Century Room

 A BORDERLANDS JAZZ CLUB & MEZCAL LOUNGE

Featuring local & national musical acts, ancestral small batch mezcals, craft cocktails, regional beer, wine & small plates.

Monday: Century Room Jazz Orchestra; Tuesday Acoustic & Ambient Series; Wednesday Traditional Jazz; Thursday Pete Swan Presents & Late Night; Friday: Signature Concert Series; Saturday Solo Series & Late Night; Sundays: Matinees & Jazz JamSee full schedule & purchase tickets below.
Reserved tickets in our front listening section are available for all shows.
The musicians and your fellow audience members thank you for
keeping your conversations to a quiet minimum during the performances!
For booking & general inquiries, email centuryroom@hotelcongress.com

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The Century Room Hotel Congress Downtown Tucson

Upcoming Events



Today

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

AR Flamenco Presents: Tablao Flamenco On The Plaza

AR Flamenco Presents: Tablao Flamenco On The Plaza

($15 | 7pm show) Tablao Flamenco is expanding to this Hotel Congress plaza this month! Join us and experience the rawness and authenticity flamenco has to offer. (Note: NOT in the Century... Read more

($15 | 7pm show) Tablao Flamenco is expanding to this Hotel Congress plaza this month! Join us and experience the rawness and authenticity flamenco has to offer. (Note: NOT in the Century Room…)

Buy tickets to the plaza show here: https://link.dice.fm/flamenco

Special guest Carlos Menchaca (baile)

Mele Martinez (Palmas/Cante)

Angelina Ramirez (baile)

Misael Barraza Diaz (guitarra)

Olivia Rojas (cante)

Jason Martinez (cajon)

**Carlos Menchaca**

Carlos Menchaca began studying Mexican regional dance, ballet, and flamenco at age 10, primarily with his aunt, accomplished director and dancer, Belinda Menchaca, at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 2006, Menchaca moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to work with Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company and to study at the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts under the mentorship and direction of Joaquin Encinias. Menchaca has studied with innumerable iconic flamenco artists but most recently, his professional engagements have included working with artists such as Pedro Córdoba, Alejandro Granados, Juan Ogalla, Soledad Barrio, Eugenio Iglesias, Emilio Florido, Manuel Gago, Domingo Ortega, Ivan Vargas, and many others. Currently, Menchaca teaches and choreographs for the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts and performs nationally and abroad with Yjastros, Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, Flamenco Aparicio, and La Juerga Flamenco Ensemble, among other companies and collectives throughout the continent.

**Angelina Ramirez**

Angelina Ramirez is a flamenco movement artist and teaching artist living in Tucson, Arizona. Ramirez’s artistic work explores what it means to be a queer, latinx flamenca, practicing in a traditional Roma/gitano form of dance. As a teaching artist, she is interested in the intersections of arts and healing, focusing on work with elders of all abilities and integrated flamenco with autistic individuals. She is devoted to promoting accessibility and eradicating ableism, racism and bigotry by practicing and promoting dialogue, acceptance and community participation. In 2021 Ramirez received the Master-Apprentice Artist Award through Southwest Folklife Alliance for her dedication and commitment to Flamenco arts. She is a National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures fellow. In 2018 she received the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ Artist Research and Development Grant to support the development of her evening-length work /SER/. Ramirez is an original member of Yjastros, the American Flamenco Repertory Company and has toured with world-renowned, New York-based company Noche Flamenca. Along with teaching and performing Ramirez produces events and festivals and is currently the curator for the Traditional and Ethnic Dance Festival with the Southwest Folklife Alliance.

**Misael Barraza Diaz**

Born in Mexico, Misael is one of the most talented guitarists of his generation. While the artist holds several degrees in classical guitar performance – including a doctorate in musical arts – flamenco guitar has and always will be an intrinsic part of his musical identity. Originally self-taught, Misael went on to study in Spain with renowned flamenco guitarist and educator Oscar Herrero, where he polished his skills as a solo flamenco guitarist. Since then, however, he has become one of the prominent flamenco accompanists in the Arizona region, as his devotion to flamenco and its essence has driven his artistic growth throughout the years. As a result, the artist has performed with all of the major flamenco dance companies and artists in the area and continues to do so while developing a solo guitar career. Misael has released a flamenco guitar CD titled “Luz de Día”, to be soon followed by three more flamenco guitar projects currently being recorded and produced.

**Olivia Rojas**

Olivia Rojas is a traveling flamenco singer artist. She began her professional career singing choral and Mexican rancheras. In 2004, Olivia began singing flamenco cante and has toured throughout the United States with Calo Flamenco: Ballet de Martin Gaxiola and Chris Burton Jacomé Flamenco Ensemble. She has had the honor of performing at the prestigious Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque during the Albuquerque Flamenco Festival for the past two years and recently performed with Sachiko “La Chayí”, DanzArtsSan Diego, EmiArteFlamenco and La Juerga Flamenco Ensemble. She has performed throughout the State of Arizona with Alma Performing Arts, Carlos Montufar – World Dance, Mosaico, Yumi La Rosa Ensemble, Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo and Inspiracion Flamenca. Olivia is Co-Owner of Arizona based, Flamenco Por La Vida along with Angelina Ramirez. She performs in various venues throughout the Valley and teaches a weekly flamenco cante and communication class at the Lost Leaf in downtown Phoenix. Flamenco Por La Vida offers Lecture Demonstrations throughout the Valley and is currently holding a weekly movement and music clinic at the Mayo Clinic Hospital – Phoenix.

Sullivan Fortner Trio

Sullivan Fortner Trio

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) We’re beyond excited to welcome the revelatory Sullivan Fortner for his very first Century Room performance. Sullivan Fortner (piano) Tyrone Allen (bass) Kayvon Gordon (drums) This... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) We’re beyond excited to welcome the revelatory Sullivan Fortner for his very first Century Room performance.

Sullivan Fortner (piano) Tyrone Allen (bass) Kayvon Gordon (drums)

This program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts via the Western Jazz Presenters Network and the Tucson Jazz Festival.

**Sullivan Fortner**

For the past decade, Sullivan Fortner has been stretching deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, band leader and uncompromising individualist. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist out of New Orleans received international praise as both key player and producer for his collaborative work on The Window, alongside Cecile McLorin Salvant. As a solo leader, he has released Moments Preserved and Aria to critical acclaim.

In addition to associations with such diverse voices as Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, Etienne Charles and John Scofield, Fortner’s frequent and longtime collaborators have included Ambrose Akinmusire, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Kassa Overall, Tivon Pennicott, Peter Bernstein, Nicholas Payton, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Fred Hersch and the late Roy Hargrove. Recent collaborations include GRAMMY-nominated releases Dear Love (Empress Legacy) and Generations from leaders Jazzmeia Horn and The Baylor Project, respectively.

A highly-sought improviser, Fortner has performed across the country and throughout the world at such cultural institutions as Snug Harbor, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Lorraine’s and The Jazz Playhouse in New Orleans, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Standard and Smalls Jazz Club in New York City. He’s appeared at celebrated festivals, including Newport, Monterey, Discover, Tri-C and Gillmore Keyboard, among others. In 2019, Fortner brought his band to the historic Village Vanguard for a week-long engagement he would reprise in 2020 as a virtual performance during lockdown. His notable studio contributions include work on Etienne Charles’s Kaiso (Culture Shock, 2011), Donald Harrison’s Quantum Leap (FOMP, 2010), and Theo Croker’s The Fundamentals (Left Sided Music, 2007).

Playing solo or leading an orchestra, Fortner engages harmony and rhythmic ideas through curiosity and clarity. Within phrases, he finds universes, and listeners often hear how he’s moved by each note he explores. Coming up in New Orleans, Fortner began playing piano at age 7, following a storied lineage of improvisers, masters of time and every iteration of the blues. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and Master of Music in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music (MSM). A champion of mentorship, Fortner has offered masterclasses at MSM, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Purdue University, Lafayette Summer Music Workshop, Belmont University and Oberlin Conservatory where he held a faculty position.

Pulling distinct elements from different eras, Fortner’s artistry preserves the tradition and evolves the sound. He seeks connections among different musical styles that are at once deeply soulful and wildly inventive. Both his works and his insights have been featured in culturally iconic publications, from The New York Times to The Root. Accolades include the 2015 Cole Porter Fellowship awarded by the American Pianists Association, Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship, the 2016 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists and, in 2020, the prestigious Shifting Foundation Grant for artistic career development.

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago.... Read more

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago. The band starts at 7pm, followed by a trad jazz jam session. Every Wednesday!

To sit in our listening section by the stage, be sure to buy a reserved ticket! The rest of the room is open to the general public…dancing encouraged!

