The Festival of Modern Jazz played two shows at the RKO Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis on December 1, 1953.  The Minnesota Daily reported that it was the first time a non-vaudeville presentation of modernists has gone on an extended national tour.  The lineup included:

• Stan Getz
• Dizzy Gillespie – also emcee
• Erroll Garner
• June Christy
• Lee Konitz
• Stan Kenton was absent but apparently his band was there