($10-$15 + DICE fees | 16+ | 6:30pm & 8pm Sets) Grupo Arizona returns to the Century Room and keeps the music going!

Grupo Arizona is a dynamic classical and jazz fusion chamber ensemble rooted in Mexican and Latin musical traditions, based in Tucson, Arizona. Their mission is to elevate and expand the reach of the rich musical genres from Mexico and across Latin America. Their performances pay homage to the original artists while also serving as a creative outlet for them to explore their own musical education and creativity through unique arrangements.

($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm Show) The Century Room is proud to present a special Diaspora Showcase, uniting three master musicians whose artistry bridges continents and cultures.

JAZZ ACOUSTICS OF AFRICA

ALIONE FAYE. Hails from a long line of Senegalese drummers and griots (wandering musicians, poets, singers and cultural historians). A Sabar Master known for his electrifying performances and the ability to connect the drum’s voice with the heartbeat of the audience, Alioune was the percussionist for the Royal Ballet of Senegal for many years, before he emigrated to the United States. A mainstay in the music scene in New York City, his incredible drumming styles augments the traditional dances of Senegal. He has performed at The Lincoln Center with the virtuoso, Alessandra Belloni, and recorded with iconic artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel and Youssou N’Dour.

KARAMO SUSSO. Grew up amongst the griots of his community in Mali, and playing the kora before he was even big enough to hold it up himself. He learned from the griots in his own community and family, who also happened to be legendary kora players like his uncle Ballake Sissoko, and his neighbor Toumani Diabate. He has since become an internationally renowned player. In his early years in Bamako, Mali he taught at the “Institute Nationale des Artes”, and later became the Composition Director for The Gambian National Cultural Ensemble, in Banjul, The Gambia. He has performed with many distinguished artists, such as, Taj Mahal and toured with many notable Africa artists that includes Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate.

SALIEU SUSO. Started training on the 21-string kora at the age of 8, and began his professional career at the age of 15. An experimentalist, who is known for his diverse range of musical collaborations, Salieu explored the combined rhythms of Africa and Afro-Cuban rhythms, blending the two styles into a jazz format with 3 master percussionists, Benny Rocho, Olympia Ward and John Ward. Salieu’s composed the soundtrack to “Tootie’s Last Suit”, a 2009 documentary film. He has performance extensively throughout the United States, Africa and Europe.

MAMOUTOU DEMBELE. A multi-instrumentalist who plays instruments from different eras and tradition of his Bwa ethnic group of Mali, is artistically known as Emde. He was born into a family of griots in Sikaso, Mali, and started playing the kora at the age of 6, before he created and constructed his own instrument, the bahinu, that has a 15-string and resembles a cross between kora and a kamele ngoni. His playing style combines Bwa music, Mandika blues and Jazz. In 2019, Emde won the “Syli d’Or” award, an annual world music showcase and contest in Montreal, Canada, that supports emerging global music artists.

ABOUT DIASPORA SHOWCASE. In the past 20 years, producer and director, Kwevi Quaye has featured many global and international artists at the Diaspora Showcase Africa, under a program of “Artists In Residence”. Under Quaye’s guidance, the artists practice together and develop new tunes as a collaborative group. In 2007, Quaye developed the concept of integrating the African “Talking Drums” with Vivaldi’s “Four Season” and Rasaki Aladokun performed the pieces. By 2025, three Masters that included, Munyungo Jackson, the 4-time Grammy Award winner, Alioune Faye from Senegal and Rasaki Aladokun, through the direction of Kwevi Quaye developed acoustic and instrumental tunes from Africa.

($10-$15 Tickets + DICE fees | 8:30pm Show)

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Luke Schneider is a pedal steel guitarist based in Tennessee. Over the past three decades he has established himself as an in-demand session and touring musician across the Outlaw Country, Indie/DIY, and experimental scenes in Nashville. Most recently, he has found his place in the landscape of New Age and pastoral Americana music. His well-received debut solo album, ‘Altar of Harmony’ (Third Man Records), is a collection of cinematic ambient compositions created entirely by pedal steel. In recent years Luke has continued his experimental elevation of the pedal steel guitar and delved deeper into meditative and calming sounds. In 2026, he will be touring in support of two releases, a solo EP titled ‘For Dancing in Quiet Light’ via Leaving Records, and a duo record with modular synthesist Jamie Lidell titled ‘A Companion for the Spaces Between Dreams’ via Northern Spy Records.

