Despite a forecast that included predictions of a 90 percent chance of rain, jazz stalwarts gathered on the Pentacrest to hear local, regional, and nationally known performers toot their horns, tickle the ivories, and bring people to their dancing feet.

The Toyota-Scion of Iowa City jazz Festival took place over the July 4th weekend and featured three days of music on the main stage by artists as diverse as the U.S. Army Blues band, Roswell Rudd’s Trombone Tribe, Lake Street Dive, and the Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio. Local and regional high school, college, university, and community jazz bands performed on smaller stages, while food vendors’ wares filled the air with tempting aromas.

Rain did make an occasional appearance during the festival, which since its inception in 1991 has brought more than a quarter-million jazz aficionados to Iowa City, but stopped in time for the fireworks display in Hubbard Field to delight the crowds and light up the sky above the golden dome of the Old Capitol.