Pete Swan Presents: Mike Levy Quartet

Pete Swan Presents: Mike Levy Quartet

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday, drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features Mike Levy and his quartet! Read more

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday, drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features Mike Levy and his quartet!

Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland

Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) For over 20 years, pianist Aaron Goldberg has set himself apart as one of the most scintillating performers in jazz and he is joined by the... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) For over 20 years, pianist Aaron Goldberg has set himself apart as one of the most scintillating performers in jazz and he is joined by the legendary Rueben Rogers on bass and one of the THE MOST recorded drummers in history, the multiple GRAMMY nominated Eric Harland.

Aaron Goldberg (piano) Reuben Rogers (bass) Eric Harland (drums)

**Aaron Goldberg**

“For over 20 years, pianist Aaron Goldberg has set himself apart as one of the most scintillating performers in jazz,” hails JazzTimes. Goldberg is widely heralded as one of the art form’s most compelling pianists, both leading his own trio and collaborating with such brilliant icons as Joshua Redman, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Guillermo Klein and many more. Simultaneously swinging and embracing risk, his stylistically fluid, singular voice reveals that jazz is a tradition of innovation.

Goldberg became a jazz devotee in high school as a student at Milton Academy in Boston. He was introduced to the African-American art form by bassist and master educator Bob Sinicrope, and at age 16 began study with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. As Aaron puts it, “At first improvisation was a mystery and a puzzle, but soon it became a profound inner and outer journey as life and music entwined.” After receiving awards from Berklee College of Music and Downbeat Magazine, he moved to New York City at 17 to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Devoting himself entirely to music for the first time, he won the NFAA Recognition and Talent Search and IAJE Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship, attending classes by day and performing in NYC clubs by night, inspired by NYC’s myriad living masters.

**Reuben Rogers**

Imbued with groove and spirit from birth, Reuben Rogers combined the calypso and reggae rhythms of his native Virgin Islands with the gospel sounds of the church and the freedom and improvisation of jazz to create the unique chemistry that would make him one of the most distinctive and in-demand bassists in modern jazz. Rogers’ versatile mastery of both the acoustic and electric bass has led to opportunities alongside some of the music’s most renowned artists, including Charles Lloyd, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Tomasz Stanko, Marcus Roberts, Nicholas Payton, Mulgrew Miller, Jackie McLean and Dianne Reeves, among countless others. Over the last two decades, he’s been featured on more than 100 recordings (including his sole release as a leader, the 2006 all-star session The Things I Am) and countless international tours. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Rogers gives back with numerous workshops, clinics, and master classes around the world.

**Eric Harland**

He has alredy been on close to 500 recordings and multiple film scores at his age of 45

Eric has been recognized in the Boston Globe, New York Times, Jazz Times, Modern Drummer, All About Jazz, The New Yorker, Downbeat, L’uomo Vogue, and other prominent publications.

It has been his privilege to share the stage with masters such as Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Terence Blanchard, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Savion Glover, SFJAZZ Collevctive, and many others, as well as today’s p and ocming artists like Esperanza Spalding, Jane Monheit, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Stacie Orrics, Robert Glasper, and so on. His current list of performing groups are “James Farm” with Joshua Redman, “Prism” with Dave Holland and Kevin Eubanks, “Sangham” with Charles Lloyd and Zakir Huissain, “Charles Lloyd New Quartet”, “The Marvels” with Bill Frisell, Gred Leisz and Lucinda Williams, “Overtone” with Dave Holland, Jason Moran, Chris Potter, and “Voyager” on Eric’s own widely recognized group.

But Eric doesn’t stop there, he also manages to git in many collaborations with world renowned artists like Les Claypool, “Primus”, “Dispatch”, The Band, KRS1, John Mayer, Gigi Hadid, Spike Lee, Steve Miller, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson from “American Idol”, Director Julian Rosefeldt on his upcoming film Euphoria, and the list continues to expand.

Eric Harland was honored to be the resident artistic director at the SFJAZZ center for the 2014-2016 season. Also acting artist in resident at The Monterey Jazz Festival 2014 season.

Harland also had the supreme privilege of being invited and attending President Barack Obama’s 2016 White House state dinner in honor of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Paul Green Jazz Blues Quartet

Paul Green Jazz Blues Quartet

($10-$15 tickets | 9pm show) Paul Green Jazz Blues Quartet Susan Artemis (piano) Evan Arredondo (bass) Josh Carruthers (drums) Read more

($10-$15 tickets | 9pm show) Paul Green Jazz Blues Quartet

Susan Artemis (piano)

Evan Arredondo (bass)

Josh Carruthers (drums)

AHF Presents Agave Spirits Tasting: Uncommon Espadíns

AHF Presents Agave Spirits Tasting: Uncommon Espadíns

($40 per guest | 4pm Doors / 4:30pm Tasting) Agave Heritage Festival presents agave spirits tasting, every 1st Sunday! Join Francisco Terrazas, Programming Director for the Agave Heritage Festival, for an evening... Read more

($40 per guest | 4pm Doors / 4:30pm Tasting) Agave Heritage Festival presents agave spirits tasting, every 1st Sunday!

Join Francisco Terrazas, Programming Director for the Agave Heritage Festival, for an evening around the culture, craft and process of agave spirts. This month features Uncommon Espadins.

Ticket includes four ¾ ounce tastes along with traditional tasting accompaniments (orange slices, agave worm salt and sparkling water!)

**October 1st:** Uncommon Espadíns
*Real Minero, La Venenosa Raicilla Costa de Jalisco Jalisco, La Mata Tepemete Durango, Origen Raíz Chacaleño*

**November 5th:** Sotoles
*Origen Raíz Sotol de Durango, Sotol por Siempre, La Mata Cucharilla Oaxaca, Rancho Tepua Palmilla*

**December 3rd:** Spirits of the North
*Sotoleros Lechuguilla, Los Cantiles 1905 Blanco, LaMata Ensamble Tamaulipas, La Higuera*

Century Room Jazz Jam

Century Room Jazz Jam

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Steve Roach’s Ambient Lounge: Linda Kohanov, Dean De Benedictis (Surface 10)

Steve Roach’s Ambient Lounge: Linda Kohanov, Dean De Benedictis (Surface 10)

($10-$15 | 6pm doors / 7pm show) Adventures in the soundcurrent. Ambient pioneer Steve Roach hosts the monthly “Ambient Lounge”with rotating performers and DJs. This month features artists Linda Kohanov, and Dean... Read more

($10-$15 | 6pm doors / 7pm show) Adventures in the soundcurrent.

Ambient pioneer Steve Roach hosts the monthly “Ambient Lounge”with rotating performers and DJs. This month features artists Linda Kohanov, and Dean De Benedictis aka Surface 10.

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago.... Read more

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago. The band starts at 7pm, followed by a trad jazz jam session. Every Wednesday!

To sit in our listening section by the stage, be sure to buy a reserved ticket! The rest of the room is open to the general public…dancing encouraged!

Pete Swan Presents: Wholly Cats Swing Club

Pete Swan Presents: Wholly Cats Swing Club

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday, drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features The Wholly Cats Swing Club! Read more

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday, drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features The Wholly Cats Swing Club!

Roxy Coss Quartet

Roxy Coss Quartet

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Welcome the prolific saxophonist and composer, Roxy Coss for her Century Room debut! Roxy Coss (saxophone) Caili O’Doherty (piano) Russell Hall (bass) Bryan Carter (drums) **Roxy... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Welcome the prolific saxophonist and composer, Roxy Coss for her Century Room debut!

Roxy Coss (saxophone) Caili O’Doherty (piano) Russell Hall (bass) Bryan Carter (drums)

**Roxy Coss**

Musician, Composer, Bandleader, Educator and Activist Roxy Coss received the 2022 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star” award on Soprano Saxophone, is a recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, the Hothouse Magazine & Jazzmobile “Tenor Saxophone” Award, and is a Jazziz Magazine “Artist to Watch”. She has performed around the world, headlining at the Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne Big Band Festival, NYC Winter JazzFest, BRIC JazzFest, Earshot Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Summerfest, Jazz Standard, and Jazz Showcase. Coss has performed as a side musician with Jazz greats and luminaries including Clark Terry, Billy Kaye, Maurice Hines, Rufus Reid, Louis Hayes, Gene Perla, Houston Person, Claudio Roditi, Bill Charlap, Geoffrey Keezer, Willie Jones III, Jeremy Pelt, Darcy James Argue, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra.

