Island Parks and Recreation, The West End Rib Fest, QC AIR
Multicultural Celebration, Rock Island County NAACP Community Resource Fair and
Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival in celebrating “Soul of the City” 2024, an outdoor
community block party celebrating all cultures, as well as strength in neighborhoods and
families. Welcoming nearly 5,000 people, “Soul of the City” will feature a parade, food and
merchant vendors, informational booths, live entertainment and many activities for youth and
families!
12pm - Inside MLK (Ida Robinson Banquet Room, 630)
Black Author’s Book Fair All Day
Books for sale regional and local authors!
1-4pm - Outside MLK (12 youth performances)
Francis Clay/Moe Payton Memorial Stage:
Polyrhythms presents the Francis Clay/Moe Payton Stage featuring the YOUTH
PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE & CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES area. We'd like to thank all of the
fine performers who are dancing, singing a song, a spoken word, drumming or playing an
instrument AND SHARING their gifts and showing love for their ART AND COMMUNITY
FAMILY!!! Francis & “Moe” were both very influential musicians and educators of the arts from
right here in the QC!
4-5pm
Polyrhythms MCs
Act 1
5-6pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
Quad City Griots
Quad City Griots - Audio
https://hyperfollow.com/FVNTVNV
The Quad City Griots are a collective of local music enthusiasts who bring the griot tradition –
the role of a West African storyteller and musician – to the Quad Cities. Fusing classic jazz with
hip-hop, their music reflects the community's rich heritage and speaks to the current times.
Look out for their singles and community album release this summer!
Act 2
6:30-7:30pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
Semenya McCord & Frank Wilkins Show 1 (Jazz Vocal Quintet - Galesburg, IL / Boston, MA)
Semenya McCord - vocals
Frank Wilkins - piano
Ron Wilson - bass
Manuel Lopez III - drums
Semenya NcCord & Frank Wilkins - Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud6m76o6PCs
Semenya McCord
Vocalist, music educator and composer Semenya McCord has been entertaining and
educating for decades with her jazz, gospel, blues vocals, and storytelling ability. She’s
appeared on numerous albums that date back to the 1970s and has taught in various music
education programs for more than 30 years. Semenya was born in Monmouth, Illinois and after
graduating from Galesburg (Illinois) High School in 1967, she studied music education at Knox
College. She was named Outstanding Jazz Vocalist at the Boston Music Awards in 1988, after
which time she placed a greater emphasis on teaching. Her first solo album, "Good for Me!"
was released in 1996. Returning home to Galesburg in 2003, McCord is now teaching jazz
voice and related classes at both Carl Sandburg College and Knox College. She completed her
Masters in Music, with a concentration in Jazz Studies, at Northern Illinois University in May
2006. Semenya currently serves Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Galesburg as the Church
Secretary, a Steward, and a certified Evangelist in the AME denomination, speaking and
singing in her ministry as well as participating with the Galesburg Area Ministerial Association.
Frank Wilkins
Pianist and native of Milwaukee, WI, moved to Boston, MA in the early 1970s. Wilkins has
become known as a “jazzmatician”— consummate music director and pianist among national
and international venues and with vocalists, a multimedia producer/director, music composer,
arranger and experienced private instructor--with awards from The Artists' Foundation
(Boston), Composition Fellowship (Berklee College of Music) and The Hank Jones Jazz
Masters Award. Playing virtually every major jazz and blues venue throughout New England,
Wilkins has shared a stage with Angela Bofill, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kevin Eubanks, Semenya
McCord, Najee, Tiger Okoshi, Archie Shepp, Cecilia Smith, and Esperanza Spalding, and
Tyrone Davis just to name a few. His career has included performances in the Newport Jazz
Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, West Africa, Italy, Holland,
Switzerland, Germany, and Mexico.
Act 3
8:30-10pm - Main Stage Outside MLK
BYOBrass (New Orleans Second Line 10-piece Brass Band - Cedar Falls, IA)
Dan Benson - tuba / guitar / manager
Kyler Boss - drums
Matt Dutton - low brass / publicity manager
Gerardo Gomez - saxophones
Collin Krukow - trombone
Colton Kurtz - baritone saxophone / guitar / sales manager
Paul Lichty - trombone / music director
Dan Meier - lead trumpet / personnel manager
Andrew Piper - trumpet / bass guitar
Tyler Utter - saxophones
BYOBrass - Audio
https://byobrass.bandcamp.com/track/gigbossa
BYOBrass is a collective of musicians and educators from throughout the state of Iowa.
Founded in 2017 by a group of friends and students at the University of Northern Iowa, the
band quickly gained a following in the Cedar Falls area, and has since toured throughout the
state of Iowa and the Midwest. BYOBrass draws inspiration from all across the musical
spectrum, including House, Indie Rock, Hip Hop, New Orleans Frontline, Jazz, and many more.
Their high-energy live shows and eclectic mix of influences and styles are sure to please
audiences of all ages!
---------------------------------------------------
Polyrhythms 10th Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024
---------------------------------------------------
Sunday August 18
UUCQC
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
3707 Eastern Avenue
Davenport, IA 52807
UUCQC - Officail Website
https://www.uucqc.org/
Act 1
2-3pm - Main Stage Inside UUCQC
Kuchina Jazz Trio (KJ3) (Percussion trio - Galesburg, IL / Germany)
James Culver - percussion
Corey Kendrick - piano
Andy Crawford - bass
Saul Lubaroff - Sax
James Culver - Audio
https://youtu.be/p9xzNuFHlok?si=etn450wq8Q-_3GK5
Percussionist Culver has brought the Latin-infused ‘clave’ rhythms of his Kuchina outfit every
year from the festival’s beginning in 2014, collecting trios, quartets and a five-piece latin
ensemble all along the way. Every year James brings new arrangements and fresh grooves to
the festival!
