Get ready for another musicfest in Des Moines. Jazz in July will be kicking off its summer performance series with the Andy Classen Quintet tonight at Roosevelt High School.

The quintet will perform a historical perspective on jazz, literally giving a sampling of the styles that have influenced this country’s musical and cultural life, a recent press release stated.

Andy Classen, trumpeter extraordinare, is also an assistant professor of jazz studies at Drake University. Classen is the narrator of this musical journey. “We’re adding an educational component to the concert. We’ll be talking about different styles in the history of jazz and bring you up to what is happening today,” Classen explained.

Accompaning Classen will be four highly talented local musicians ready to demonstrate the sounds of swing, stomp, shuffle and samba. The concert will be highlighting everything from Louis Armstrong and Glen Miller to John Coltrane and Latin jazz.

Des Moines Metro Arts, the official sponsor and organizer of Jazz in July, is excited about the educational opportunity involved. “We want to expose audiences to jazz and the meaning of it in order to better preserve it. Once audiences understand the music, it will be a more meaningful experience for them,” executive director Tracy Levine said.

Additionally, concert organizers will be handing out a primer with a listing of the Jazz in July concerts

“This is the first time we’ve tried narrating a jazz performance. This will be one of the most important concerts of the month,” Levine said.

The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the west lawn of Roosevelt High School, located at 4419 Center in Des Moines. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. In case of rain, the concert will be held indoors in the auditorium.

Food and beverages will be available for sale. The concert is free and open to the public.