The Lisbon Jazz Ensemble never falls flat, as they take their work very seriously. For Lisbon band director, Joseph Arch, there is a strict rule that as soon as the marching band season is over, jazz ensemble rehearsals begin; thus, the band began rehearsing in the third week of October.

At this point in the season, the band has yet to attend any events; however, the band will be hosting their annual Jazz Fest at the Lisbon High School today (Thursday, Jan. 22) with performances starting at 8 a.m. in the auditorium.

Admission is $5 at the doors, and to make sure to show up at the published performance start time. Although Lisbon’s jazz ensemble will be performing, Arch has made the decision to not include the high school jazz lab in the schedule.

A total of 19 bands will be performing at Lisbon’s Jazz Fest. The schools in attendance include Center Point-Urbana, Central City, Independence, Lisbon, Maquoketa Valley, Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Middle School, North Linn, South Tama, Solon, Solon Middle School, West Branch, West Liberty, and Winfield Mount Union.

Upcoming events for the Lisbon Jazz Ensemble begin with their own Jazz Fest, and from that point on they are looking forward to their own Roarin’ Jazz Night, as well as the Tallcorn Jazz Festival.

It is important for the Lisbon Jazz Ensemble to attend the Tallcorn Jazz Festival this year, as it will allow them to see areas that they need to grow. Last year, the top bands at the Tallcorn Jazz Festival placed first, second, and fourth at the Iowa Jazz Championships (IJC), so getting some perspective on where they stand will help them to improve.

Although the ensemble’s goal is to always be improving, it is also important to them that they never forget to have fun. The ensemble also has hopes of making it to the IJC again this year, as they have for the past several years. With the opportunity to attend IJC, the ensemble would be able to continue playing together beyond the end of the regular jazz season in March.

Each year, the ensemble has truly enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Ames together for IJC. While there, the ensemble has been able to work its way up in placement each year, having placed eighth in 2024, fifth in 2024, and third in 2025.

No matter how the band places or performs, Arch is just proud of the musicians that he gets to spend every day with. According to Arch, the jazz musicians are “really hardworking and talented kids,” and “the community should take advantage of having really talented musicians so close by.”