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

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.

($30-$40 + DICE Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Grammy Award-winning author, music historian, journalist and educator Ashley Kahn returns to the Century Room to lead us through the life and legacy of Jazz Messengers bandleader and drummer Art Blakey! Ashley will introduce and give context to the songs performed by drummer Arthur Vint and his quintet. Art Blakey is one of Art Vint’s biggest influences on the instrument and he is excited to celebrate what would have been Blakey’s 107th birthday (October 11, 1919).

Jason Carder (trumpet) Simeon Roth (sax) Angelo Versace (piano) Scott Black (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

THE BIG BEAT OF MODERN JAZZ

Art Blakey was a giant of modern jazz — one of the rare drummers who played with every other pioneer and grew to become a bandleader in his own right. He is still celebrated as much for his distinctive musical vocabulary — dramatic press rolls, spicy rim shots, leaning on the hi-hat for the primary pulse — as he is for hiring legions of future jazz stars in his Jazz Messengers group (Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, and Terence Blanchard are but three headliners who graduated from the University of Art Blakey!) He’s also known as the father of hard bop, the blues-rich style that is the primary flavor of small-group jazz to this day. Who was Blakey and how did he achieve his greatness? What about his breakthrough recordings and this “hard bop” approach that still sounds so modern? The answers to these and other questions will be answered at The Century Room.

(FREE!-$10| 21+ | 10:30pm Show) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for late night with Bassist Thoger Lund and his band! Guarantee a seat by the stage with an advanced ticket for $5-10- walkins are FREE for the lounge and bar!

($30-$40 + DICE Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Grammy Award-winning author, music historian, journalist and educator Ashley Kahn returns to the Century Room to lead us through the life and legacy of John Coltrane in his centennial year! Ashley will introduce and give context to the songs performed by saxophonist Brice Winston and his quartet. Winston brings both technical mastery and deep emotional resonance to Coltrane’s iconic works, from the hard-swinging energy of his early recordings to the spiritual intensity of his later compositions. Winston pays tribute to one of jazz’s greatest visionaries while offering his own unique perspective.

Ashley Kahn (emcee) Brice Winston (sax) Angelo Versace (piano) Scott Black (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

THE JOHN COLTRANE CENTENNIAL

All year long the Century Room has been celebrating legendary saxophone icon John Coltrane’s 100th birthday. This show will present a retrospective of Coltrane’s music from his short but illustrious career before his untimely death in 1967. Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He moved to Philadelhpia in 1943 and soon reolcated to New York CIty where he collaberated with Miles Davis’ band before setting out on his own. Coltrane is the GOAT!

(FREE-$10 | 10:30pm Show | 21+) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for late night with the fabled guitarist Matt Mitchell! Guarantee a seat by the stage with an advanced ticket for $5-10, while walkins are FREE for the lounge and bar! Enjoy $2 off menu cocktails and $10 beer and shot special.

($5-$10 + DICE fees | 16+ | 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 | 16+) Inspired by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece Century Jazz Orchestra performs every Monday night at the Century Room. An intergenerational ensemble, the CJO fosters community with students, teachers and professionals performing alongside each other.

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! Come relive the magic of the big band era every Monday as the CJO keeps the music alive and thriving in the 21st Century!

The Century Jazz Orchestra is a project of the Sonora Arts & Music Initiative 501(c)3. www.sonoraarts.org

The Century Jazz Orchestra is sponsored in part by Royal Land Rover Tucson. www.royallandrover.com

($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 & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Three-time GRAMMY nominated saxophonist Troy Roberts returns to the Century Room for a two night residency! Thursday night he performs the music of Stanley Turrentine with Chris Peña on organ and Arthur Vint on drums!

Embracing his love for a vast variety of stylistic genres, Troy Roberts is quickly becoming one of the most widely recorded touring artists of his time. As a go-to first call saxophonist, his name adorns several essential recordings ranging from the legendary Joey DeFrancesco, the iconic Van Morrison, the quintessential Jeff “Tain” Watts, the tireless Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band, the critically acclaimed Kurt Elling, the breathtaking Veronica Swift, to numerous other jazz veterans, and newcomers considered tastemakers of their generation. Roberts, a New York City based Australian immigrant, is also a prolific leader with sixteen releases to his name. Currently celebrating his latest, Green Lights (featuring John Patitucci, Paul Bollenback and Jimmy Macbride), Roberts maintains a busy recording and performance schedule with his quartet, his original project Nu-Jive, as well as some of the greatest artists of today.

