($20-$30 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm Show) DIANE VAN DEURZEN & LISA OTEY: WILD WOMEN DON’T HAVE THE BLUES

International touring artists Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey are a dynamic duo, a perfect blend of hot jazz, sultry blues and boogie-woogie. They take their act to festivals, clubs and theatres around the world and are known for creating an atmosphere of intimacy with their humor and joyful interactions with the audience.

Performances include the Thredbo Blues Festival in Australia; Box Factory for the Arts, Michigan; Yardbird Suite in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Blues in Bisbee and Tucson Folk Festivals, Arizona; Le Bilboquet and Caveau de la Huchette jazz clubs in Paris; Yoshi’s in California; Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado in Sonora, Mexico; Wild Rose Moon in Indiana; Silver City Blues Fest in New Mexico; and the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.

Diane Van Deurzen and Lisa Otey have been inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. Lisa has also been inducted into the Tucson Music Hall of Fame and appeared on the Grammy-nominated CD, “Ladies Man” with Pinetop Perkins.

Diane and Lisa have co-produced several CDs on their label, Owl’s Nest Productions, including Diane’s “I Never Knew”, Lisa’s “Trio”, “Bring Your Own Boa” for Lisa Otey and the Desert Divas, and Diane & Lisa’s duo CDs, “You Got What I Want”, “Wild Women” and their Christmas hit, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe”.

Diane grew up in rural Wisconsin, one of 7 children in a blue-collar community that centered around the paper mill and dairy farms near Appleton. Her father nurtured her love of singing by introducing her to the albums of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald. Diane also loved poetry, which influenced her style as a lyricist. Diane always created opportunities to perform professionally, singing in bands, working in theatre and making recordings, alongside her career as a nurse in Wisconsin and, since 1992, as a teacher in Arizona. Lisa grew up in a rural community outside of Portland, OR, one of 3 children in a family of musicians. Lisa moved to Arizona in 1984 to study jazz piano and begin her career performing and also working in theatre. In 2005, Diane & Lisa began performing as a duo. They tour across Europe, Australia, the US, Canada, and Mexico. They now live in St. Joe, Michigan, and tour extensively throughout the Midwest.

“Diane is one of the finest instinctually pure singers I have heard” -Tucson Weekly

“Van Deurzen’s voice is warm and soothing, pouring out the lyrics with effortless control.” -Tucson Lifestyle

“Whenever these two artists perform together, people comment on their easy rapport and emotional connection. Otey’s piano and vocals are hot and steamy. Van Deurzen sings sweetly. Together they blend like a musical cappuccino with extra foam on top.” -Chuck Graham

“Fun stuff from Lisa Otey and Diane Van Deurzen. (Wild Women) is a tribute in song to 100 years of women blues singers with a great mix of sass, sentimentality, and humor.” -Duncan Hudson, KXCI

“They put their hearts and souls into each song they sang and the fun they exuded on stage was infectious as it engulfed the audience. Hand clapping, toe tapping, smiles, hoots and hollers prevailed throughout their 2 hour performance. People are still talking about their uplifting performance and can’t wait for them to return” -Clearwater Tribune

(8:30pm Show | $15-$25 Tickets + taxes & fees) A brand new group under the direction of guitarist and vocalist Naim Amor featuring Thøger Lund on bass and Marco Rosano on accordion and clarinet. They will perform a repertoire of classic French songs plus original music!

($10-$15 + taxes & fees | 10:30pm & 11:30pm Sets) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for late night with the Ryan Magness Quartet

($5 Guaranteed GA & $10 Guaranteed Preferred + taxes & fees | 6:30pm Show) Come jam with multi-instrumentalist Max Goldschmid and the Century Room house band! Instrumental jam is open until 10:30pm.

Guarantee a seat by purchasing a ticket in advance!

($15-$25 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm. Expect music from the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Thad Jones/Mel Louis Jazz Orchestra and much more! Drummers Arthur Vint, Pete Swan, Kenji Lancaster and Fred Hayes share the drum chair, alternating each week. Advanced tickets recommended!

Rotating (drums) Scott Black (bass) Angelo Versace (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Kevin Ravellette & Simeon Roth (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Jonas Heidebrecht (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Aidan Schofield (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet).

($10, $20, $30 tickets + fees | 6pm-10pm) The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation and The Century Room present a special celebration for International Jazz Day AND International Dance Day on the Hotel Congress Plaza! Featuring musical performances by the national award-winning Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band and Naomi & Her Handsome Devils, PLUS DANCE LESSONS and performances by the AZ Swing Cats and Naomi Uyama!

April 30th was proclaimed as International Jazz Day by UNESCO in 2011 and has been celebrated ever since in major cities around the world. International Dance Day has been celebrated on April 29th since 1982, and will also be acknowledged at this very special event that combines jazz music with swing dance – from an era where everyone danced to big band music!

Award-winning international superstar swing dancer and band leader Naomi Uyama will be featured as both a dancer (teaching a beginner’s swing dance lesson at 6 pm) and a bandleader (performing with her band at 8 pm.) Naomi has been called a “velvet-voiced chanteuse” by Time Out New York and been featured at every major swing dance festival around the world. She has assembled an amazing 7-piece band to perform her arrangements of classic swing repertoire — specifically designed for dancers!

The Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band directed by Brice Winston is an award-winning, all-city student jazz ensemble. Their mission is to create educational and performance opportunities for young musicians to reach their highest potential. The TJI Ellington Big Band has established itself as one of the leading high school jazz groups in the country, earning recognition from Downbeat Magazine and winning the #1 positions in national competitions such as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in NYC, The Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey CA, and the Fullerton Jazz Festival in Fullerton CA. They are gearing up for a trip to NYC (May 6-12) to compete in the Essentially Ellington competition (produced & organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis / Jazz Academy) and have prepared a set of classic swinging big band songs especially for dancers!

The Arizona Swing Cats represent Tucson’s Lindy-Hop Community and are a student-run club at the University of Arizona that specializes in swing dancing. They are providing the dance floor (THANK YOU) and will be on hand to dazzle with their dance moves and offer a dance partner to interested audience members!

The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, is proud to present this celebration in support young musicians, jazz music and swing dance! The Foundation has made possible $10 student tickets, with students 18 and under FREE. General Admission is $20, while Preferred Seating is $30. All tickets include a dance lesson with Naomi Uyama at 6pm (don’t be late!). This event will be held on the Hotel Congress Plaza Stage.

($15-$25 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm show) Singer & Century Room family member Melrose brings together an excellent band of musicians for another wonderful night of jazz. From classic standards to more mellow modern grooves, this is a show that can’t be missed!