($12 GA $20 Preferred + DICE Fees | 4:30pm Show) “Tango Guitar Project” is a new tango trio, unique in its instrumentation in the United States. The group is composed of three highly trained classical guitarists from three different countries: the project’s creator and director, Maxi Larrea, who recently published a tango guitar book and also has been awarded with the Master-Apprentice Artist Award for 2023 from Southwest Folklife Alliance, Misael Barraza-Diaz, a Mexican flamenco guitarist who has received 10 first places in international competitions. and Andres Pantoja from Chile, with multiple international awards and albums recorded.

The Project performs new compositions and original arrangements, showcasing a repertoire of traditional and contemporary tango pieces, including works by renowned contemporary tango composer and bandoneon player, Astor Piazzolla.

Maximiliano Larrea is a nationally certified classical guitarist from Rosario, Argentina. Currently, he lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he continues to build his career as a tango and folklore performer, arranger, composer, and educator. In Argentina, he has participated in some of the leading tango and folk music festivals, including the World Tango Festival and Championships, and the Pre-Cosquin Festival where he was recognized as a competition finalist. Most recently, he was flown to Argentina in Fall of 2022 to participate in the acclaimed World Guitar Festival, directed by legendary folklore guitarist Juan Falú. While living in Buenos Aires, Larrea performed with, and directed, multiple tango groups and recorded on numerous tango albums. Internationally, he has toured with tango bands in Europe, North America, and East Asia. In the United States, Larrea has lead tango and folklore groups, worked with university tango ensembles and tango summer camps, and developed his career as a solo artist. His first album of original compositions for solo guitar, Donde Termina el Río/Where the River Ends, was released in 2020. In 2021 received a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to publish a book of guitar tango arrangements to be presented throughout Tucson and Phoenix, published in 2023. He has also been awarded with the Master-Apprentice Artist Award for 2023 from Southwest Folklife Alliance to teach tango guitar. When not composing, arranging, or performing, Larrea runs a home studio where he teaches popular guitar styles to local and international students of all ages and skill levels. For more information, see www.maxilarrea.com.

Andrés Pantoja was born in Chillán, Chile, in 1981. He started his guitar studies at the age of 13 with Professor Edith Vásquez, his mother. He completed his undergraduate studies in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with Professor Oscar Ohlsen. After graduating with the highest honor award, he continued his studies under the guidance of Luis Orlandini. He is currently pursuing a DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in performance with Professor Thomas Patterson in The Bolton Guitar Studies Program at the University of Arizona in the United States. He has performed in the United States, Switzerland, France, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Uruguay and in the most important festivals in Chile. Moreover, he has been featured in TV programs, radio programs, and as a soloist along with ensembles as prestigious as the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Chile, and the University of Santiago de Chile Classical Orchestra, among others. He has premiered solo works and chamber music, in addition to the Concert for guitar and orchestra”…y truncaron tu canto…” by the Chilean composer Víctor Ortiz.

Misael Barraza-Diaz is a Mexican guitarist who has won ten international competitions in classical guitar, as well as over thirty regional and national guitar contests. He has a DMA in guitar performance from the University of Arizona, in addition to two Master’s degrees in classical guitar (Spain & USA). Nevertheless, the artist has also mastered the art of flamenco guitar, an area in which he is most active today. His hunger and devotion towards the andalucian artform led him to study in Spain several times throughout his career.

In 2010, Misael was awarded first prize at the Concurso Nacional de Flamenco in Albuquerque (NM) at the prestigious Festival de Flamenco. Since then, the artist has become one of the top flamenco guitarists in the United States, and is sought after for his skills as a soloist and as an accompanist. He constantly performs with the top flamenco companies in his area: Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo, Flamenco Por la Vida, Julia Chacon Flamenco Theatre, Phoenix World Arts Collective, Yumi la Rosa Flamenco, and La Emi Arte Flamenco, as well as maintaining a thriving solo guitar career.

($5 Guaranteed GA & $10 Guaranteed Preferred + taxes and fees | 6:30pm Show) Come jam with multi-instrumentalist Max Goldschmid and the Century Room house band! Instrumental jam is open until 10:30pm.