($25-$35 + DICE Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Three-time GRAMMY nominated saxophonist Troy Roberts returns to the Century Room for a two night residency! Friday night he performs his original music with his quartet featuring Angelo Versace on piano, Colin McIlrath on bass and Arthur Vint on drums.

Embracing his love for a vast variety of stylistic genres, Troy Roberts is quickly becoming one of the most widely recorded touring artists of his time. As a go-to first call saxophonist, his name adorns several essential recordings ranging from the legendary Joey DeFrancesco, the iconic Van Morrison, the quintessential Jeff “Tain” Watts, the tireless Orrin Evans Captain Black Big Band, the critically acclaimed Kurt Elling, the breathtaking Veronica Swift, to numerous other jazz veterans, and newcomers considered tastemakers of their generation. Roberts, a New York City based Australian immigrant, is also a prolific leader with sixteen releases to his name. Currently celebrating his latest, Green Lights (featuring John Patitucci, Paul Bollenback and Jimmy Macbride), Roberts maintains a busy recording and performance schedule with his quartet, his original project Nu-Jive, as well as some of the greatest artists of today.

(FREE-$10 | 10:30pm Show | 21+) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for late night with the incredible vocalist Sarah Tolar! Guarantee a seat by the stage with an advanced ticket for $5-10, while walkins are FREE for the lounge and bar! Enjoy $2 off menu cocktails and $10 beer and shot special.

($20-30 + DICE Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Vocalist Felíz Torralba brings the Disney Songbook to the Century Room for an evening where jazz meets a little childhood magic.

From the wistful swing of “Someday My Prince Will Come” to the timeless romance of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” Disney’s music has long shared a language with jazz. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes follows that thread through generations of beloved songs, some already at home in the jazz canon, others simply too good not to sing.

Joined by some of Tucson’s finest musicians, Torralba celebrates the melodies, romance, humor, and sense of wonder woven through nearly a century of Disney music. Familiar songs, a few surprises, and perhaps a reason to believe in wishing on stars again.”

(FREE-$10 | 10:30pm Show | 21+) After Saturday night’s show, stick around for late night with the trumpeter Anthony Gibes! Guarantee a seat by the stage with an advanced ticket for $5-10, while walkins are FREE for the lounge and bar! Enjoy $2 off menu cocktails and $10 beer and shot special.

($20-$30 tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8pm sets | 16+) Inspired by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece Century Jazz Orchestra performs every Monday night at the Century Room. An intergenerational ensemble, the CJO fosters community with students, teachers and professionals performing alongside each other.

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! Come relive the magic of the big band era every Monday as the CJO keeps the music alive and thriving in the 21st Century!

The Century Jazz Orchestra is a project of the Sonora Arts & Music Initiative 501(c)3. www.sonoraarts.org

The Century Jazz Orchestra is sponsored in part by Royal Land Rover Tucson. www.royallandrover.com

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8pm Sets) Multi-instrumentalist Marco Rosano leads Marco & The Polos through a swingin’ night of traditional New Orleans jazz! Expect Marco to play bass sax, clarinet, piano, and more…

($20-$30 + DICE Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Devon Gates is a Brooklyn-based bassist, vocalist and composer whose work sits at the intersection of jazz, chamber music and social storytelling. A Harvard-trained anthropologist and Berklee-sharpened improviser, Gates has collaborated with leading figures across the modern jazz landscape and earned recognition for compositions that are as emotionally direct as they are structurally fearless.

In this intimate duo setting with pianist Eden Mastriani-Levi, Gates explores her unique interpretation of modern cabaret stylings, bringing a mixture of original music and reimaginations of classic repertoire, from Led Zeppelin to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Aretha Franklin and everything in between.

Presented together with Arizona Arts Live.

($20-$30 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Pittsburgh served as an important city in the history of jazz, producing an incredible amount of virtuoso jazz musicians, composers, and singers. You’ve heard their names: George Benson, Art Blakey, Ray Brown, Ahmad Jamal, Billy Eckstine, Billy Strayhorn, Stanley and Tommy Turrentine. The list goes on.

Having lived and played in Pittsburgh for seven years while receiving two degrees from Duquesne University, Chris Molinari now brings The Pittsburgh Sound to you. You will hear classics and deep cuts from across the jazz spectrum that were played and composed by Pittsburgh’s greats, both past and present.