Roxy has six albums out under her own name, including her latest release, Disparate Parts (Outside in Music), which was met with critical acclaim. Her fifth album Quintet (Outside in Music), received a 4-Star review from Downbeat. The Roxy Coss Quintet, featuring some of the world’s finest young musicians, is the first-ever recipient of the Emerging Artist Project, a four-year grant from the Local 802 Musicians Union. They largely perform Coss’ original compositions. Her composition work can also be found on Jeremy Pelt’s recording, Face Forward, Jeremy (High Note).

Coss grew up in Seattle, WA where she attended the acclaimed Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble, and graduated from William Paterson University in 2008 with a BM in Jazz Studies/Performance. She has been living in the New York area since 2004. Roxy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jazz Education Network (JEN), is Jazz Faculty at The Juilliard School, and is the President & Founder of Women In Jazz Organization (WIJO). She is also an endorsing Artist for P. Mauriat, Vandoren, and Key Leaves products.

Ashley Kahn & Brice Winston | The Big Bang of Bebop: Why Charlie Parker Still Matters

Ashley Kahn & Brice Winston | The Big Bang of Bebop: Why Charlie Parker Still Matters

($15-$40 tickets | 5pm Presentation / 7pm & 9pm Shows) Welcome Ashley Kahn back to the Century Room all the way from NYC joined by a live band! **Charlie Parker** Charlie “Bird”... Read more

($15-$40 tickets | 5pm Presentation / 7pm & 9pm Shows) Welcome Ashley Kahn back to the Century Room all the way from NYC joined by a live band!

**Charlie Parker**

Charlie “Bird” Parker *is* modern jazz—and that is not an overstatement. The innovations and freedoms he brought forth in an astonishingly brief period of time—from 1945 to ’54, less than ten years—were labeled “bebop” at the time, and it still serves as the dividing line between jazz being regarded as a popular, dance-focused music, and being revered as a form of serious self-expression. But how and why did he do this? Does it all stand the test of time?

The continuing stature of Bird and bebop should in fact be questioned, if only to reconfirm the weight of the burden he carried in his lifetime. Parker was challenged by that responsibility, and by other personal demons—leading to his demise at the age of 34. He died an exemplar of the African American propensity for creating new musical languages that have maximum impact with limited resources—think spirituals and blues, and even hip hop. 103 years after his birth, with video and music examples, we will ask why Charlie Parker still means so much to our musical tradition.

**Ashley Kahn**

Ashley Kahn is a Grammy-winning American music historian, author, professor and producer. He teaches at New York University’, co-wrote Carlos Santana’s award-winning autobiography The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light (Little, Brown, 2014), and is a producer of Carlos (2023), the documentary on Carlos Santana. He has written books on two legendary recordings: Kind of Blue by Miles Davis and A Love Supreme by John Coltrane, and one on a legendary record label: The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records. His most recent book is George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters. He also edited Rolling Stone: The Seventies, a 70-essay overview of that pivotal decade.

Kahn, who was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jazz Journalists Association, broke into the music business as a tour manager and music festival producer, has held a variety of positions in radio, television, and online businesses. As a journalist, his byline has appeared in many publications and websites, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Statesman, and others, and his writing has garnered four ASCAP/Deems Taylor awards, and three Grammy nominations. In 2015, he was awarded a Grammy for his album notes to the John Coltrane release Offering: Live at Temple University, and in 2017, he received the Robert Palmer-Helen Oakley Dance Award for Excellence in Writing from the Jazz Journalists Association.

Fruit Cocktail Lounge: Shira Maas

Fruit Cocktail Lounge: Shira Maas

($10 Tickets | 4pm Doors) ISpice up your autumn with Fruit Cocktail Lounge on Sunday October 8 at the Century Room! Join your friends, family and community at Tucson’s premiere LGBTQIA+ jazz... Read more

($10 Tickets | 4pm Doors) ISpice up your autumn with Fruit Cocktail Lounge on Sunday October 8 at the Century Room!

Join your friends, family and community at Tucson’s premiere LGBTQIA+ jazz cocktail party featuring the sensational Shira Maas on the microphone joined on stage by the spectacular Fruit Cocktail Combo led by our fabulous friend, Khris Dodge! And it wouldn’t be Fruit Cocktail Lounge without our dashing host, Paul Bowman! Enjoy downtown Tucson’s only jazz club for a delightful afternoon with stellar entertainment, signature craft cocktails, delectable small plates and fabulous fellowship.

And it’s just $10! The admission price brings you our talented local musicians and special happy hour pricing on select cocktails!

Century Room Jazz Jam

Century Room Jazz Jam

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet

Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome master guitarist Jonathan Kriesberg and his band! Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar) Marko Churnchetz (piano) Luca Alemanno (bass) Colin Stranahan (drums) **Jonathan Kreisberg** Guitarist and composer Jonathan... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome master guitarist Jonathan Kriesberg and his band!

Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar) Marko Churnchetz (piano) Luca Alemanno (bass) Colin Stranahan (drums)

**Jonathan Kreisberg**

Guitarist and composer Jonathan Kreisberg has built a strong worldwide following and has influenced the next generation of musicians with his unique combination of timeless melodicism and forward thinking lines and textures. He is recognized as a player who has studied the Jazz language deeply while infusing it with fresh new ideas, expanding the possibilities of the guitar.

Jonathan has led various groups with star players and performed as a sideman with such notables as Lonnie Smith, Joe Locke, Ari Hoenig, Yosvany Terry, Larry Grenadier, Bill Stewart, Gary Versace, Will Vinson, Kevin Hays, Mark Ferber, Matt Penman, and Martin Bejerano among others. He has released 11 critically acclaimed CD’s including “The South of Everywhere”, “Shadowless”, “One” (his first all solo guitar recording), “Wave Upon Wave”, “Kreisberg Meets Veras”, and “Capturing Spirits – JKQ Live!”. He has received the ASCAP Plus Award annually for 15 years.

For 12 years Jonathan had also been a constant collaborator with NEA jazz master Dr. Lonnie Smith, who says of Kreisberg “He is a passionate musician with great vision, and he is constantly in fiery pursuit of innovation.” Jonathan worked as performer and associate producer for Dr. Smith’s recent works on Blue Note Records. He has performed 20th century works with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.

In addition to his work as a Jazz composer his music was also featured in many scores for Playwrights Horizon in NYC, the Goodman theater in Chicago, and Hartford Stage.

Jonathan is also a respected educator with over 20 years of experience. In 2017 he released his first book of compositions and transcriptions, OFFERINGS OF NOTE, as well as a series of instructional videos called POLYRTHYTHMIC GUITAR. He also founded “EXPLORATIONS OF NOTE”, a unique online music education program for advanced players.

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago.... Read more

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago. The band starts at 7pm, followed by a trad jazz jam session. Every Wednesday!

To sit in our listening section by the stage, be sure to buy a reserved ticket! The rest of the room is open to the general public…dancing encouraged!

Steve Duson

Steve Duson

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features the vocalist Steve Duson! Read more

($10-$15 | 7pm) Every Thursday drummer and producer Pete Swan runs a series presenting some of his favorite musicians. This week features the vocalist Steve Duson!

Ben Wendel Quartet

Ben Wendel Quartet

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome grammy-nominated saxophonist, Ben Wendel to the Century Room stage! Ben Wendel (saxophone) Taylor Eigsti (piano) Or Baraket (bass) Jonathan Pinson (drums) **Ben Wendel** Grammy nominated... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome grammy-nominated saxophonist, Ben Wendel to the Century Room stage!

Ben Wendel (saxophone) Taylor Eigsti (piano) Or Baraket (bass) Jonathan Pinson (drums)

**Ben Wendel**

Grammy nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer and producer. Highlights include tours, performances and/or recordings with artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Antonio Sanchez, Gerald Clayton, Eric Harland, Taylor Eigsti, Linda May Han Oh, Moonchild, Louis Cole, Daedelus, Snoop Dogg and the artist formerly known as Prince. Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody.

As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, the 2008, 2011 and 2017 Chamber Music America “New Works Grant” and was awarded the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council For The Arts. He also co-wrote the score for John Krasinski’s adaptation of David Foster Wallace’s “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men.”

Ben was honored to work with conductor Kent Nagano in producing a series of concerts for the Festspiel Plus in Munich, Germany. From 2008 to 2015, he produced a multi-genre performance series at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. During that time he was appointed the head of their Jazz and Blues initiative, which included producing and expanding performance opportunities for these genres in Los Angeles. As part of this appointment, Ben helped to create an artistic council which included such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert and Luciana Souza. Ben’s producer work includes the Grammy nominated album “Life Forum” for pianist Gerald Clayton on Concord Records.