Guarantee a seat by purchasing a ticket in advance!

($15-$25 tickets + taxes and fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm. Expect music from the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Thad Jones/Mel Louis Jazz Orchestra and much more! Drummers Arthur Vint, Pete Swan, Kenji Lancaster and Fred Hayes share the drum chair, alternating each week. Advanced tickets recommended!

Rotating (drums) Scott Black (bass) Angelo Versace (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Kevin Ravellette & Simeon Roth (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Jonas Heidebrecht (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Aidan Schofield (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet).

($25-$35 | 6:30pm show) In one of Tucson’s most intimate venues, experience the rawness and authenticity flamenco has to offer on the Century Room Stage!

This show will highlight the many amazing flamenco musicians in the community:

Flamenco Guitarist Jon Bañuelos with Troy Grey (guitar) & Jose Durazo (saxophone) (set 1)

&

Flamenco Guitarist Misael Barraza- Diaz with Diana Schaible (flute) & Jason Martinez (cajón). (set 2)

appearance by Flamenco dancer Angelina Ramirez

***Angelina Ramirez*** is a flamenco movement artist and teaching artist based in Tucson, Arizona. Her work explores queer, Latinx identity in traditional flamenco dance and focuses on arts and healing, particularly for elders and autistic individuals. She promotes accessibility, fights ableism and racism, and curates the Traditional and Ethnic Dance Festival for the Southwest Folklife Alliance.

***Misael Barraza Diaz*** is a distinguished Mexican guitarist who graduated with honors from the Master in Guitar Alicante and obtained a second Master’s degree from the University of Arizona. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts and studies under renowned artists such as David Russell, Sergio Assad, and Odair Assad.

With Jason Martinez (cajon) Olivia Rojas (cante)

($10-$15 | 6:30pm & 8pm Sets + taxes and fees) Nick Coventry, Matt Mitchell, Evan Dain & Marco Rosano form the swinging Hot Club of Tucson Trio! The group plays jazz manouche in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappeli. The band starts at 6:30pm. 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, the Mysterious Babies perform music from New Orleans & Chicago. 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 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm show) Join Century Room in welcoming vocalist Sheryl Ann Mckinley back to the stage!

This performance will showcase the Stunning Artistry of Piano, Voice & Baritone Sax from the Sublime Magical Maestro Daniel “ Sly “ Slipetsky on Piano & Vocals , the Soulful, Passionate Sheryl Ann Mckinley on Vocals & the Magical Pure Gold Max Goldschmid on Baritone Sax! This promises to be an Enchanting Evening of Jazz , Musical Synergy & unexpected surprises !

($10-$15 Tickets + taxes & fees | 8:30pm-10:30pm) Come to 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 Doc Holladay & SOUL ORGANization!

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.

($30-$40 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Award-winning trumpeter & vocalist Jumaane Smith makes his Century Room debut for an unforgettable evening of jazz.

Jumaane Smith is a renowned trumpeter and vocalist who has spent the last 18 years touring and recording with Michael Bublé as the lead trumpeter, vocalist, and featured soloist. He has also been a key member of Harry Connick Jr.’s house band for the TV show Harry and the featured guest soloist for Jackie Evancho’s “Songs of the Silver Screen” tour, backed by a 60-piece symphony orchestra. In addition to touring with his own band, Jumaane has performed at world-class venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Vail Jazz Festival, Birdland Jazz Club, and the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Smith’s critically-acclaimed debut album I Only Have Eyes for You features guest appearances by Michael Bublé and Jackie Evancho, and his most recent release, Come on Home (2024), has been highly praised. A Juilliard graduate, Smith has collaborated with musical icons like Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Christian McBride, and Barbra Streisand, solidifying his place as a versatile and accomplished artist in the jazz world.

“Whenever Juilliard-trained vocalist and trumpeter Jumaane Smith performs, it’s a celebration. That joyful quality and his impressive musicianship has been on full display over the 18 years he’s worked with Michael Bublé” – Downbeat Magazine

($10-$15 + taxes & fees | 10:30pm & 11:30pm Sets) After Friday night’s show, stick around for late night with guitarist Chris Molinari and his band!

