Iowa City’s got a huge music scene, but it’s funny to recognize the absence of certain styles and genres in this town. For instance, why aren’t there any young women playing pop songs on keyboards? Sure, you might argue, we don’t actually need that kind of performer here, but statistically, it seems like there should be at least one Sara Bareilles imitator in Iowa City.
So if that’s the sort of music you feel is sorely missing from Iowa City, you should stop by the Java House this Friday afternoon to see Tiff Jimber, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from San Diego, who will be recording a live session for Iowa Public Radio’s Java Blend program.
Jimber’s resume is huge. She began playing piano when she was just six, and started playing open mic nights in Ocean Beach, California, when she was sixteen. Now she’s a graduate of the esteemed Berklee College of Music, where she learned to work on both sides of the recording studio. Her songs have appeared in movies such as The Blind Side and Love Happens. She was also a finalist on season two of VH1’s Rock n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, where she performed with Paul Stanley (of KISS!), Sammy Hagar (of Van Halen!), and Marky Ramone (of The Ramones!).
On top of this, she’s also, y’know, written a bunch of songs. And some of those songs, like “City Life” from her second album Burning at Both Ends, received an honorable mention from a Billboard Magazine songwriting contest, and placed in the Australian Songwriting Contest.
This marks Jimber’s second Java Blend performance — she recorded one last March as well. So here’s your chance to see some peppy piano pop songs, Iowa City!
The performance begins at 2 p.m. at the Java House, and it’s free and open to the public.