Ben has recorded for Edition Records, Sunnyside Records, Motéma Music, Concord Records and Brainfeeder, with five solo albums under his belt, Simple Song (2009), Frame (2012), What We Bring (2016) The Seasons (2018), High Heart (2020), a duo project with French-American pianist Dan Tepfer entitled Small Constructions (2013) and multiple Kneebody albums. His critically acclaimed music video project The Seasons, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s works of the same name, was released throughout 2015 and included guests such as Joshua Redman, Jeff Ballard, Mark Turner, Julian Lage, Ambrose Akinmusire and more. It was listed as one of the best releases of 2015 by the NY Times.

Ben is a former Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies at USC and a current Adjunct at the New School in NYC. Educational outreach has been a constant in his career with over 300 masterclasses at various colleges, universities, high-schools and also previous work with the LA Philharmonic Artist Program.

Miki Yamanaka Trio

Miki Yamanaka Trio

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Come experience the powerful Miki Yamanaka and her NYC Trio for their Century Room debut! Miki Yamanaka (piano) Tyrone Allen (bass) Jimmy Macbride (drums) **Miki Yamanaka**... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Come experience the powerful Miki Yamanaka and her NYC Trio for their Century Room debut!

Miki Yamanaka (piano) Tyrone Allen (bass) Jimmy Macbride (drums)

**Miki Yamanaka**

33-year old Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has called New York City home since 2012 and in the past decade has wasted no time establishing herself as one of the leading personalities of her generation on the piano and beyond. Critics laud her “light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach” – Mike Jurkovic (All About Jazz), while audiences delight in not only her playing, but her vibrant personality as well. Yamanaka has gained international recognition from her albums as a leader; her most recent and most intimate release, “Stairway to the Stars” (Outside In Music), features Jazz masters Mark Turner and Orlando le Fleming. Additionally, Miki has emerged as a leader of the “New York Scene” via her notable residencies at mainstay West Village sister clubs Smalls and Mezzrow. During the pandemic, she developed a successful in-home live-streaming weekly concert series cleverly titled “Miki’s Mood” where she features a veritable who’s who of NYC talent (including her husband and frequent collaborator – drummer Jimmy Macbride). The series showcases her vast knowledge of Jazz standards and tunes, often featuring themed offerings of various composers from both the Great American Songbook as well as iconic Jazz composers.

As a sideman, Yamanaka has worked with Jazz luminaries such as alto saxophonist Antonio Hart who posits “Miki will be recognized as one of the most exceptional artists of her generation, as she is already one of the most talented and dedicated musicians from Japan.” Other notable bands she currently works in include the Philip Harper Quintet and the Roxy Coss Quintet. One of her most respected mentors on piano and organ (Yamanaka also performs on organ frequently), Larry Goldings, once mused, “If only I could have Miki Yamanaka comp behind me!” – a compliment of the highest order from one master pianist to another. She has a myriad of glowing reviews from her recorded work and the iconic Downbeat Jazz magazine has repeatedly awarded her albums high marks.

On top of her exciting work as a bandleader in New York and abroad, Miki can often be found out and about most nights, where her infectious smile and gregarious nature engender fast friends in every audience she encounters. She has many hobbies, including cooking, knitting, and perhaps most visibly, her penchant for wearing her vast collection of kimonos on her gigs, proudly representing her heritage and culture night after night as she dazzles audiences around the world.

Jaliya: World Contemporary Music

Jaliya: World Contemporary Music

($10-$15 | 5pm Matinee) With a mix of traditional West African instruments like the Kora, Ngoni and Calabash accompanied by western drums, steel and bass guitar, our music seeks to transport you... Read more

($10-$15 | 5pm Matinee) With a mix of traditional West African instruments like the Kora, Ngoni and Calabash accompanied by western drums, steel and bass guitar, our music seeks to transport you with an ethereal groove. Together, our deep rooted culture and rich traditions are represented musically to you with our own style of a soft, bluesy, and jazzy blend of unique world music and a connection to traditional folk music. Join us for a concert and experience the sounds to stir and satisfy your soul.

**Elijah** Originally from a primarily fishing community of Lebou, an ethnic group of Senegal, West Africa. He grew up in a culture where the emphasis was on piety and respect for elders, and a strong emphasis on celebratory public exorcism dances, drumming and rituals.

**Yacouba** Originally from the landlocked country of Burkina Faso, West Africa. As a griot or jali, he is a member of West African historians, story tellers, praise singers, poets, and musicians.

Century Room Jazz Jam

Century Room Jazz Jam

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago.... Read more

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago. The band starts at 7pm, followed by a trad jazz jam session. Every Wednesday!

To sit in our listening section by the stage, be sure to buy a reserved ticket! The rest of the room is open to the general public…dancing encouraged!

Pete Swan Presents: Sarah Tolar

Pete Swan Presents: Sarah Tolar

($10-$15 | 7pm Show) Every Thursday, drummer & producer Pete Swan presents a spotlight on his favorite local musicians. This Thursday come grab a drink and catch vocalist Sarah Tolar and her... Read more

($10-$15 | 7pm Show) Every Thursday, drummer & producer Pete Swan presents a spotlight on his favorite local musicians. This Thursday come grab a drink and catch vocalist Sarah Tolar and her band!

Mike Gellar Quintet Celebrates the Music of Tadd Dameron

Mike Gellar Quintet Celebrates the Music of Tadd Dameron

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome Tucson’s own guitar guru Mike Gellar & his quintet as they celebrate the music of Tadd Dameron! Dameron is responsible for countless jazz standards... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 9pm sets) Welcome Tucson’s own guitar guru Mike Gellar & his quintet as they celebrate the music of Tadd Dameron! Dameron is responsible for countless jazz standards including “If You Could See Me Now,” “Lady Bird” and “Hot House.” Featuring Cynthia Hilts (piano & vocals) Eric Nakanishi (alto sax) Lee Gardner (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)

Singer/Songwriter Patti Zlaket

Singer/Songwriter Patti Zlaket

($10-$15 | 7pm Show) Club Congress presents Patti Zlaket, returning for an encore performance at Century Room! With more than thirty years of making music under her belt, Patti delivers a mix... Read more

($10-$15 | 7pm Show) Club Congress presents Patti Zlaket, returning for an encore performance at Century Room!

With more than thirty years of making music under her belt, Patti delivers a mix of original music and eclectic covers that reflect her love of classic pop (70s and 80s), soul, alternative, jazz, and everything in between. Her humorous storytelling and spontaneity onstage have become as much a part of the show as the music – you never know what’s coming next, and that’s part of the fun! She’ll be joined by a fabulous band.

Greg & Pete: Back Together Again!

Greg & Pete: Back Together Again!

($10-$15 | 4pm Doors, 5pm Show) Come down for a Sunday matinee and check out Greg Stickroth & Pete Pete Cooper-Lara, backed up by Khris Dodge on the piano. Read more

($10-$15 | 4pm Doors, 5pm Show) Come down for a Sunday matinee and check out Greg Stickroth & Pete Pete Cooper-Lara, backed up by Khris Dodge on the piano.

Century Room Jazz Jam

Century Room Jazz Jam

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago.... Read more

($10 Reserved/No Cover GA | 7pm-10pm) Guy Senese leads the Mysterious Babies in the tradition of Armstrong, Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton, and other Early Jazz innovators out of New Orleans & Chicago. The band starts at 7pm, followed by a trad jazz jam session. Every Wednesday!

To sit in our listening section by the stage, be sure to buy a reserved ticket! The rest of the room is open to the general public…dancing encouraged!

The Anthony Fung Quartet

The Anthony Fung Quartet

($15-$25 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Los Angeles based Anthony Fung Quartet blends the sounds of modern composition as well as incorporating inspiration from ethnic world rhythms and straight ahead jazz.... Read more

($15-$25 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Los Angeles based Anthony Fung Quartet blends the sounds of modern composition as well as incorporating inspiration from ethnic world rhythms and straight ahead jazz.

Alex Hahn (Alto Sax) Michael Ragonese (Piano) Luca Alemanno (Bass) Anthony Fung (Drums)

**Anthony Fung**

Anthony Fung is a Canadian-born drummer, composer, producer, and bandleader currently based in Los Angeles, CA. He has established himself as an accomplished musician, earning multiple degrees and performing at renowned festivals and venues worldwide. Anthony’s education includes a master of music degree from the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he studied and performed with jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. He also holds a bachelor of music and a master of music degree from the Berklee College of Music and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, where he was mentored by Danilo Pérez.

As a drummer, Anthony has performed alongside a diverse array of artists, including Danilo Perez, Kenny Lattimore, John Patitucci, George Garzone, David Binney, Terrace Martin, and Alicia Olatuja. He has also worked as a bandleader, releasing three albums to critical acclaim. Anthony’s FO(U)RTH album featuring saxophonist Mark Turner will be released fall 2023. In addition to his performance work, Anthony is an accomplished composer and producer. His compositions have been featured in films and television shows such as “The Last Tourist” on Apple TV and Craig Robinson’s Hulu special “Your Attention Please.” He has also been commissioned to create works such as “The Chinese Immigration Suite” for the Los Angeles Jazz Society.

