($25-$35 tickets | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 6:30pm. Tonight features very special guest bandleader Altin Sencalar

ALTIN SENCALAR

Experience the dynamic artistry of Altin Sencalar—a performer, educator, and composer whose virtuosity redefines modern jazz. Lauded by Stereophile as the “21st‑century descendant of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding” and celebrated by the International Trombone Association, Altin captivates audiences with his innovative sound and commanding stage presence.

From his formative studies with Freddie Mendoza at Texas State University to refining his craft under Andre Hayward at UT Austin’s Butler School of Music, Altin’s journey has been marked by excellence. He has dazzled fans at renowned festivals from Montreux to Paris. With honors from Yamaha, the American Trombone Workshop, and international competitions, his collaborations include legends like DeeDee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, and Michael Bublé, along with recordings for blockbuster films.

Now based in New York City, Altin continues to shape the future of jazz as an esteemed educator and Artist in Residence. Discover the unparalleled passion and innovation of Altin Sencalar and join him on a musical journey that’s as inspiring as it is unforgettable.

($10-$15 | 6:30pm & 8pm Sets) Multi-instrumentalist Marco Rosano leads Marco & The Polos through a swingin’ night of traditional jazz every other Wednesday!

“Hot Jazz Wednesdays” take you back to the roots of jazz with music from the 1920s and ’30s. Every 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday, Marco & The Polos perform music from New Orleans. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays are reserved for the Hot Club of Tucson, which performs French Jazz Manouche in the style of Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli.

($15-$25 tickets | 6:30pm show) Pianist Susan Artemis has become a mainstay of the Tucson jazz scene and has performed at the Century Room many times, both as a leader and a sideman. She returns with her band to reprise her show, “One For My Baby: The Harold Arlen Songbook.”

Featuring Sergio Tabanico (sax) Evan Arredondo (bass) Casey Hadland (drums)

Harold Arlen was an American composer, arranger, pianist, and vocalist who contributed such popular songs as “Over the Rainbow,” “Blues in the Night,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “I Love a Parade,” “Stormy Weather” and over 500 more songs to Hollywood movies and Broadway musicals. Arlen was most prolific from 1929 through the 1950s.

Born in 1905, Arlen was the son of a Jewish cantor and pianist and showed exceptional musical talent in childhood. He left school as a teenager to form a band, and, until he was 24, he made a living chiefly as a performer and arranger. Thereafter he concentrated on composition, beginning a successful collaboration with the lyricist Ted Koehler in 1929 with the song “Get Happy.” From the late 1920s until the mid-1930s Arlen and Koehler wrote a number of songs, including “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” and “I’ve Got the World on a String,” that were featured in shows at Harlem’s Cotton Club. Arlen’s work for the Broadway stage included scores for the musicals You Said It (1931); Life Begins at 8:40 (1934); Hooray for What? (1937); Bloomer Girl (1944); St. Louis Woman (1946) and Saratoga (1959), both with lyrics by Johnny Mercer; and House of Flowers (1954), with lyrics by Truman Capote.

For Hollywood films, Arlen wrote, among other songs, “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” Groucho Marx’s theme song “Lydia the Tatoo’d Lady,” and “That Old Black Magic.” “Over the Rainbow” (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg), introduced by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and used thereafter as her theme, won him a 1939 Academy Award. Arlen also worked with Ira Gershwin on music for the film The Country Girl (1954), starring Bing Crosby, and he recorded as a vocalist with Leo Reisman and Cole Porter.

($10-$15 Tickets | 8:30pm-10:30pm) Join The Century Room every Thursday at 8:30pm for our Soul Jazz Lounge! Each lounge hosts a rotating cast of All-Star house bands and features our Viscount Legend Soul Organ designed by the late great Joey DeFrancesco, complete with the Leslie Speaker. The Viscount Soul organ is a modern recreation of vintage Hammond B3 instruments, which were made famous by jazz organists like Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Young, Brother Jack McDuff & Dr. Lonnie Smith.

This week features Chris Peña and his band!

The Thursday night Soul Jazz Sessions offer a classy and relaxing atmosphere spotlighting the Century Room’s Viscount Legend Soul organ with Vortex rotating speaker, a modern recreation of the legendary Hammond B3 organ/Leslie combo made famous by the great jazz, blues, and rock Hammond B3 organists of yesteryear.

($20-$30 tickets | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Century Room Jazz Orchestra band leader and trombonist Ben Constantinides brings us a show dedicated to the music of trombone great JJ Johnson! Expect music from his classic recording “Blue Trombone”, plus other classic JJ repertoire. Featuring Ben Constantinides (trombone) Peter Saxe (piano) Scott Black (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

($5-$10 | 10:30pm & 11:30pm Sets) After Friday night’s show, stick around for late night with guitarist Ricardo Garcia and his band!

Ricardo Garcia (guitar) Victor Gutierrez (sax) Colin McIlrath (bass) Kenji Lancaster (drums)

($25-$35 | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Drummer Dave Potter returns to the Century Room to celebrate the release of his new album: Dave Potter & Retro Groove 2! Clever arrangements of 80’s classics by Whitney Houston, Rush, Paula Abdul, Toto, and more blended with an infectious blend of swing and the blues make a compelling case to both the Jazz purist and the casual Pop fan alike”

“By delving deeper into the concepts first heard on their previous self-titled album, Dave Potter & Retro Groove are proving that it is indeed possible to have your ‘musical’ cake and eat it too!”

with Brice Winston (sax) Angelo Versace (piano) Will Goble (bass) & Dave Potter (drums)

A native of North Carolina, Dave Potter began playing drum set in high school and starting performing with his elders in the Triangle area at the age of 16. Following his graduation from Florida State University, he was chosen from a national pool of applicants to be a member of the Louis Armstrong Quintet at the University of New Orleans. Unfortunately, the tragedy of hurricane Katrina temporarily ended his hopes for a career in Louisiana. Soon after, Dave was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Julliard Jazz Program in New York City. However, after several days of intense meditation he declined the offer and returned to Florida State University, where he received his Master’s Degree after further collaboration with his mentor Marcus Roberts. In 2010, Potter was featured in a novel entitled “The New Face of Jazz” about the younger generation of Jazz musicians making an impact in the current scene. Dave is now located in Atlanta where he maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule while also touring the globe as a member of The Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet, Greg Tardy, Eric Reed, and Marcus Roberts, as well as his new project as a leader, Retro Groove

($5-$10 | 10:30pm & 11:30pm Sets) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for Late Night with drummer JC Chiriguayo and his band!

Chris Peña (piano) Colin McIlrath (bass) JC Chiriguayo (drums)