Chris Molinari (guitar) Chris Peña (piano) Jeff Sandberg (bass) Anteo Fabris (drums)

($20-$30 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm Show) DIANE VAN DEURZEN & LISA OTEY: WILD WOMEN DON’T HAVE THE BLUES

International touring artists Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey are a dynamic duo, a perfect blend of hot jazz, sultry blues and boogie-woogie. They take their act to festivals, clubs and theatres around the world and are known for creating an atmosphere of intimacy with their humor and joyful interactions with the audience.

Performances include the Thredbo Blues Festival in Australia; Box Factory for the Arts, Michigan; Yardbird Suite in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Blues in Bisbee and Tucson Folk Festivals, Arizona; Le Bilboquet and Caveau de la Huchette jazz clubs in Paris; Yoshi’s in California; Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado in Sonora, Mexico; Wild Rose Moon in Indiana; Silver City Blues Fest in New Mexico; and the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.

Diane Van Deurzen and Lisa Otey have been inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. Lisa has also been inducted into the Tucson Music Hall of Fame and appeared on the Grammy-nominated CD, “Ladies Man” with Pinetop Perkins.

Diane and Lisa have co-produced several CDs on their label, Owl’s Nest Productions, including Diane’s “I Never Knew”, Lisa’s “Trio”, “Bring Your Own Boa” for Lisa Otey and the Desert Divas, and Diane & Lisa’s duo CDs, “You Got What I Want”, “Wild Women” and their Christmas hit, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe”.

Diane grew up in rural Wisconsin, one of 7 children in a blue-collar community that centered around the paper mill and dairy farms near Appleton. Her father nurtured her love of singing by introducing her to the albums of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald. Diane also loved poetry, which influenced her style as a lyricist. Diane always created opportunities to perform professionally, singing in bands, working in theatre and making recordings, alongside her career as a nurse in Wisconsin and, since 1992, as a teacher in Arizona. Lisa grew up in a rural community outside of Portland, OR, one of 3 children in a family of musicians. Lisa moved to Arizona in 1984 to study jazz piano and begin her career performing and also working in theatre. In 2005, Diane & Lisa began performing as a duo. They tour across Europe, Australia, the US, Canada, and Mexico. They now live in St. Joe, Michigan, and tour extensively throughout the Midwest.

“Diane is one of the finest instinctually pure singers I have heard” -Tucson Weekly

“Van Deurzen’s voice is warm and soothing, pouring out the lyrics with effortless control.” -Tucson Lifestyle

“Whenever these two artists perform together, people comment on their easy rapport and emotional connection. Otey’s piano and vocals are hot and steamy. Van Deurzen sings sweetly. Together they blend like a musical cappuccino with extra foam on top.” -Chuck Graham

“Fun stuff from Lisa Otey and Diane Van Deurzen. (Wild Women) is a tribute in song to 100 years of women blues singers with a great mix of sass, sentimentality, and humor.” -Duncan Hudson, KXCI

“They put their hearts and souls into each song they sang and the fun they exuded on stage was infectious as it engulfed the audience. Hand clapping, toe tapping, smiles, hoots and hollers prevailed throughout their 2 hour performance. People are still talking about their uplifting performance and can’t wait for them to return” -Clearwater Tribune

(8:30pm Show | $15-$25 Tickets + taxes & fees) A brand new group under the direction of guitarist and vocalist Naim Amor featuring Thøger Lund on bass and Marco Rosano on accordion and clarinet. They will perform a repertoire of classic French songs plus original music!

($5 Guaranteed GA & $10 Guaranteed Preferred + taxes & fees | 6:30pm Show) Come jam with multi-instrumentalist Max Goldschmid and the Century Room house band! Instrumental jam is open until 10:30pm.

Guarantee a seat by purchasing a ticket in advance!

($15-$25 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm. Expect music from the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Thad Jones/Mel Louis Jazz Orchestra and much more! Drummers Arthur Vint, Pete Swan, Kenji Lancaster and Fred Hayes share the drum chair, alternating each week. Advanced tickets recommended!

Rotating (drums) Scott Black (bass) Angelo Versace (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Kevin Ravellette & Simeon Roth (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Jonas Heidebrecht (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Aidan Schofield (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet).

