The fourth annual Integrity Jazz Festival's "Madcap Minot Weekend" opens Friday at 7 p.m. in the Vegas Motel.
"We start with one hour of 'Dancing for Dummies' with Lowell Latimer giving instructions for people who have never danced before," said Steve Veikley, festival music director. "It'll be the waltz, foxtrot and a little bit of swing.
"The Swing Band of Minot will be providing the music," he added. "It's the 'big band' sound of Minot."
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Submitted Photo - - The fourth annual Integrity Jazz Festival welcomes the Four Freshmen to cap off an afternoon of jazz in Roosevelt Park.
The dance is scheduled until 10 p.m. to give runners a chance to prepare for the 5K Fun Run beginning at 9 a.m. in Roosevelt Park.
"We know that runners thoroughly enjoy this," said Minot Area Council of the Arts executive director Terri Aldrich. "Last week we got a call from someone from Glendale, Ariz., who will be visiting in Minot this week and signed up for the run."
Allan McGeough, run organizer, said the course had to be revamped this year because of the flooding.
Fact Box
Admission
Admission to Friday's dance is $10, or $25 for admission to both Friday and Saturday Jazz Fest events.
Admission for Saturday events only is $20, or $10 for students.
"It'll still be a flat course, and it is through a beautiful area of Minot," McGeough said.
The run costs a separate admission price of $15 for pre-registration and includes a commemorative T-shirt.
Jazz Fest
The musical portion of the festival begins at noon at Roosevelt Park with Dakota Dixie playing the traditional jazz sound led by trumpeter Pat Schwan. The group was formed in 1983, and has performed extensively in the Minot area.
Next up is the NoDak Summit Band from Bismarck at 1:15 p.m., playing and backing up singer Jessi Maher. At 2:30 p.m. the Swing Band of Minot, directed by Schwan will play such favorites as "In the Mood," "Satin Doll" and "New York, New York."
At 3:45 p.m. the Doug Talley Quartet from Kansas City will return with jazz standards and original works.
"They were here in February and worked with the schools, helping us pick the players for the Student Spotlight, and they will play with them during this hour," Veikley said.
Those students are Micah Holmen, Zane Market and Chris Basden.
The act leading into the headliners is The Gentle Winds Orchestra, billed as "a small band with a big band sound."
Veikley formed the group and arranged the repertoire and will play with the Doug Talley Quartet also. Terri Lynn will sing some great standards of the jazz songbook as well. They take the stage at 5 p.m.
Four Freshmen
From 6:15 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Four Freshmen, a continuing group first organized in the 1940s, have a sentimental, made-in-America sound all their own. The last remaining member of the original group, Bob Flanagan, declared the current group to be "the best Four Freshmen ever."
"It's really an exciting thing for us," Aldrich said. "We've even been contacted by Four Freshmen Societies in Canada and throughout North Dakota about coming to Minot for this. They'll be manning the CD sales table. People are very excited about that wonderful sound."
In a first for the festival, the Nodakords will appear alongside the Four Freshmen for two numbers, "Poinciana" and "It's a Blue World."
"This is something they like to do," Veikley said of the visiting performers. "They like promoting live performances and jazz singers in particular, in local areas they perform in."
One of the highlights of the festival is the "intermission riffs" by pianist Mark Dimond, initially designed as a sort of placeholder while the bands transitioned on stage, but which has become somewhat of an attraction unto itself.
As during the previous three jazz festivals, John Witteman will be emcee "a weekend trumpet player who likes jazz, but doesn't understand a hoot about it!" as the program states.
Food vendors and others will be available so festival goers don't have to leave the park and miss a note.
Admission to the musical events are by wristband, which cost $20 for Saturday only, or $25 for the dance and concerts, with the dance alone costing $10. These are available at the event, online at (www.IntegrityJazzFestival.com) or by calling 852-2787.
The wristband also opens the wearer to discounts for lodging at the Vegas Motel, food and drinks at the Sevens Restaurant in the motel, a round of golf and ice skating at the Maysa Arena for the weekend of June 17-19 only.
On Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Off the Vine in downtown Minot will be hosting a jam session for which there is no charge.
"We really want to welcome the entire city to come to the jam session," Veikley said. "We usually have the headliners come and join us."
In the event of inclement weather, the entire show will take place in the Vegas Motel, with staging assistance by the Minot Area Theatrical Society.