Anthony is highly regarded in the music industry, with his work receiving praise from respected publications such as Downbeat Magazine and WBGO. Downbeat Magazine awarded his album “Flashpoint” with a four-star review and included it in their “Best Albums of 2019 & 2020” list. WBGO featured Anthony’s work in their segment “New Music by Five Composers behind the Drums,” highlighting his talent as a composer.

Michael Ragonese Trio

Michael Ragonese Trio

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Michael Ragonese is a highly accomplished pianist based in Los Angelesand has earned recognition as an extraordinary soloist with awards from the Reno and Monterey Jazz... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Michael Ragonese is a highly accomplished pianist based in Los Angelesand has earned recognition as an extraordinary soloist with awards from the Reno and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Michael has since become a sought-after musician, touring, performing, and recording with some of the most notable names in the music industry, such as Barbara Streisand, Dave Koz, Charnett Moffett, Walter Smith III, Mark Turner, Bennie Maupin, Engelbert Humper, Grace Kelly and more. He brings his LA trio to Tucson for one night only!

Luca Alemanno (bass)

Anthony Fung (drums)

Michael Ragonese (piano)

Dwarfs of East Agouza

Dwarfs of East Agouza

($15-$30 tickets | 7pm & 9pm sets) All the way from Cairo, Egypt, the newly formed trio The Dwarfs of East Agouza have just completed their first European tour. Their music is... Read more

($15-$30 tickets | 7pm & 9pm sets) All the way from Cairo, Egypt, the newly formed trio The Dwarfs of East Agouza have just completed their first European tour. Their music is essentially a cacophony of instruments and voice: it goes from drumbeats to jazzy frictions, topped with the notes from keyboards, saxophone and guitar. The final product becomes an interesting heterogeneous mixture of sounds.

Their first album “Bes” is inspired by an ancient Egyptian deity, a protector of humans and households. While Bes’ dance and grotesque features drove off all evil, they also brought a lot of joy, humour and introduced entertainment to the life of those protected by him, whether communities or individuals.

Maurice Louca (organ, synthesizer, beats) Sam Shalabi (electric guitar) Alan Bishop (bass/alto sax/vocals)

Forest Percussion Ensemble

Forest Percussion Ensemble

($15-$30, 5pm & 7pm sets) The Forest is a cooperative percussion ensemble comprised of five composer/percussionists who possess deep experience working in dialogue with a wide range of African-Diasporic musics, Contemporary New... Read more

($15-$30, 5pm & 7pm sets) The Forest is a cooperative percussion ensemble comprised of five composer/percussionists who possess deep experience working in dialogue with a wide range of African-Diasporic musics, Contemporary New Music, Free Improvisation, and other musical forms and philosophies. The Forest shares and expands upon these traditions through diverse artistic collaborations, performances and workshops with communities of all kinds, explorations of setting and space, the incorporation of new performance techniques, and by performing new and existing works by its members and selected works by other composer/percussionists.

Gustavo Aguilar, Leah Bowden, Andrew Drury, Lesley Mok, Michael Wimberly

**THE FOREST**

The ensemble’s debut performances received standing ovations in New York at Lincoln Center and at Roulette, and on the west coast at Cal Arts, Seattle’s Wayward Music Series, and Bread and Salt in San Diego. In addition to the five performances the ensemble led masterclasses with six universities, workshops with community organizations in five cities, and improvised at the US/Mexican border fence and in the forest in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle.

The Forest is currently planning tours for 2023 and ‘24 while completing work on a studio recording with Grammy Award winning engineer, Jon Rosenberg. Due for release in October 2023, the recording presents Andrew Drury’s suite dedicated to his mentor, “(D)ruminations for Edward Blackwell,” and “Elements of a Storm,” a composition written for M’Boom by one of its founding members, Warren Smith. The recording features Warren Smith (percussion) and J. D. Parran (multiple wind instruments) as special guests.

The Forest is animated by a recognition of the drum as a tool employed since timeimmemorial and in every region of the Earth to bring people together. Drums attract attention, generate a powerful sense of group focus, and raise spirits through a shared somatic experience. The Forest sees in this unique ‘potential of the drum’ a means for community building, for collective and individual renewal, and a source for artistic inspiration.

The Forest has been awarded two grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council and a Jazz Road Creative Residency grant from South Arts.

Century Room Jazz Jam

Century Room Jazz Jam

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

(No Cover | 7pm-10pm) Come jam with the Century Room House band!

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

The Century Room Jazz Orchestra

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room starting at 7pm.... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 7pm & 8:30pm sets) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 & Sly Slipetsky (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Morani Sanders, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Susan Artemis: I Put A Spell On You

Susan Artemis: I Put A Spell On You

($15-$25 | 7pm) Happy Halloween! Century Room favorite Susan Artemis reprises her hit show, “Jazz From the Dark Side of the Lounge,” but this time makes it even darker for the Halloween... Read more

($15-$25 | 7pm) Happy Halloween! Century Room favorite Susan Artemis reprises her hit show, “Jazz From the Dark Side of the Lounge,” but this time makes it even darker for the Halloween with spooky song selections including “I Put A Spell On You,” “I Scare Myself,” “Witchcraft” and many more. Come in costume and be sure to order a Shadow Caster…

Space Travelers’ Union

Space Travelers’ Union

($10-$20 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Spearheaded by Ryan Wheless, a Berklee dropout who moved to Tucson, Space Travelers Union is a jazz fusion project with strong contemporary influences, such as Pop... Read more

($10-$20 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Spearheaded by Ryan Wheless, a Berklee dropout who moved to Tucson, Space Travelers Union is a jazz fusion project with strong contemporary influences, such as Pop Smoke, John Coltrane, and the Flagstaff, Arizona jam band “Righteous Harmony”.

Join him and his friends to celebrate the release of Hope, the first single off of Space Travelers Union’s debut album, The Trials of Bunny John. As a devout student of the legacy of jazz, the show is sure to be a calm and predictable tribute to elevator muzak. (irony)

Kyle Nassar/ Simona Premazzi Quartet

Kyle Nassar/ Simona Premazzi Quartet

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Traveling from NYC with their quartet, tenor saxophonist Kyle Nasser and Italian pianist Simona Premazzi perform their original modern jazz compositions at the Century Room. Nasser’s... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Traveling from NYC with their quartet, tenor saxophonist Kyle Nasser and Italian pianist Simona Premazzi perform their original modern jazz compositions at the Century Room. Nasser’s playing and compositions have been described as sophisticated and complex and his “songs weave together sonata forms, baroque to 20th century counterpoint, and modern rhythms with modern jazz vocabulary.” Premazzi has earned recognition for her improvisational work and skillful approach as a composer, with an unmistakable style and depth that comes across in every one of her compositions.

**Kyle Nassar**

A Massachusetts native and graduate of both Harvard and Berklee, Kyle Nasser has been described as possessing, “superlative musicianship as a performer, writer and a bandleader…ardent creativity and urbane artistic composure” (Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz). Since moving to New York City in 2010, he has played at some of the city’s most prestigious venues – including the Blue Note, Smalls, Iridium, 55 Bar, and the Jazz Gallery – and has toured in the U.S. and South America. Nasser has shared the stage with jazz greats Rich Perry, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek, Simona Premazzi, Roman Filiu, Massimo Biolcati, and Ben Monder, among others. In addition to leading his own group, he also plays with and composes for the international collective Beekman, whose sound has been described as “a joyful and continued speculation flowing in almost all facts with surprising ease” (Jazz, ese ruido), and the collective Triple Blind. With this last group, Nasser won the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant in 2021. Nasser’s debut album, Restive Soul, features his quintet presenting “a collection of sophisticated and complex modern jazz originals” (Jazz Weekly). His music stands out for its seamless integration of classical forms and techniques with jazz language and phrasing. The album’s songs weave together sonata forms, baroque to 20th century counterpoint, and modern rhythms with modern jazz vocabulary. “The saxophonist’s debut is knotty with a contrapuntal weave of voices, bumpy mixed meters, and alternating rhythmic currents that nonetheless groove, sometime with a rocking edge” (Boston Globe).

**Simona Premazzi**

New York based pianist Simona Premazzi has developed an impressive body of work as a composer and bandleader. Originally from Italy, Premazzi hails from a small town in the outskirts of Milano, where she began playing piano at age 8 and a half. A gifted musician, Simona is a graduate of the conservatory of music in Udine. She followed up her studies in Milano, by enrolling in the International Academy of Jazz Music and CPM music school, studying with two of Italy’s formidable jazz masters, Massimo Colombo and Franco D’Andrea.

