($35-$45 + Ticket Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Drummer Dave Potter and Retro Groove invite audiences on a joyful journey through the soundtrack of the 1980s, transforming beloved pop hits into vibrant, swinging jazz. Inspired by Potter’s acclaimed album Retro Groove 2, this high-energy performance reimagines classics by artists including Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, Toto, Paula Abdul, The Doobie Brothers, Rush, and more through inventive arrangements that are both nostalgic and unmistakably fresh.
Leading the ensemble is Potter, an acclaimed drummer whose career has included performances with Marcus Roberts, Eric Reed, Greg Tardy, and the Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet. Joining him is NEA Jazz Master Jason Marsalis, one of today’s foremost vibraphonists and a member of New Orleans’ legendary first family of jazz. The all-star quintet is rounded out by University of Arizona Director of Jazz Studies Angelo Versace on piano, acclaimed saxophonist Miguel Alvarado, and bassist Rob “El Tón” Linton, creating a band whose collective artistry matches its infectious sense of fun.
At The Century Room, familiar melodies meet fearless improvisation, irresistible grooves, and joyful musical conversation. Whether you grew up with these songs or are discovering them through a jazz lens for the first time, Retro Groove delivers an evening that is equal parts celebration, virtuosity, and pure fun.