Jeremy Anderson (trumpet) Eric Nakanishi (saxophone) Buddy Charles Rieger (piano) Pat Morris (bass) Kenji Ono Lancaster (drums)

($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Celebrated Los Angeles based sxophonist and composer Daniel Rotem makes his Century Room debut!

Growing up in Israel by the Mediterranean Sea, Daniel fell in love with the freedom and potential for expression he found in Jazz after starting to play saxophone as a teenager. His musical beginnings in Israel’s Thelma Yellin High School for the Arts and the Rimon School of Music instilled in Daniel a deep reverence and love for the tradition and history of jazz, and a yearning to travel far and wide to receive the best musical education he could, on and off the bandstand. He was fortunate to experience both: He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (now the Herbie Hancock Institute), and also had the privilege to perform and record with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Childs, Terri Lyne Carrington, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Parker, Darek Oles, Lionel Loueke, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Josh Nelson, Anat Cohen, Sara Gazarek, and many more.

As a member of the Monk Institute Ensemble, Daniel went on a U.S. State Department Tour to Morocco and got to lead and narrate a jazz history masterclass and performance at the White House hosted by Mrs. Michelle Obama, as part of International Jazz Day in 2016. Daniel has performed around the world at acclaimed festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival, the Montalcino Jazz Festival, and at famed venues such as the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, the Microsoft Theater in LA, and many more.

He released four albums of his compositions and arrangements: his debut ‘Be Nice’ was released independently in February 2017; the anticipated tour-de-force second double album ‘Serenading the Future’ was released on September 28, 2018 to praising reviews, and in December 2018 an album he recorded with a quartet co-led with alto saxophonist Josh Johnson entitled ‘Sweet Stuff’ was released by Fresh Sound Records. In December 2021, Daniel released solo saxophone record reflecting on the year of isolation as a result of Covid-19, and “as an expression of yearning for the musical reunions to come.” Daniel can be heard on releases and scores by Alain Mallet, Christian Euman, Kris Bowers, Kuba Stankiewitcz, as well as with Chilean artist Mon Laferte on her 2019 Latin GRAMMY Award winning album ‘Norma’.

($10-$15 + DICE fees | 16+ | 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.*

($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Vocalist G. Thomas Allen, whose remarkable range and expressive style brings fresh energy to jazz standards, original works, and soulful genre-blending favorites. Backed by a talented ensemble, Allen delivers a dynamic and intimate performance filled with rich storytelling and inventive jazz improvisation. Presented with Mister Bing’s!

G. Thomas Allen is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and educator recognized for his extraordinary vocal range and genre-defying style. Originally from Danville, Virginia, and later based in Chicago, he has gained national and international recognition for his work, including making history as the first male winner of the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. His voice is noted for its flexibility, smooth tone, and ability to bridge multiple musical traditions, from jazz and gospel to opera and contemporary music.

In addition to his performance career, Allen is an accomplished educator and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music. He has performed with renowned artists such as Jacob Collier, Coldplay, and Faith Hill, and has appeared on Grammy-nominated recordings. With a career that spans the stage, studio, and classroom, Allen continues to shape the future of vocal music through both his artistry and his innovative approach to teaching.

($25-$35 + Dice Fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Mexican born, Los Angeles based bassist Mauricio Morales brings a trio of upright bass, alto saxophone, and drums to the Century Room for a night of original music, joined by Devin Daniels (Herbie Hancock, Gerald Clayton, Carlos Niño) on alto and Nate Friedman (Sun Speak) on drums.

Morales is in constant demand as a sideman in LA’s flourishing jazz scene, known for his command of both the upright and electric bass traditions and the songwriter’s sense of structure he brings to his own writing. His influences run from Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau to Peter Gabriel and Sting.

He leads the albums Luna, Eclipse, The Endless Ride, and Seven Days, and appears on a new collaborative release with pianist Adam Hersh alongside guitarist Mike Moreno, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, and drummer Gary Novak.

Presented together with Arizona Arts Live.

($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) World-renowned trombonist Bob McChesney makes his Century Room debut, joined by acclaimed vocalist Calabria Foti for an unforgettable evening of jazz. Known for his virtuosic technique and dynamic improvisation, McChesney brings his celebrated artistry to the stage alongside Foti’s captivating voice.

