The sound of smooth jazz from some of Ann Arbor’s popular musicians will soon echo from the streets downtown when Kilwin’s, the Michigan-based chocolate and ice cream shop, holds its first Jazz in the Alley event at its Liberty Street store from 6-11 p.m. Aug. 4.

Jazz in the Alley is being held in memory of Rick Burgess, co-owner of former popular Ann Arbor bar Del Rio and husband of Kilwin’s Ann Arbor franchise co-owner Karen Piehutkoski-Burgess.

Kilwin's ice cream and chocolate shop on Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor is planning a musical event to honor the late owner of the closed Del Rio bar.

Laura Blodgett | For AnnArbor.com

“His wish before he died was that we would have a scholarship fund for jazz musicians at the high school level,” said Piehutkoski-Burgess. “There are no restrictions on the scholarship. Students may use it for college, to buy sheet music, buy or fix instruments, go see a performance, anything they want.”

Piehutkoski-Burgess said that the scholarship, now in its third year, will be $1,000 this year. She hopes that the following year it will rise to $1500 and continue to grow each year. Kilwin’s plans to donate 50 percent of its Aug. 4 sales to the scholarship fund.

Jazz in the Alley will take place in the alley next to the store, with plans to have four bands including Sean Dobbins & Friends, The Doug Horn Players, CHS Jazz Band (Community High School) and The Rick Burgess Trio with Robert Warren on drums, Patrick Whitehead on piano/keyboard, and Russ Tessier on bass. Musicians who once played with Burgess are welcome to drop in on a set.

“It won’t be fancy because it’s in an alley but we’ll put in a low stage, maybe a backdrop curtain and some lighting, and we’d like to have few chairs so people can take their ice cream or popcorn and listen to a set,” said Piehutkoski-Burgess.

The concept of the event is generating positive feedback already from local musicians, said Piehutkoski-Burgess.

“Everybody loved Rick, and they are crying for a place to play. For as many good musicians who come out of here and this town being as big as it is, it can’t seem to support a jazz club. There has been some jazz here and there at Black Pearl, Good Night Gracie’s and the Earle, but not a real jazz club where people go to hear it.”

Piehutkoski-Burgess opened her Kilwin’s shop 28 years ago. Since 2000, she has been co-owner of the Ann Arbor franchise with her daughter, Chera Tramontin, who runs the day-to-day aspects of the business.

Chera Tramontin, daughter of Kilwin's franchise owner Karen Piehutkoski-Burgess, runs the shop day-to-day.

Laura Blodgett | For AnnArbor.com

Calling their shop the “unfranchise” franchise, Tramontin says that Kilwin’s maintains a steady stream of loyal customers and they have enjoyed watching their customers’ families grow over the years.

“We are 100 percent weather dependent but you don’t see the big ups and downs that newer businesses get because we are established,” said Tramontin, who adds that the downtown location is a draw for people who love to walk around downtown and people watch during the summer.

Top sellers continue to be their handmade caramels, fudge, brittles and caramel corn. When it comes to the ice cream, toasted coconut is the most popular flavor.

“If I’m out of it, I don’t even want to come to work that day,” says Tramontin. “People drive all the way from Jackson for it. They have gotten better about calling first.”

With an onsite kitchen and a willingness to create new recipes, Tramontin has fun experimenting with unusual flavors such as chocolate ginger.

“Right now we are introducing a whole new line of salted caramels with Hawaiian and Columbian salt,” said Tramontin. “People like to try new and different chocolate. I’m also working on a habanera pepper with cinnamon and dark chocolate bark. It’s very spicy.”

Another recent hit is Nutter Butter cookies, which are dipped in peanut butter chocolate then drizzled in dark chocolate. They “fly out of the store," Tramontin said.

Not everything flies off the shelves, though, like Yin Yang Apples, caramel apples dipped half in dark and half in white chocolate, which were introduced last fall.

“We didn’t sell any of those,” she said with a laugh.

A willingness to experiment clearly carries over into the shop's efforts with Jazz in the Alley. If it is well received, they plan to do the show again next year with hopes that it becomes an annual event.

“Whenever I would leave, my husband would always say ‘Have fun,’” said Piehutkoski-Burgess. “Above and beyond, I want people to have fun with this.”