($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm Show) Presented by Ocho Vago and the Agave Heritage Festival. Feel the energy of Tucson’s premiere Salsa band Zona Libre as they light up the Century Room to celebrate the end of the 2026 Agave Heritage Festival! Led by bandleader Hiram Perez, Zona Libre delivers fiery grooves and irresistible rhythms from across Latin America including Mambo, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia and more with a jazz flair.

The Agave Heritage Festival is a four-day celebration in Tucson, AZ, the destination for “all things agave”. Created to explore the cultural, sustainable, and commercial significance of the agave plant and borderland culture, the festival features an impressive list of events with a strong focus on sustainability. Events include seminars, agave pit roasting, agave spirit tastings and world class culinary events conducted by industry leaders, culinary leaders and spirits professionals.

More information on the Agave Heritage Festival here: www.agaveheritagefestival.com

($15-$25 tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) Join us for an evening of big band music from two of Tucson’s premier groups! This week features the award-winning Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band during the first set performing the music of Duke Ellington. They’re followed by the Century Jazz Orchestra.

The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation is proud to sponsor the Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band’s performance — Ellington Plays Ellington — at The Century Room. They will be playing selections from the Duke Ellington Orchestra and some you may have heard before like Feet Bone and 8th Veil. New tunes will include A Tone Parallel to Harlem, Second Kind, Pyramid and more. Thank you to all the Foundation donors that make these sponsorships possible. If you would like to make a donation to support youth and educational performances at The Century Room, visit https://tjmfdn.org for details or email TucsonJazzMusicFDN@gmail.com.

Inspired by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece Century Jazz Orchestra performs every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 6:30pm. Expect music from the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Thad Jones/Mel Louis Jazz Orchestra, plus classics from Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and much more! An intergenerational ensemble, the CJO fosters community with students, teachers and professionals performing alongside each other and is supported by the Sonora Arts & Music Initiative 501(c)3. Come relive the magic of the big band era every Monday as the CJO keeps the music alive and thriving in the 21st Century!

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 6:30pm + 8pm Sets) Drummer & percussionist Aaron Szabo (Zona Libre, TLJN, et al) brings us “Los Esquineros”! Expect a blend of of Brazlian, Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms mixed with jazz melodies. Two sets at 6:30pm & 8pm!

($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm Show) NYC’s Luca Benedetti Trio is thrilled to return to Tucson after their highly praised 2025 debut. Supporting their third and latest release, “Slow Down For Turtles,” the performance will showcase the trio’s groove-heavy explorations, adventurous interplay, and dynamic approach to ensemble playing.

Luca Benedetti (guitar) Tony Scherr (bass) Tonhy Mason (drums)

“When you can’t quite nail down the style of an artist that’s when it gets really interesting… Blues, California surf, psychedelia, Neil Young, Frisell—but nope, none of these. It’s Luca. Absolutely fantastic.” – Paul Bowman, The Century Room

Benedetti has been a prominent fixture in the New York City Jazz, Blues and Roots music scene since the late ’90s and has worked alongside such varied artists and groups as Ron Carter, Jim Campilongo, Steve Gadd, Chris Lightcap, Joy Askew and many more. For his work as a solo artist and a producer, he has garnered critical accolades from Relix Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, Gitarre & Bass, and Vintage Guitar Magazine, among others.

New York-based jazz musician Tony Scherr plays acoustic and electric bass and guitar in a variety of line-ups. He played with Woody Herman while a teenager. A prolific session musician he’s worked with John Scofield, Norah Jones, Bill Frisell, Ani DiFranco, Al Di Meola, and more. He’s been a member of numerous bands such as The Lounge Lizards, Sex Mob, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinados, and Chris Brown and the Citizen Band.

New York City drummer Tony Mason has toured and recorded with John Scofield, Joan Osborne, Norah Jones, Charlie Hunter, and many others. In the studio, Tony has worked with producers Nile Rodgers, Camu Celli, Ron St. Jermaine, Matt Pierson and the legendary Russ Titleman; he has also played on many commercials and television shows.

($10-$15 Tickets + DICE fees | 8:30pm Show) Space Travelers Union Presents: Tour Kickoff!

Join Space Travelers Union for a special tour kickoff performance where they’ll be debuting new music before they hit the road to Los Angeles, New Orleans, and many other American cities.

Space Travelers Union is a creative-musician collective formed in the Arizona desert through the meeting of composition, improvisation, and electronic signal. The project has reached international audiences through BBC6, Radio France’s FIP, JazzFM, and Gilles Peterson’s WorldwideFM, with additional recognition from Bandcamp’s “New and Notable” and YouTube Music’s Jazz Hotlist.

This performance features:

Kenji Wagner (Trumpet + Guitar)

Kenji Ono Lancaster (Drums)

Ryan Wheless (Saxophone + Banjo + Electronics)

Colin McIlrath (Bass)

Eric Nakanishi (Saxophone)

This performance is presented as part of the ongoing Space Travelers Union Presents residency at the Century Room.

($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Welcome back New York based guitarist Matt Panayides and his band to the Century Room! Panayides and CR Artistic Director Arthur Vint were classmates together at William Paterson University and continue their musicial relationship into a third decade!

Simeon ROth (saxophone) Matt Panayides (guitar) Adam Gay (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

Matt Panayides is a highly acclaimed guitarist and composer based in New York City. Influenced by guitar legends such as Jim Hall, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, and Joni Mitchell, he has created a unique sound that has earned him worldwide recognition. Panayides is known for his distinctive playing style and improvisational skills, and he can often be found leading his own groups and collaborating with other musicians both in New York City and abroad.

Panayides is focused on applying concepts developed on his previous three albums to the solo and trio jazz guitar format. He is exploring the American songbook repertoire and compositions by great jazz composers, sculpting arrangements that showcase the natural acoustic sound of his hollow body guitar made by Victor Baker.

($10-$15 | 10:30pm Show) After Friday night’s show, stick around for Late Night with the Chris Peña Organ Trio, featuring Matt Payanides (guitar) and Arthur Vint (drums)