($10, $20, $30 tickets + fees | 6pm-10pm) The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation and The Century Room present a special celebration for International Jazz Day AND International Dance Day on the Hotel Congress Plaza! Featuring musical performances by the national award-winning Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band and Naomi & Her Handsome Devils, PLUS DANCE LESSONS and performances by the AZ Swing Cats and Naomi Uyama!

April 30th was proclaimed as International Jazz Day by UNESCO in 2011 and has been celebrated ever since in major cities around the world. International Dance Day has been celebrated on April 29th since 1982, and will also be acknowledged at this very special event that combines jazz music with swing dance – from an era where everyone danced to big band music!

Award-winning international superstar swing dancer and band leader Naomi Uyama will be featured as both a dancer (teaching a beginner’s swing dance lesson at 6 pm) and a bandleader (performing with her band at 8 pm.) Naomi has been called a “velvet-voiced chanteuse” by Time Out New York and been featured at every major swing dance festival around the world. She has assembled an amazing 7-piece band to perform her arrangements of classic swing repertoire — specifically designed for dancers!

The Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band directed by Brice Winston is an award-winning, all-city student jazz ensemble. Their mission is to create educational and performance opportunities for young musicians to reach their highest potential. The TJI Ellington Big Band has established itself as one of the leading high school jazz groups in the country, earning recognition from Downbeat Magazine and winning the #1 positions in national competitions such as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in NYC, The Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey CA, and the Fullerton Jazz Festival in Fullerton CA. They are gearing up for a trip to NYC (May 6-12) to compete in the Essentially Ellington competition (produced & organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis / Jazz Academy) and have prepared a set of classic swinging big band songs especially for dancers!

The Arizona Swing Cats represent Tucson’s Lindy-Hop Community and are a student-run club at the University of Arizona that specializes in swing dancing. They are providing the dance floor (THANK YOU) and will be on hand to dazzle with their dance moves and offer a dance partner to interested audience members!

The Tucson Jazz Music Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, is proud to present this celebration in support young musicians, jazz music and swing dance! The Foundation has made possible $10 student tickets, with students 18 and under FREE. General Admission is $20, while Preferred Seating is $30. All tickets include a dance lesson with Naomi Uyama at 6pm (don’t be late!). This event will be held on the Hotel Congress Plaza Stage.

($15-$25 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm show) Singer & Century Room family member Melrose brings together an excellent band of musicians for another wonderful night of jazz. From classic standards to more mellow modern grooves, this is a show that can’t be missed!

($30-$40 tickets + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Naomi & Her Handsome Devils is a modern band with a vintage sound that has been swinging dance floors around the world. Original but authentic – in the pocket but bringing the party – they have performed at every major dance festival and competition there is, as well as many major jazz clubs and have been featured at Lincoln Center for their “Midsummer’s Night Swing.” Described as a “velvet-voiced chanteuse” by Time Out New York, Naomi Uyama is the perfect bandleader, curating her band’s repertoire to transport audiences and dancers alike to another era.

Naomi Uyama was an international swing dance champion searching for the perfect band to perform at swing dances and festivals. After searching the world over, she took it upon herself to form her own group, “Naomi & Her Handsome Devils”in 2013. Now based in Mineapolis, MN, Naomi calls on the best musicians from all the major jazz hubs from New York to New Orleans to perform with her. Naomi & Her Handsome Devils have cemented their reputation as the premier swing band of the 21st Century!

“Beautifully crafted melodic swing.” – Michael Steinman Jazz Lives

($25-$35 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) An evening of lush melodies in abstract hues, combining the intimate moods of Norah Jones and Bill Frisell with the dreamy textures of contemporary acts like Portishead and Air. Featuring the stunning vocals of Katherine Byrnes, arranged by Ryan Alfred on guitar and electronics, and joined by Angelo Versace on piano, Casey Hadland on drums, and Thøger Lund on bass.

($20-$30 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm show) New York City transplant vocalist Sarah Tolar and trumpet virtuoso and University of Arizona professor Jason Carder team up to perform the 1955 album by Sarah Vaughan & Clifford Brown. Lauded as Vaughan’s favorite jazz recording session, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Joining Tolar and Carder are Angelo Versace on piano, Adam Gay on bass, and Arthur Vint on drums.

