($25-$35 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) LA Based Composer Adam Hersh and his trio consisting of Bassist Mauricio Morales and Drummer Tim Rachbach join forces with Local Tucson saxophonists Eric Nakanishi and Ryan Wheless for an evening of West meets Southwest explorations. Come hear these artistic partners exchanging fiery conversations through the music showcasing the depths of expression found in these regional destinations. The program will feature Adam’s original compositions, from both his trio and his 2025 cinematic chamber/collaborative record with Mauricio Morales “Between Dreams and Twilight”, along with some deep cut Jazz Selections from the historical masters of the music.

ADAM HERSH

LA based pianist, keyboardist, & composer Adam Hersh was born in Castaic, CA.

Since graduating from CSUN, Adam has been active in the LA jazz scene, performing & recording with musicians like Bob Sheppard, Mike Moreno, Warren Wolf, Munir Hossn, Bill Holman, Gary Novak, Billy Childs, Andrew Renfroe, Joe LaBarbera, & Gene Coye. Adam is a versatile musician, adept at playing modern, fusion, & straight ahead originals & standards.

Adam Hersh (piano/compositions) Mauricio Morales: (bass) Tim Rachbach (drums)

Ft. Special Guests Eric Nakanishi (saxophone) Ryan Wheless (saxophone)

($10-$15 + Dice fees | 10:30pm Show ) After Saturday night’s show, join bassist Colin McIlrath & his quartet for Late Night!

($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!

($20-$30 tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) 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!

Some of the musicians you can expect to see on Mondays:

Arthur Vint, Pete Swan, Kenji Lancaster, Fred Hayes (drums) Colin McIlrath, Scott Black (bass) Angelo Versace, Chris Peña, Peter Saxe (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Tim Buechler (bari sax) Ben Canfield, Simeon Roth, Dave Long (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi, Joseph Rader (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Aidan Schofield (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jibrael Alsooz, Jason Carder (trumpet).

( $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.