If Valentine’s Day were set to a scene, it would be in a jazz club.
Beloved Iowa favorite Carson Parker leads the night, bringing his signature blend of jazz, blues, and funk to the keys. A Des Moines native and one of the Midwest’s most captivating young pianists, Carson plays with passion and precision shaped by the greats, from Oscar Peterson to Cedar Walton. His resume spans some of the region’s finest rooms, from Chicago jazz stages to Noce and the Iowa City Jazz Festival, and his collaborations read like a modern jazz honor roll. Named the sole pianist of the National Jazz Band of America in 2023, Carson’s rise has been steady, stylish, and impossible to ignore.
Joining him is Hannah Goodwin, a rising jazz vocalist based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area whose voice balances emotional honesty with fearless artistry. Known for her expressive style and genre-bending approach, Hannah has performed alongside artists such as Christian McBride, Laila Biali, and Rosana Eckert. A DownBeat Award–winning vocalist and former lead singer for the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, she brings a magnetic presence that feels both classic and entirely now.
Backed by a full ensemble, Parker and Goodwin create the perfect punctuation to a Valentine’s Day evening built for closeness, conversation, and connection.
Bring your lover, your best gal pal, or your mom. It’s all love here, and we love it all.
To make the night even sweeter, bottles of wine and slices of premium cheesecake by The Cheesecake Lady CR are available for pre-purchase with your tickets (don’t just surprise her with a show...surprise her with a treat to go with it)! **Available for purchase beginning 1/9/26**
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Ideal Theater & Bar, 213 16th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, United States