As a student she became a member of two of the Academy’s most interesting bands – the Mingus Fingers Septet, of course focusing on the music of Charles Mingus, followed by a four year stint with Enrico Intra’s Big Band, touring across Italy and playing along side internationally recognized musicians including Markus Stockhausen, David Raksin, Franco Cerri, James Newton, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Dave Liebman, Eddie Daniels, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu and many others

Dave Stryker Quintet: Messin’ With Mr. T

Dave Stryker Quintet: Messin’ With Mr. T

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) With 35 albums under his own name, NYC guitarist Dave Stryker has built a formidable career both as a leader and collaborator with legendary jazz artists... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) With 35 albums under his own name, NYC guitarist Dave Stryker has built a formidable career both as a leader and collaborator with legendary jazz artists like Stanley Turrentine and Jack McDuff. “Messin’ with Mr. T” is the name of his 2015 album, which was inspired by his tenure in Turrentine’s band. He revisits the music of Stanley Turrentine backed up by saxophonist Jed Paradies and pianist Angelo Versace, with Scott Black on bass and Arthur Vint on drums.

Clark Gibson Direction Quartet

Clark Gibson Direction Quartet

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Saxophonist and composer Clark Gibson currently serves as Director of Education at The Nash in Phoenix, AZ and is a highly sought after adjudicator and clinician... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Saxophonist and composer Clark Gibson currently serves as Director of Education at The Nash in Phoenix, AZ and is a highly sought after adjudicator and clinician throughout the country. His forward-thinking music is strongly rooted in the traditions of jazz musicians of the 20th century, the history of Western classical music, his own life experiences, as well as musical traditions from cultures across the globe.

Joining him will be Director of Jazz Studies at the U of A Angelo Versace on piano, Director of Jazz Studies at NAU Chris Finet on bass and Artistic Director of the Century Room Arthur Vint on drums.

If you are looking for direction, look no further.

Brian Bromberg Trio: Night One

Brian Bromberg Trio: Night One

($25-$40 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Originally from Tucson, bassist Brian Bromberg joined the Stan Getz Quartet when he was only 19 years old. What has followed has been a successful career... Read more

($25-$40 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Originally from Tucson, bassist Brian Bromberg joined the Stan Getz Quartet when he was only 19 years old. What has followed has been a successful career that has included collaborations with some of the greatest jazz musicians to ever live. He brings his Los Angeles based trio to Tucson for two nights for his first performance in his hometown in years!

Ted Rosenthal: George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue at 100

Ted Rosenthal: George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue at 100

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) **Ted Rosenthal** is one of the leading jazz pianist/composers of his generation. He actively tours worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and has performed with... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm Shows)

**Ted Rosenthal** is one of the leading jazz pianist/composers of his generation. He actively tours worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and has performed with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and James Moody.

Winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, Rosenthal has released fifteen CDs as a leader. Rhapsody in Gershwin, which features his arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue for jazz trio, reached #1 in jazz album sales at iTunes and Amazon. Wonderland, was selected as a New York Times holiday pick, and received much critical praise: “Sleek, chic and elegant” – Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune. Impromptu, showcases his reimaginings of classical themes for jazz trio. “A serious listen to Impromptu will be a mind-changing experience…sit back and enjoy these wonderfully creative takes on ten compositions from the classical canon that have never sounded so cool.” – Elliott Simon, AllAboutJazz

Rosenthal’s solo album, The 3 B’s, received 4 stars from DownBeat magazine. It features music of Bud Powell, Bill Evans and his improvisations on Beethoven themes. “In Rosenthal’s hands all this music sounds as though it sprang from the same muse, and that’s the sign of a skilled, imaginative artist.” – David R. Adler, All Music Guide.

Steve Roach’s Ambient Lounge: Robert Rich

Steve Roach’s Ambient Lounge: Robert Rich

($20-$30 | 6pm doors / 7pm show) The full circle – 30 year reunion Ambient pioneer Steve Roach hosts the monthly “Ambient Lounge”with rotating performers and DJs. This month features Steve Raoch... Read more

($20-$30 | 6pm doors / 7pm show) The full circle – 30 year reunion

Ambient pioneer Steve Roach hosts the monthly “Ambient Lounge”with rotating performers and DJs. This month features Steve Raoch himself and long time friend Robert Rich.

The Heavy Hitters

The Heavy Hitters

($25-$40 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Heavy Hitters return to the Century Room for their 2nd appearance! A new collective sextet conceived by two of the music’s greatest artists, pianist Mike... Read more

($25-$40 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Heavy Hitters return to the Century Room for their 2nd appearance! A new collective sextet conceived by two of the music’s greatest artists, pianist Mike LeDonne and saxophonist Eric Alexander, the Heavy Hitters play “soulful kickass swinging music” that is reminiscent of classic Blue Note records of the 1960s.

LeDonne & Alexander are joined in this powerhouse ensemble by the fiery trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, bassist Peter Washington, and the sublime swing of drummer Kenny Washington. These world-renowned musicians are the epitome of New York jazz and are known for bringing the heat and taking no prisoners.

Jeremy Pelt (trumpet) Vincent Herring (alto) Eric Alexander (tenor) Mike LeDonne (piano) Peter Washingto (bass) Kenny Washington (drums)

Skip Heller’s Hollywood Noirchestra

Skip Heller’s Hollywood Noirchestra

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Los Angeles guitarist Skip Heller and his ensemble pay tribute to the marriage of crime and jazz, featuring classic film noir scores by Mancini, Barry, Mandel... Read more

($20-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) Los Angeles guitarist Skip Heller and his ensemble pay tribute to the marriage of crime and jazz, featuring classic film noir scores by Mancini, Barry, Mandel and more! Bandleader/composer Heller has long enjoyed a diverse career, but one close look at his resume – which includes working with Yma Sumac, Bootsy Collins, NRBQ, Lalo Guerrero, Los Lobos, the Klezmatics, Todd Rundgren, and Joe Bataan – and it becomes clear that film noir is his home base. In late 2019, he assembled The Hollywood Film Noirchestra, bringing together an ensemble of players whose abilities ran the gamut from jazz to chamber music, Latin music, funk, world music, and beyond.

Alex Melnychuck (trumpet) Alan Acosta (tenor & alto saxophone) Christin Hablewitz (flute & clarinet) Max Goldschmid (trombone & french horn) Skip Heller (guitar) Peter Sax (piano) Ryan Magness (bass) Arthur Vint (drums) Carlos Solis (percussion)

**Skip Heller**

Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Heller was a prolific participant in the local bar band scene. A self-taught arranger-composer, he migrated to Hollywood in the late nineties, and set to work producing a series of critically-accclaimed independent records (both as artist and arranger/producer). In 1999, he scored the film _Man Is Mostly Water, A (1999)_. Shortly afterwards, he wrote the bulk of the new music for The Flintstones: On the Rocks (2001), and music for an episode of the popular cartoon Dexter’s Laboratory (1996). He continues to be active as player, composer, and bandleader.

Skip Heller With Naim Amor & The Cocktail Hours

Skip Heller With Naim Amor & The Cocktail Hours

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Naim Amor & the Cocktail Hours perform every 2nd Saturday at the Century Room, playing a blend of jazz, tiki, lounge and exotica! This month with... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Naim Amor & the Cocktail Hours perform every 2nd Saturday at the Century Room, playing a blend of jazz, tiki, lounge and exotica! This month with special gues Skip Heller from Los Angeles.

A limited number of advanced reserved tickets are sold with additional general admission tickets available at the door.

Dmitri Matheny & Holy Pyle: The Brazil Project

Dmitri Matheny & Holy Pyle: The Brazil Project

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Join Holly, Dmitri, and their all-star band for a musical journey to Brazil and a fresh spin on jazz samba, bossa nova, and beyond! **Holy Pyle**... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Join Holly, Dmitri, and their all-star band for a musical journey to Brazil and a fresh spin on jazz samba, bossa nova, and beyond!

**Holy Pyle**

“Pyle had little exposure music in her youth but taught herself piano at a young age. Years of school choirs, musical theater and a handful of voice lessons set Pyle on a path to Northern Arizona University to pursue opera vocal performance. A few years later her attention shifted to jazz and psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2010. Pyle spent a few years exploring psychology-related careers until working at a behavioral treatment center for troubled youth; their encouragement ignited her mission towards being a career musician. Pyle now teaches voice in Tempe and West Phoenix and performs full time in a full spectrum of projects. The Stakes, a six-piece hip-hop collective, just released their debut EP, featuring all original material sung and co-written by Pyle. Holly also has a jazz-based group called House of Stairs that draw from funk, soul and pop influences to create a distinct progressive soundscape. Inspired by the visual innovations of M.C. Escher, House of Stairs approaches composition and performance in a parallel sense, exploring multi-faceted interactions between harmony, meter and lyrics that are both compelling and imaginative. Pyle also has a vocal looping project, both in a solo setting and a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Shea Marshall. Pyle stays active in the Jazz community as well, performing with many of Arizona’s finest jazz musicians and has been added to Jazz in AZ’s annual Jazz Divas lineup.”

