( $15-25 + Dice fees | 6:30pm Show) Three virtuoso guitars unleashing the power of tango!

TGP invites audiences to experience the power, energy, and elegance of tango, reimagined for three guitars. Their unique formation—a trio of classically trained guitarists are rarely seen in the U.S. Performances feature a virtuoso interpretations of classics like “Libertango” and “La Cumparsita” with spontaneous improvisation and exhilarating arrangements that make every concert a thrilling and unforgettable experience. The Tango Guitar Project brings together three world-class classical guitarists from three countries. Led by Maxi Larrea (Argentina)—award-winning tango guitarist, composer,and author of a recently published tango guitar book—the trio also features Misael Barraza-Díaz (México), a flamenco virtuoso with ten international competition wins, and Andrés Pantoja (Chile), an acclaimed guitarist with multiple international awards and recorded albums.

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8pm Sets) Nick Coventry, Matt Mitchell, Evan Dain & Marco Rosano form the swinging Hot Club of Tucson Quartet! The group plays jazz manouche in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappeli. The band starts at 6:30pm. Every 2nd Wednesday!

Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli were pivotal figures in the development of jazz in Europe, particularly through their groundbreaking work with the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the 1930s. Reinhardt, a Belgian-born Romani guitarist, overcame a debilitating hand injury to pioneer a unique style of jazz guitar that combined virtuosic speed, expressive phrasing, and gypsy musical traditions. Grappelli, a classically trained French violinist, brought elegance and melodic sophistication to jazz improvisation, helping elevate the violin as a serious jazz instrument. Together, their collaboration fused American swing with European sensibilities, laying the foundation for what became known as “Gypsy Jazz” and influencing generations of musicians worldwide.

***”Hot Jazz Wednesdays”** take you back to the roots of jazz with music from the 1920s and ’30s. Every 2nd Wednesday is reserved for the Hot Club of Tucson, which performs French Jazz Manouche in the style of Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli. Every 4th Wednesday features Marco & The Polos performing music from New Orleans & Chicago.*

($20-$30 + DICE fees | 6:30pm Show) Armenian-American Jazz pianist and composer Armen Donelian, a native of New York, will join forces with visiting Armenian Jazz saxophonist and composer, Armen Hyusnunts for a special duo concert in a program of works from the American Songbook, Jazz Standards, treasured Armenian Folksongs and Original Compositions by the performers.

Armen Hyusnunts (saxophone) Armen Donelian (piano)

For fifty years, pianist, composer and Fulbright Scholar ARMEN DONELIAN has distinguished himself as a performer, recording artist, producer, educator and author. In 25 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle and Far East, he has appeared as a featured solo pianist, band leader and with Jazz legends including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Paquito D’Rivera, Mongo Santamaria and Billy Harper in major festivals (including the Tucson Jazz Festival), concerts and clubs. He met Armen Hyusnunts in Armenia in 1998 while performing in the Yerevan International Jazz Festival, starting a collaboration spanning several decades. Donelian was classically trained at the Westchester Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor’s degree in music from Columbia University in 1972. His distinctive music blends diverse influences from his Armenian origin, his Classical technique and his association with some of the biggest names in Jazz.

A native of Armenia, ARMEN HYUSNUNTS received a Master’s degree in orchestral saxophone from the Komitas State Conservatory in 1993. For several years he was a member of Artashes Kartalyan’s Jazz Quartet, and in 1997 he formed the innovative ethnic jazz quintet, Time Report. A year later, he joined Arto Tunjboyajyan’s popular Armenian Navy Band. Since 1997, Hyusnunts has directed and played in the Armenian State Jazz Band. His talent in the role of conductor, bandleader, composer and arranger reached its peak in 2010 when he took leadership as its artistic director. Hyusnunts regularly appears in prominent international venues across the USA, Europe and Asia with noted artists including Armen Donelian, Vardan Ovsepyan, Hadriеn Feroud, Richard Bona and many others.

($20-$30 Tickets + Dice Fees | 9pm Show) Grown Folks presents a tribute to SMV, the short-lived but historic collaboration between Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten.

Originally formed after a shared appearance at a Bass Player magazine event in New York, SMV united three distinct bass languages into one stage. Their 2008 release Thunder pushed the instrument forward as a lead voice.

For this Century Room installment, the low end takes center stage again. Featured bassists Adam Neely, Joshua Sailor, and Patrick Morris reinterpret the spirit of SMV through their own approaches to tone, groove, and improvisation.