This year James Culver and the Kuchina Jazz Trio plan to bring new standards to the stage.
Culver notes, “Herbie Hancock released a cd called “The New Standard” in 1996 where he
assembled great musicians to share their versions of pop songs that he loved. We’ll play some
tunes from that project and others for this year’s show.” Joining percussionist Culver this year
will be Andy Crawford on Bass, Corey Kendrick on Piano and guest Saul Lubaroff on sax.
Culver is returning to the QC from his home in Germany. He has been a part of every festival.
Culver adds, “The Polyrhythms Bill Bell Jazz and Heritage Festival is a highlight of my year and
we again look to generate joy with our performance.”
Act 2
3:30-4:30pm - Main Stage Inside UUCQC
Semenya McCord & Frank Wilkins Show 2 (Jazz Vocal Quintet - Galesburg, IL / Boston, MA)
Semenya McCord - vocals
Frank Wilkins - piano
Ron Wilson - bass
Manuel Lopez III - drums
Semenya NcCord & Frank Wilkins - Audio
https://youtu.be/-EY8rA0DnTk?si=1NUvYc_jgMR-fWe1
Vocalist Semenya McCord is a music educator and composer who has been entertaining and
educating for decades with her jazz, gospel, blues vocals, and storytelling ability. Pianist Frank
Wilkins is a native of Milwaukee, WI who moved to Boston, MA in the early 1970s. Wilkins has
become known as a “jazzmatician”— consummate music director and pianist among national
and international venues and with vocalists, a multimedia producer/director, music composer,
arranger and experienced private instructor--with awards from The Artists' Foundation
(Boston), Composition Fellowship (Berklee College of Music) and The Hank Jones Jazz
Masters Award.
Act 3
5-7pm - Main Stage Inside UUCQC
The Swampland Jewels (Cajun-Creole-TexMex - Iowa City, IA)
Nate Basinger - accordion
Forrest Huesinkveld - drums
Eddie McKinley - tenor saxophone
Randall Davis - guitar
Marty Christensen - bass
The Swampland Jewels - Audio
https://theswamplandjewels.com/music
Ready for a road trip? Let The Swampland Jewels take you on a trip down old Highway 61,
and across Route 90, through Southwest Louisiana and into East Texas. Playing a mix of
original, Gulf Coast oldies, traditional Cajun/Creole, and TexMex tunes! The Swampland Jewels
is a musical collective hailing from the heartland of Iowa. Embracing the diverse influences of
Iowa and the Gulf Coast, they create a unique fusion of cultures and a celebration of the
musical connections that transcend geographical boundaries in the music they perform.
Playing a mix of original, Gulf Coast oldies, traditional Cajun/Creole, and TexMex tunes!
---------------------------------------------------
Polyrhythms 10th Annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024
---------------------------------------------------
Polyrhythms Festival Performers 2014-2024
Morten Wa Byaombe/The Ernie Peniston Band/First Rank/ETM (Evangelism Through Music)/
The Curtis Hawkins Band/Daniel Leahy and Pippi Ardennia/Langston Hughes Tribute/Tammy
McCann/Laurence Hobgood/Metropolitan Youth Program/The Curtis Hawkins Band/Soul
Storm/Teranga House Drum Circle/Jesse White Tumblers/RME Blues Youth All-Stars/Hard
Quarter feat. Joshua D. Forbes/James Culver and Kunchina Jazz Collective/Larry Westbrook
Jr./Billy Branch and the Sons Of Blues/The Brazilionaires/David Hoffman Quartet/Nnenna
Freelon/10 Of Soul/"El Mariachi de Glenview" Glenview Middle School Youth/Ernie Peniston,
Ellis Kell and Hal Reed Blues Showcase/QC Santana Tribute Band/Sam Salomone Organ Trio/
Dee Alexander Quartet/Manny Lopez Septet/Reggie & The 3 Notes/Los Mocambos/Hand and
Heart Drumming w Philip Seward/Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico/The Low Down/The Uniphonics/
Frankie Fontagne & The Ramblers/2Brown Sisters w Maggie Brown & Africa Pace Brown/
George Rankin & The Cats/Miss Iowa Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw/Bee's/Funktastic Five/Alysha
Monique/Songbird Quartet/Frank Russell/Joe Metzka Band/Latin Jazz Quintet (LJQ)/Been
There Done That/The Peña Brothers/Xavier Breaker Coalition/The Brothers Lopez/Charlotte
Blu/Wes Julien with Club Crib Entertainment/Saul Lubaroff and Andy Parrott/The Channel
Cats/Piso's Cure/KJ3/Ernest Dawkins & The Young Masters/Troy Rangel & The Squids/
Polyrhythms All-Stars/We Funk/the CREW/The Matt Fuller Band/Dr. Edgar Crockett and Steve
Grismore Duo/Michael Wolff Quartet/The Polyrhythms Trio/Jerm Theory/Quad City Griots/
BYOBrass/Semenya McCord and Frank Wilkins/The Swampland Jewels