-allaboutjazz.com

**Dmitri Matheny**

Celebrated for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American musician Dmitri Matheny has been lauded as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” (International Review of Music).

First introduced to jazz audiences in the 1990s as the protégé of Art Farmer, Matheny has matured into “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players” (San Francisco Chronicle).

Born on Christmas Day, 1965 in Nashville,Tennessee, Dmitri was raised in Georgia and Arizona. Attracted to his father’s collection of jazz and classical LP records, Dmitri began piano lessons at age 5, switched to the trumpet at age 9, and took up the flugelhorn at 18. Matheny attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, then the Berklee College of Music, Boston, graduating magna cum laude in 1989. After private studies with Carmine Caruso in New York City, Matheny became the protégé of the legendary Art Farmer, a formative relationship that lasted over a decade.

Farmer, “the bebop master who defined the sound of the flugelhorn in modern jazz” (All Music Guide), was Matheny’s public champion and private mentor. Generously sharing his wisdom, experience and influence, it was Farmer who encouraged Dmitri to devote himself exclusively to the “Big Horn.”

Under Farmer’s tutelage Matheny emerged as a promising new voice in jazz.“Art Farmer’s role in the early success of Dmitri Matheny cannot be overstated,” observed writer and historian Phil Elwood. “Without Art, there could be no Dmitri.”

At 29, after launching a busy recording career on the West Coast, Matheny made his New York debut at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, then began touring internationally.

The soulful sound of Dmitri’s horn garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, drawing frequent comparisons to Miles Davis, Chet Baker and—not surprisingly—to Art Farmer. Upon Farmer’s passing in 1999, Matheny acquired his mentor’s copper-bell flugelhorn.

Today, Dmitri leads the Dmitri Matheny Group, “an all-star jazz band featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the western United States” (All About Jazz).

Matheny has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He has traveled to 21 countries and has performed with many Motown and popular music acts including the Temptations, Martha Reeves, Fabian, the Four Tops, Bobby Vinton, Sandy Patty, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and the O’Jays.

Sam Trapchak & Q Morrow: Traq Ataq

Sam Trapchak & Q Morrow: Traq Ataq

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Q Morrow and Sam Trapchak join forces to giveus Traq Attaq! **Q Morrow** “it’s the HIPPEST guitar-led grouping I’ve heard (yet) in 2018” “The sensitive beauty... Read more

($15-$30 | 7pm & 9pm Shows) Q Morrow and Sam Trapchak join forces to giveus Traq Attaq!

**Q Morrow**

“it’s the HIPPEST guitar-led grouping I’ve heard (yet) in 2018”

“The sensitive beauty expressed through Q’s guitar on “Sueño de Miel” will totally blow you away… this track is absolutely the best jazz guitar I’ve listened to in 2018”

“defines the “hip” that is NYC – this is it, folks!”

*Dick Metcalf-Contemporary Fusion Reviews*

“each of these songs evokes a different landscape and a different sensibility, all lovingly caressed by Morrow’s magnificent guitar”

“free-wheeling and smart feel straight out of the NYC jazz scene”

“this daring musician produces almost hypnotic strains of pure beauty”

“Morrow certainly has arrived at the next level and has given us something full of imagination”

**Sam Trapchak**

Sam Trapchak was born in 1984 in Livonia, Michigan. When he expressed an interest in music his father dissuaded him from the electric guitar with these words of wisdom: “Everyone always needs a bass player.”

From there, Sam was nurtured by the rich musical tradition of Detroit. He took up the double bass after being accepted into the jazz studies program at Wayne State University in Detroit. He won successive scholarships while enrolled there, and freelanced throughout the Metro-Detroit/Windsor area.

In 2007 Sam was awarded a full scholarship to continue his studies at William Paterson University in New Jersey. There, he studied with Mulgrew Miller, Steve Laspina, and other legendary jazz musicians. Upon completing his degree in 2009, Sam moved to downtown Jersey City where he now resides. He is a full time musician and works primarily in New York City. In August of 2010 he recorded his first album as a leader with his band “Put Together Funny”. The album, Lollipopocalypse, was released on December 16th 2010 at a celebratory concert at Cornelia St. Cafe in Greenwich Village. It is available on CDbaby.com or by contacting Sam directly.

TJF Opening Party feat. Armen Donelian Quartet

TJF Opening Party feat. Armen Donelian Quartet

($15-$25 tickets | 6pm-8pm) Come celebrate the opening night of the Tucson Jazz Festival with a special cocktail hour with the Armen Donelian Quartet! Arturo Sandoval performs across the street at the... Read more

($15-$25 tickets | 6pm-8pm) Come celebrate the opening night of the Tucson Jazz Festival with a special cocktail hour with the Armen Donelian Quartet! Arturo Sandoval performs across the street at the Rialto Theater at 8pm, so come get in the mood with some more live jazz and cocktails at the Century Room! Doors open at 5pm with live music starting at 6pm. Free General Admission to Tucson Jazz Festival members!

Isaiah J. Thompson

Isaiah J. Thompson

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist Isaiah J. Thompson. **Isaiah J. Thompson** Isaiah J. Thompson is the winner of the 2023 American Pianists Awards... Read more

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist Isaiah J. Thompson.

**Isaiah J. Thompson**

Isaiah J. Thompson is the winner of the 2023 American Pianists Awards and the Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz of the American Pianists Association. Originally from West Orange, New Jersey, the pianist, bandleader and composer began studying at The Calderone School of Music from an early age. Soon after, Isaiah continued his studies with Jazz House Kids and NJPAC Jazz For Teens and was later admitted to The Juilliard School graduating with both his Bachelor’s in 2019 and Master’s of Music degrees in 2020. Isaiah has performed with major artists, including Ron Carter, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Steve Turre and Buster Williams. His recording debut was featured on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records’ Handful of Keys album with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and he has since released multiple recordings as a leader.

He worked on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack for Motherless Brooklyn, was named a Steinway Artist and has been awarded other accolades including, the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award, and second place in the 2018 Thelonious Monk Competition. As a performer, Isaiah tries to emit love, spirit and respect and convey his personal experiences through his artistry and his everlasting love of jazz.

Alex Kautz Brazillian Jazz Quartet

Alex Kautz Brazillian Jazz Quartet

($25-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents drummer Alex Kautz. **Alex Kautz** Musicality, groove and knowledge of a variety of styles are some of the adjetives that makes... Read more

($25-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents drummer Alex Kautz.

**Alex Kautz**

Musicality, groove and knowledge of a variety of styles are some of the adjetives that makes Alex Kautz a unique musician.

Alex has been a part of the NY competitive music scene for the last fifteen years and has played and/or recorded with some of the top artists in the industry today including Tim Ries, Chico Pinheiro, Magos Herrera, Nilson Matta, Steve Willson, Lenny Andrade, Fabio Gouvea, Adam Rogers, Helio Alves, Victor Prieto and Lionel Loueke to name a few.

Alex has also led his own groups where he explores the sounds and textures of Brazilian music mixed with jazz and he is currently working on a new album to be released next fall.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Alex received the “Best Achievement merit Scholarship” while attending the prestigious institution in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. He later received a full scholarship award from Mexico’s National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) to study a Masters of Arts Degree in Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.

As an active educator since 2001, Alex has been an important part of the artistic community in different countries including USA, Mexico, India, and Brazil teaching private lessons as well as master classes. In addition he has been a guest professor in Souza Lima Conservatory and College of Music in Sao Paulo, Brazil, JAZZUV School of Music in Veracruz Mexico, Swarnabhomi School of Music in India and he is currently teaching at the New School and Mannes School of Music in NYC.

Century Room Jazz Orchestra feat. Special Surprise Guest

Century Room Jazz Orchestra feat. Special Surprise Guest

($25-$35 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents the 17-piece Century Room Jazz Orchestra with a very special surprise guest… **Century Room Jazz Orchestra** Inspired by... Read more

($25-$35 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents the 17-piece Century Room Jazz Orchestra with a very special surprise guest…

**Century Room Jazz Orchestra**

Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO 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 with a special guest vocalist!

