Des Moines Jazz Director to Lead Candlelight Show at Noce

Dr. Damani Phillips will perform a Valentine’s Day concert at Noce Jazz and Cabaret on Sunday, February 14, 2027. The event marks the first time Phillips has presented this specific candlelight format in Des Moines.

The concert is scheduled for two showtimes, at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Each performance will feature a distinct musical program. Phillips will lead a jazz quartet alongside an eight-piece string section. He composed or arranged all the music for the evening. The venue will be lit entirely by candles, and the audience will sit in a concert-in-the-round configuration.

Phillips joined the University of Iowa faculty in 2013. He currently serves as the Director of Jazz Studies. He is the first African American in the world to earn a Doctorate in Jazz Performance. He has taught and performed in locations across the globe.

The quartet includes Jason Danielson on piano, Miles Rochford on bass, and Ryan Hayden on drums. The string section consists of eight musicians from Iowa. Violinists Hanna Wole, Andrea Allen, Robert Espe, and Alexandre da Silve Negrao will perform. Kylie Little will play the viola. Patrick Riley and Haziel Candido da Silva Santos will play the cello.

The musical program will cover several substyles of jazz. The sets will include traditional jazz, hip hop, funk, ballads, and Latin jazz. Phillips said the show includes a few surprises that do not fit into standard categories. He described the event as a sonic and visual experience rather than a standard jazz show.

The concert takes place at 1326 Walnut St. in Des Moines. Phillips designed the event to contrast with other strings-by-candlelight offerings. He noted that the performance is a one-of-one event that is difficult to find elsewhere in the nation.

Tickets are available at linktr.ee/DPCandlelight. The event is an extension of a popular by-candlelight concert theme. Phillips will collaborate with the Noce Jazz Club to present the night. The lineup represents a mix of local Iowa jazz musicians and string players.