Calabria Foti (voice) Bob McChesney (Trombone) Angelo Versace (piano) Scott Black (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

From Baltimore, Bob McChesney began playing trombone in the fourth grade through his public school music program and has since become a world-renowned trombone soloist and leading authority on trombone pedagogy. Renowned for his smooth, lightning-fast technique and mastery of jazz harmony, McChesney has distinguished himself as one of the pre-eminent trombone soloists in the world. Primarily self-taught, he developed a unique approach to slide-trombone articulation known as “doodle tonguing” and authored Doodle Studies and Etudes, considered a definitive resource on the technique and widely acclaimed by trombonists and music educators around the world. His virtuosic performance of “The Carnival of Venice” with the Idaho Falls Symphony led to a recording with pianist Alan Steinberg that has surpassed three million views on YouTube.

A prominent figure in the Los Angeles recording and studio scene, McChesney has built an extraordinary career performing on film and television scores and recordings for artists including Barbra Streisand, Shakira, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, Chicago, Keb’ Mo’, Jessie J, Trisha Yearwood, Olivia Newton-John, Hanson, Horace Silver, Joey DeFrancesco, and Randy Waldman. He can be heard on Grammy-winning albums including Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, Diana Krall’s When I Look in Your Eyes, Arturo Sandoval’s Dear Diz, and Bob Florence’s Serendipity 18. Equally at home in the big-band, jazz, and orchestral worlds, McChesney has served as lead trombonist for ensembles led by Patrick Williams, Bob Mintzer, Chris Walden, Bill Watrous, and others, and was a long-standing member of the Bob Florence Limited Edition big band. His orchestral work includes performances with the Long Beach Symphony and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as well as extensive work on motion-picture scores.

Beyond his performing career, McChesney is a sought-after jazz educator and clinician whose influence extends throughout the United States and Canada. He has been a featured artist and educator at major music conventions and festivals, including the International Trombone Festival and Jazz Education Network, and was featured on the cover of the International Trombone Association Journal in 2018. He has held teaching positions at California State University, Northridge and California State University, Long Beach, and continues to teach privately. Celebrated composer Lalo Schifrin captured McChesney’s artistry perfectly: “Bob McChesney is a virtuoso and has the gift to bring us the joy of music at the highest level.”

($30-$40 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Join us for a special night with bassist Ben Wolfe and his quartet, featuring vibraphone phenomenon Joel Ross, rising star saxophonist Nicole Glover and swinging drummer Aaron Kimmel! The band will perform music from Ben’s latest recording “Any Time After Now”, as well as music from his previous recordings.

Nicole Glover (sax) Joel Ross (vibes) Ben Wolfe (bass) Aaron Kimmel (drums)

BEN WOLFE

New York bassist, composer, and bandleader Ben Wolfe has established himself as one of the most sought-after bassists and creative voices in jazz, with a sound described by The New York Times as “Mingus and Miles Davis meet Bartok and Bernard Herrmann.” An award-winning composer and two-time recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation Program Grant through the Doris Duke Foundation, Wolfe has composed an extensive body of original music spanning more than 100 songs, 11 albums, several extended works, and a film score. His distinguished performing career includes collaborations and tours with Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, Orrin Evans, Eric Reed, and Benny Green, as well as performances with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. His Grammy-winning and platinum-selling work with Connick and Krall includes When Harry Met Sally and When I Look in Your Eyes, while his ongoing work as a composer and bandleader continues to earn critical acclaim.

JOEL ROSS

Vibraphonist and composer Joel Ross has emerged as one of the defining voices of his generation, developing a distinctive musical language rooted in tradition while embracing experimentation and contemporary jazz. His 2019 Blue Note debut, KingMaker, received widespread critical acclaim, and he has been a perennial DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star in vibraphone. In 2017, Ross became one of the youngest artists to receive a prestigious Residency Commission from The Jazz Gallery, and his acclaimed follow-up, Who Are You? (Blue Note, 2020), reflects his commitment to risk-taking and musical exploration. Known for his highly energetic and expressive playing, Ross has become an important figure in the current New York jazz scene and continues to expand the possibilities of the vibraphone as a leading composer and bandleader.