Arthur Vint (drums) Scott Black (bass) Angelo Versace & Peter Saxe (piano) Matt Mitchell (guitar) Joseph Rader (bari sax) Brice Winston & Kevin Ravellette (tenor sax) Eric Nakanishi & Simeon Roth (alto sax) Jordan Robison, Joshua Schanie, Benjamin Constantinides, Max Goldschmid (trombone) Alex Melnychuck, Anthony Gibes, Tony Belletti, Jason Carder (trumpet)

Sean Mason Quartet

Sean Mason Quartet

($25-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist Sean Mason. **Sean Mason** Sean Mason is in no rush. The young pianist and composer takes his time in playing... Read more

($25-$35 | 7pm & 9pm sets) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist Sean Mason.

**Sean Mason**

Sean Mason is in no rush. The young pianist and composer takes his time in playing and composing, imagining his music as a physical space through which to guide the listener. He sees much of that music taking place in the south, specifically North Carolina, where he grew up playing piano in church. “It’s something about … that feeling of going to that part of the south that always sticks with me,” he says. “And so I can’t really get that out of my music.”

Mason’s music is also exceptionally groovy – as he puts it, “my purpose is to play dance music,” citing ragtime and stride piano as two of his greatest inspirations, along with early hero Ray Charles.

Mason moved to New York in 2018 to attend Juilliard, where he connected with the late pianist Frank Kimbrough, who became his private instructor and an important friend. Mason also caught the attention of both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, who have selected him for the piano chair on some highly prestigious gigs, from an all-Ellington program at Jazz at Lincoln Center to the soundtrack for the film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Miguel Zenón Quartet

Miguel Zenón Quartet

($30-$40 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents Miguel Zenón. **Miguel Zenón** Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group... Read more

($30-$40 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents Miguel Zenón.

**Miguel Zenón**

Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often- contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists and composers of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between jazz and his many musical influences.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released fifteen recordings as a leader, including the Grammy-nominated Música De Las Américas (2022), El Arte Del Bolero (2021) and Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera (2019) and Yo Soy La Tradición (2018). He has worked with luminaries such as The SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Danilo Perez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Kurt Elling, Joey Calderazzo, Steve Coleman, Ray Barreto, Andy Montañez, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, The Mingus Big Band and Bobby Hutcherson.

Zenón has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Chicago Tribune. In addition, he topped both the Jazz Artist of the Year and Alto Saxophonist of the Year categories in the 2014 JazzTimes Critics Poll and was selected as Alto Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (when he was also recognized as Arranger of the Year). In 2023 he was recognized by the same organization as the Composer of the Year.

As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, NYO Jazz, The New York State Council on the Arts, Chamber Music America, Logan Center for The Arts, The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, MIT, Spektral Quartet, Miller Theater, The Hewlett Foundation, Peak Performances, PRISM Quartet and many of his peers. Zenón has given hundreds of lectures and master classes at institutions all over the world and is a faculty member in the Music & Theater Arts Department at MIT, as well as the current Visiting Scholar for the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music.

In April 2008 Zenón received a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. Later that year he was one of 25 distinguished individuals chosen to receive the coveted MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “Genius Grant.” In 2011 he founded Caravana Cultural, a program which presents free-of-charge Jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. In 2022 he received an Honorary Doctorate from La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the highest honor bestowed by the institution.

Melanie Sholtz & Aaron Rimbui: Reflections On Mama Africa

Melanie Sholtz & Aaron Rimbui: Reflections On Mama Africa

($30-$40 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents Melanie Sholtz & Aaron Rimbui. **Melanie Sholtz** Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, multi award winning jazz... Read more

($30-$40 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents Melanie Sholtz & Aaron Rimbui.

**Melanie Sholtz**

Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, multi award winning jazz singer and composer. She started playing the piano from the age of 5 and went on to study Opera at The University of Cape Town Opera School where she graduated Cum Laude with a Performer’s Diploma in Opera 2000. Melanie went on to teach at the University of Cape Town from 2004-2005. In 2010, Melanie was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz and In 2012, won all three prizes at the prestigious Jazz Revelations competition as part of the Jazz a Juan Festival in Nice, France.

She has performed all over the world including her native country, South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovakia , Germany , France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United States.

Currently residing in New York City, Melanie hopes to further her career as a solo artist and songwriter. Besides performing with a jazz trio, whether it be jazz or her own music, Melanie has a solo project called The Lone Looper, using a looping machine, which enables her to create compositions using only the voice.

**Aaron Rimbui**

Aaron was born in Nairobi, Kenya. Rimbui’s ear for music was displayed while still a toddler. His father would play everything from Stevie Wonder records to Henry Mancini and take him to local restaurants where he heard the music of groups like Les Wanyika, Maroon Commandos and Samba Mapangala. This had a significant influence on how he developed his sound in later years. Rimbui’s individual expression in music continued to form in his high school years. It is at this time that he picked up the piano. Rimbui began to gravitate toward jazz as he listened to the music of David Sanborn, Joe Sample, Yellowjackets and Fourplay and later, Herbie Hancock and George Duke. Rimbui served as head the Tusker Project Fame band.

Bill Cantos

Bill Cantos

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist and vocalist Bill Cantos. **Bill Cantos** The music and lyrics of Bill Cantos have been recorded by... Read more

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm ) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents pianist and vocalist Bill Cantos.

**Bill Cantos**

The music and lyrics of Bill Cantos have been recorded by artists spanning the worlds of pop, jazz, theater, gospel, and world music: Ramsey Lewis, Lea Salonga, Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Herb Alpert, Cheryl Bentyne, The Imperials, Flora Purim, Clay Crosse, Helen Baylor, Mark Winkler, and many others. He has written songs (with Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Mari Falcone) for the new musical CHASING MEM’RIES, which recently premiered at the Geffen Playhouse in LA.

Since 2008, Bill has collaborated live and in the recording studio with Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, contributing to six albums including the Grammy-winning STEPPIN’ OUT . He also performed with Burt Bacharach as keyboardist and featured vocalist from 2011 until Burt’s final live show in 2019. He was a backing vocalist on three world tours with Phil Collins and has also toured with Diane Schuur, David Foster, Deniece Williams, Debby Boone, Freddie Hubbard, Vikki Carr, and Rita Coolidge; the artists with whom he has recorded include Elton John, Leon Russell, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, Bob Dylan, Brian Bromberg, Jay Graydon, Andrae Crouch, Clint Black, and Kirk Whalum.

​Bill sang and co-wrote the main title song “All Right Day” for the film HOME RUN SHOWDOWN. He has sung on the soundtrack of over sixty films including FROZEN 2, SING & SING 2, STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, WALL-E, RIO & RIO 2, and contributed to the music for the Oscar-winning documentary 20 FEET FROM STARDOM. He can be seen performing with Dick Van Dyke in the HBO film IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE OBIT, EAT BREAKFAST.

Linda May Han Oh Quintet

Linda May Han Oh Quintet

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents bassist Linda May Han Oh and her Quintet. “Her innovative range and stellar improvisations have made [her] one of... Read more

($35-$45 Tickets | Sets at 7pm & 9pm) The Tucson Jazz Festival presents bassist Linda May Han Oh and her Quintet.

“Her innovative range and stellar improvisations have made [her] one of the most dynamic rising stars in jazz today.” – The Wall Street Journal

“A major bass voice arrives” – JazzTimes

**Linda May Han Oh**

Based in New York City, Linda May Han Oh is a bassist and composer who has performed and recorded with artists such as Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen, and Vijay Iyer.

Born in Malaysia and raised in Perth, Western Australia, she has received many awards such as 2nd place at the BASS2010 Competition, a semi-finalist at the BMW Bass competition and an honorary mention at the 2009 Thelonious Monk Bass Competition.

Linda also received the 2010 Bell Award for Young Australian Artist of the Year and was the 2012 Downbeat Critic’s Poll “Rising Star” on bass. She was voted the 2018 and 2019 Bassist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as 2019 Up-and-coming Artist of the Year. Linda recently received a Jerome Foundation Fellowship, as well as the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant for 2019. She also was voted 2019 Bassist of the Year in Hothouse Magazine and 202 recipient of the Margaret Whitton Award.

She has had five releases as a leader which have received critical acclaim. Her most recent release “Aventurine” is a double quartet album, featuring string quartet and vocal group Invenio.

Linda has written for large and small ensembles as well as for film, participating in the BMI Film Composers Workshop, Sundance Labs at Skywalker Ranch and Sabrina McCormick’s short film, “A Good Egg”.

Linda is based in New York City and is currently on faculty at the New School – School of Jazz , as well as Berklee College of Music. As an active educator she has created a series of lessons for the BassGuru app for iPad and iPhone. Linda is currently bassist of Pat Metheny’s quartet.

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