Backed by the core Grown Folks rhythm section of Chris Peña and Troy Covington, the evening will explore selections from Thunder alongside related material that further highlights the electric bass.

($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Armenian-American Jazz pianist and composer Armen Donelian, a native of New York, will join forces with visiting Armenian Jazz saxophonist and composer, Armen Hyusnunts for a special duo concert in a program of works from the American Songbook, Jazz Standards, treasured Armenian Folksongs and Original Compositions by the performers.

Armen Hyusnunts (saxophone) Armen Donelian (piano) Colin McIlrath (bass) Kenji Lancaster (drums)

For fifty years, pianist, composer and Fulbright Scholar ARMEN DONELIAN has distinguished himself as a performer, recording artist, producer, educator and author. In 25 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle and Far East, he has appeared as a featured solo pianist, band leader and with Jazz legends including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Paquito D’Rivera, Mongo Santamaria and Billy Harper in major festivals (including the Tucson Jazz Festival), concerts and clubs. He met Armen Hyusnunts in Armenia in 1998 while performing in the Yerevan International Jazz Festival, starting a collaboration spanning several decades. Donelian was classically trained at the Westchester Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor’s degree in music from Columbia University in 1972. His distinctive music blends diverse influences from his Armenian origin, his Classical technique and his association with some of the biggest names in Jazz.

A native of Armenia, ARMEN HYUSNUNTS received a Master’s degree in orchestral saxophone from the Komitas State Conservatory in 1993. For several years he was a member of Artashes Kartalyan’s Jazz Quartet, and in 1997 he formed the innovative ethnic jazz quintet, Time Report. A year later, he joined Arto Tunjboyajyan’s popular Armenian Navy Band. Since 1997, Hyusnunts has directed and played in the Armenian State Jazz Band. His talent in the role of conductor, bandleader, composer and arranger reached its peak in 2010 when he took leadership as its artistic director. Hyusnunts regularly appears in prominent international venues across the USA, Europe and Asia with noted artists including Armen Donelian, Vardan Ovsepyan, Hadriеn Feroud, Richard Bona and many others.

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 10:30pm Show) After Friday night’s show, stick around for Late Night with swinging trumpeter and vocalist Cameron Davidson and his band.

($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) The Women’s Jazz Collective presents “The Unseen World of Cutting-Edge Women in Jazz.” Celebrating the diverse musical landscape created by influential women from the early 1900’s to the present, including such jazz giants as Mary Lou Williams, Ingrid Jensen, Roxy Coss, Marianne Trudel, and Renee Rosnes.

Mary Petrich (saxophones) Deborah Weisz (trombone) Liam Connor (trumpet) Claudia Bloom (piano) Vince Theifain (bass) Janet Daniel (drums)

Saxophonist Mary Petrich enjoys a vibrant career as performer and teacher. Her deep love for creativity and improvisation has led her to explore traditional and non-traditional approaches which have developed into a very personalized style of playing and teaching music. Her education focus includes improvisation for all players and saxophone study in both jazz and classical repertoire.

Along with being the director of the Women’t Jazz Initiative at the Nash, she is founder of Nash Jazz DivAZ, a project in collaboration with The Nash, that supports youth education for girls. Mary also teaches jazz improvisation and jazz combos at Phoenix College. As a performer, Mary has been pursuing her own vision in large and small group settings. She performs with The Phoenix Symphony, The Jazz Women All-Stars, The Temptations, AZ Festival Orchestra, The Phoenix Chorale, among others. She leads her own group “OpenHand Quartet”.

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 10:30pm show) After Saturday night’s show, join guitarist Matt Mitchell & his band for Late Night!

($15-$25 + DICE fees | 4:30pm Show ) A stripped-back set of 80s soul and original material led by Tucson R&B and jazz vocalist Aria Ratcliff. Featuring music associated with Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, the band reworks these songs with a tight, groove-focused approach.

Aria is joined by Gary Love (saxophone), Richard Katz (keyboard), Evan Arredondo (bass), and Joshua Carruthers (drums). Together as EKG, they move between slow-burn soul, funk-driven rhythms, and originals that sit naturally alongside the classics.

($5-$10 + DICE fees | 6:30pm-9:30pm) Come sit in with multi-instrumentalist Max Goldschmid and the Century Room house band! Band opens up with a short set followed by an instrumental jam until 9:30pm. Musicians who sit in get in free thanks to the Sonora Arts & Music Initiative!