NICOLE GLOVER

New York saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator Nicole Glover is one of the most acclaimed rising voices in contemporary jazz, earning the 2026 Jazz Journalists Association award for “Up and Coming Musician of the Year” as well as DownBeat’s #1 Rising Star rankings for both tenor and soprano saxophone. Her trio, featuring bassist Tyrone Allen II and drummer Kayvon Gordon, headlined the legendary Village Vanguard and released its sophomore album, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, on HighNote-Savant Records in 2025. A sought-after collaborator, Glover currently tours with Christian McBride and Renee Rosnes, including the multi-award-winning group ARTEMIS, and has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as Al Foster, Billy Hart, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Joel Ross, Bill Charlap, Aaron Diehl, Christian Sands, and many other leading artists. She is also a dedicated educator, serving on the faculty of Manhattan School of Music and having taught at Princeton University, The New School, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

(FREE with RSVP | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | All Ages) As the Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, the Commodores have been performing the very best of big band jazz for the Navy and the nation for more than 50 years. Formed in 1969, this 18-member group continues the jazz big band legacy with some of the finest musicians in the world. The Commodores’ mission includes public concerts, national concert tours, ceremonial support in honoring our veterans, jazz education classes and clinics, and protocol performances for high-level military and civilian government officials.

Please note:

1. Tickets to this event are FREE with RSVP.
2. Dur to limited seating, please only RSVP for tickets that you know you will use.
3. If you are unable to make the concert, you can return unused tickets to the WAITLIST for someone else to use.
4. There is a 4 ticket per person limit.
5. Seating will be first come first seated.

($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) Emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in Jazz, Sarah Hanahan makes her Century Room debut with her uniquely dynamic and soulful style on alto saxophone.

Sarah Hanahan (alto saxophone)

Since her arrival on the scene, Hanahan has performed alongside an extraordinary range of jazz luminaries, including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington, and Joe Farnsworth. Her commanding tone, technical mastery, and melodic imagination have brought her to major stages across the U.S. and abroad, with regular appearances at premier New York venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, and Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.

Her debut album, Among Giants (2024)—featuring Marc Cary, Nat Reeves, and Jeff “Tain” Watts—garnered widespread acclaim, earning a 5-star review and a place among DownBeat’s Top Albums of 2024. In 2025, Hanahan was named DownBeat’s #1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist, affirming her status as one of the leading voices of her generation.

Whether leading her own quartet or collaborating with some of the music’s most revered artists, Sarah Hanahan plays with passion, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the evolution of jazz.

($30-$70 + DICE fees | 5pm & 7pm Sets | 16+) The Century Room is thrilled to welcome Rachael & Vilray for their debut performance in Tucson, AZ!

Since their formation in 2015, Brooklyn-based duo Rachael & Vilray have achieved a certain timeless quality with their singular take on traditional pop. Though rooted in the language of an earlier age, their songs transcend nostalgia with wit and a flair for the theatrical. On their third album West of Broadway, vocalist Rachael Price (also of Lake Street Dive) and guitarist/singer/songwriter Vilray evolve their music’s previous dreaminess to achieve a refreshing angularity built on left-of-center instrumentation (e.g., vibraphone and alto saxophone coasting above the moody strains of baritone sax and trombone). Produced by Dan Knobler (Allison Russell, Bahamas), West of Broadway unfolds in a series of sharply drawn vignettes inspired by a recent fascination with classic musicals—bringing their luminous vocals to offbeat tales of love and heartache along city streets.

Recorded at the legendary Sear Sound in Manhattan, West of Broadway took shape with the help of renowned musicians like saxophonist Steve Wilson (a former member of Chick Corea’s Origin sextet) and drummer John Riley (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie). Over the course of 10 lush and effervescent tracks, the album delivers standouts like “Love Comes Around” (a joyously romantic piece that set the direction for the LP’s West Coast jazz-inspired aesthetic), “My Key to Gramercy Park” (a fantastically salty number narrated by a well-to-do character who lives in lonely suspicion of all those who covet their key to the notoriously exclusive private park), and “Off Broadway” (on which golden-voiced comedian Stephen Colbert joins in for what the duo dubs an “oddly grumpy anti-Broadway screed”). Thanks in large part to the colorful detail and extravagant personality of Rachael & Vilray’s storytelling, West of Broadway ultimately immerses the audience in an exquisitely out-of-time vision of their beloved New York City.

There is a strict 4 ticket limit per show. Additional orders exceeding the ticket limit may be canceled without notice. This includes orders associated with the same name, e-mail address, billing address, credit card number, and/or other information