2025 Bix Jazz Festival 🎉🎶💃🏻 Band Showcase #5: Bix Youth Jazz Band 🤩 Nathan Anderson, Collin Meinert, Zack McMann, Blake Migiel, Luis Tapia (North Scott) Carte Sloat, Liam Otten (Moline) Danny Borroughs (Davenport Central) Mason Juras (Davenport West) Additional musicians TBA Under the baton of Steve Little, the Bix Youth Band is an integral part of the Bix Jazz Festival. The young musicians attend several high schools in the Quad Cities area and all have demonstrated an understanding of – and interest in performing – classic jazz from the era when Bix Beiderbecke was one of its most revered musicians. **NOTE: Bix Youth Jazz Band members receive $1,000 scholarships after their senior year! 📚🎶🥳 Director Steve Little’s attended the US Naval School of Music and later graduated from Southern Illinois University, with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He has taught music at several learning institutions in the Midwest and the Rocky Mountain states. His impressive resumé as a professional musician includes performances with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Dick Jurgens Orchestra, Sammy Kaye Orchestra, Russ Morgan Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra as well as the Ink Spots, the Four Lads, Barbara McNair, the Four Aces and the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus In addition to instruction by Steve Little, on Saturday afternoon at the festival, the Bix Youth Band will receive additional direction concerning stylistic references & classic jazz techniques from professional musicians who will be performing with bands during the festival weekend. Part of the income from the tickets sold for Thursday night’s session at the Rhythm City Casino goes to the Bix Jazz Society’s Youth Education Fund. This fund helps cover the cost of the Bix Youth Band’s instruction & their performances around the Quad Cities. ***Support our mission of jazz education & checkout this highly talented group at the 2025 Bix Jazz Fest! 😎🎉 (fb)

Among other “noteworthy” talents, Bix was also a champion Tennis player! 🎾🏆 Did you know? Newspaper article from 1919 + Bix’s Trophy ✨ (fb)