Tickets to 8:30pm show: https://link.dice.fm/Vaughn830pm

The iconic 1955 jazz album recorded by Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown is a masterpiece that captures the unparalleled chemistry between the legendary vocalist and the virtuoso trumpeter. Known for her lush vocal tone and impeccable phrasing, Vaughan’s performance on this album showcases her stunning range and emotional depth, while Brown’s trumpet playing is marked by its precision, warmth, and lyrical beauty. In this special performance, vocalist Sarah Tolar and trumpeter Jason Carder bring a fresh interpretation to the timeless music.

Tolar, a vocalist acclaimed for her expressive artistry and deep connection to the jazz tradition, and Carder, a trumpeter renowned for his technical brilliance and musical sensitivity, offer their own personal touch to the tunes from the album. Together, they reimagine classic tracks like “Lullaby of Birdland” and “I’m Glad There Is You” with their own distinct voices as artists. This evening’s performance is not only a reverent nod to jazz history but also a reminder of the enduring power of these legendary musicians’ contributions to the genre.

($20-$30 + taxes & fees | 8:30pm show) New York City transplant vocalist Sarah Tolar and trumpet virtuoso and University of Arizona professor Jason Carder team up to perform the 1955 album by Sarah Vaughan & Clifford Brown. Lauded as Vaughan’s favorite jazz recording session, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Joining Tolar and Carder are Angelo Versace on piano, Adam Gay on bass, and Arthur Vint on drums.

Tickets to 6:30pm show: https://link.dice.fm/Vaughn630pm

The iconic 1955 jazz album recorded by Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown is a masterpiece that captures the unparalleled chemistry between the legendary vocalist and the virtuoso trumpeter. Known for her lush vocal tone and impeccable phrasing, Vaughan’s performance on this album showcases her stunning range and emotional depth, while Brown’s trumpet playing is marked by its precision, warmth, and lyrical beauty. In this special performance, vocalist Sarah Tolar and trumpeter Jason Carder bring a fresh interpretation to the timeless music.

Tolar, a vocalist acclaimed for her expressive artistry and deep connection to the jazz tradition, and Carder, a trumpeter renowned for his technical brilliance and musical sensitivity, offer their own personal touch to the tunes from the album. Together, they reimagine classic tracks like “Lullaby of Birdland” and “I’m Glad There Is You” with their own distinct voices as artists. This evening’s performance is not only a reverent nod to jazz history but also a reminder of the enduring power of these legendary musicians’ contributions to the genre.

($25-$35 + taxes & fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Boston/NYC Drummer and Vocalist Holly Channell is celebrating the release of her critically acclaimed debut jazz album Not Just a Standard on tour at The Century Room! Playing tunes from the record which are arranged classic jazz standards that pay homage to Wynton Marsalis’ and Lewis Nash’s mission to keep the jazz tradition alive, but with a Channell spin. Mixing odd meters and duple feels along with contemporary jazz drumming and surprise vocals, she will show you these songs are not just standards but the heart of America’s one true original music. Special Guests include famous Trumpeter Jason Palmer, Tucson’s own Angelo Versace on piano and Phoenix’s best Vince Thiefain on bass.

HOLLY CHANNELL

Holly Channell is an American drummer, composer, producer and recording artist based in Boston, MA. Celebrating the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Not Just a Standard, Holly is touring through the US. Critiqued as “unstoppable,” “undeniable,” and “a phenomenon,” Holly has had the pleasure of working alongside Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade and many others. Her debut album houses Benny Golson pianist Mike Kocour, acclaimed Trumpeter Jason Palmer, Arizona’s most called bassist and GCC Department head Ben Hedquist, and is represented by prominent European record label Fresh Sound Records. Holly recently graduated from the distinguished Berklee Global Jazz Institute with a masters in Global Jazz, graduating with distinction, and currently works at the New School in NYC. As a bandleader Holly has played with elite musicians from all over the world, and continues performing, educating and recording her next projects as the present and future of the jazz music scene.