Don Piehl Memorial Jazz Fest

[Lois Gilbert]

Don Piehl Memorial Jazz Fest

With the poster of Don Piehl on the wall in the background, two of the organizers of the jazz fest, Lowell Peterson on drums and Monte McDaniel, right, on clarinet, listen to Ed Coshe on the trumpet. T-R file photos by Jean Schlegel By Jean Schlegel, Times-Record Features Editor The first Don Piehl Memorial Jazz Fest held in Valley City a year ago was so successful that a second one is planned for this weekend.

It is anticipated that there will be many more such jazz fests held in Piehl's memory and to benefit the Legion State Band which Piehl directed for 27 years.

Long-time friend and organizer of the jazz fest, Lowell Peterson, said he and the other two organizers, Monte McDaniel and Gary Gylden, had considered moving the event to a larger facility this year since it was so packed at the American Legion Club in Valley City last year, but decided to have it at the familiar site. There will be free-will donations with proceeds donated to the North Dakota American Legion State Band.

The event, which will be held two days this year, will follow the same format, except there will be jam sessions held on Saturday, Aug. 6, starting at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Club.

The public is welcome to attend and hear some good jazz music. The Sunday event, which starts at 2 p.m., will again feature jazz groups from around the state. Anyone who wants to play at either the jam sessions or jazz fest (or both) is welcome to do so, according to Peterson.

The idea of an annual Don Piehl Memorial Jazz Fest all came about after Piehl's untimely death on Dec. 30, 2003, at the age of 71. The Valley City native played his beloved trumpet at College High, where he graduated, and went on to form many different dance bands, starting in high school and continuing on at Valley City State University where he headed up the EBC Hit Parade Band and where he formed the Campus Cadets. He also formed his own traveling band, called The Don Piehl Orchestra "Sounds of Yesteryear."

He used this special musical talent to teach students the art of music as well, and enjoyed playing in many road bands over the years.

After graduating from VCSU, Piehl and his wife Pat moved to Forman where he taught band at Forman High School (later named Sargent Central High School) from 1957-66. They later moved to Wahpeton where he taught at the high school from 1966 until he retired in 1990, and moved back to Valley City.

While in Wahpeton, he started The Wahpeton Elks Club Band, The Jolly Corks, The Southeast Jazz Band, and was director of the North Dakota State Legion Band for 27 years.

His many friends, who gathered at the American Legion Club last year, reminisced about their years of association with this well-known musician and band leader.

Peterson, a former teacher and musician, said he had known Piehl since about 1954 and accompanied him on many road trips, played in his band and recalls getting caught in a snowstorm coming home from a gig. Peterson says they had many good times together. "He (Piehl) was always a gentleman," Peterson says.

At last year's jazz fest, musicians came from all over the state to remember their late friend and musician. They got together and did what they loved most. They played in jam sessions and then in different jazz groups, much to the delight of the large crowds that gathered at the American Legion.

With a large picture of their former band director and friend, Don Piehl, on the wall, they played their hearts out -- and they remembered the good times from more than 50 years ago.

They will have their chance to do it all over again this weekend at the jam sessions on Saturday night and the jazz groups getting together on Sunday. The public is also welcome to come and just enjoy the music once more.

Refreshments and lunch will be available.