Event Calendar

An Evening with Mesa Community College Jazz Studies: Paul Brewer, Director & Nick Manson    

West by Northwest brings together four highly acclaimed artists who have performed worldwide with a who’s who of jazz.  The band’s live performances embrace jazz’ past, present, and future, with a great chemistry and an adventurous, hard-swinging style. Trumpet master Jason Carder (Yanni, Maria Schneider, Ray Charles, Woody Herman), pianist Angelo Versace (Take 6, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton), and the swinging rhythm team of Tom Wakeling (Lee Konitz, James Moody, Mel Torme), & Dom Moio (Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Ahmad Jamal) join forces only a handful of times each year to perform as West by Northwest. Their time together on the bandstand…

From the mid-1970s through the early 90s, Francine reigned as the most popular jazz and blues vocalist in the Valley.  In fact, she was still winning New Times/Best of Phoenix awards  after she moved to Atlanta!  Francine appeared with her bands Jazz Alive and Fever at venues such as The Boojum Tree, Chuy’s and Chuy’s Next Door/The Night Club, Churchill’s Pub and Bombay Bicycle Club, plus numerous festivals and concert halls. She has been part of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band since the mid 80’s, appeared on The Tonight Show, and appeared for many seasons in Seattle’s high-energy dinner-theatre cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni.  What an…

Adam Roberts and Dave Schmidt “Twin Tenors” Adam Roberts-saxophone, Dave Schmidt-saxophone, Dave Henning-piano, Ben Hedquist-bass, Ryan Anthony-drums Adam Roberts & Dave Schmidt celebrate the legacy of the tenor saxophone playing bebop, hard bop, modal jazz, and modern tunes destined to become classics.

THE DREAM BAND: The Brothers Landau (David & Daniel)-cello & guitar, Cathie King-violin, Thano Sahnas-guitar, Sam Russo-drums Annie Moscow is a contemporary poet, a hit songwriter, part-time comedian, and occasional philosopher.  Her very visual songs take the listener right into the picture, often cutting below comfort levels, expressing what others think but don’t dare say.  A riveting performer, Moscow commands the stage as she takes her audience to unexpected places. Her music, a unique blend of jazz, rock and americana, draws on diverse influences ranging from Debussy, Charles Ives and the Beatles, to Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell and Bruce Hornsby.

Join us in the Forman's basement as we re-imagine the greats from the ME decade! Including Elton John, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Al Jarreau, The Carpenters, Dizzy Gillespie, and More! TICKETS: $25, $10 Students (25 & under w/ ID)

Clark Gibson-saxophone, Jeff Libman-guitar, Mike Kocour-piano, Ben Hedquist-bass, Dom Moio-drums Chicago-born jazz guitarist Jeff Libman is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University. As a jazz guitarist, Libman performs frequently in the Phoenix metropolitan area, sharing the stage with some of Arizona’s finest jazz musicians, including Michael Kocour, Brice Winston, Dom Moio, and Eric Rasmussen. His most recent album, Strange Beauty, released on the Cellar Live label, received extensive radio airplay and reached #26 on the JazzWeek chart. 

Lisa  THEE’ Oracle Hightower and her band will take you on a musical journey that explores uncovers and relays the beautiful relationship between gospel & jazz music.    They will demonstrate the common thread of improvisation that both genres embody, the beauty of playing what the music calls for in the moment and the joy of audience participation through call & response. You can also expect to hear some of your favorite songs from other genres but mostly….just expect to have an Uplifting Good Time!