Today, November 13th is my late husband Kelly Roberti’s birthday. He would be 64 this year. He was the reason I moved to Montana, the link to my husband Bob Bowman, also he is one of the biggest reasons I started BigSkyJazz. The place this week’s cover photo shows is one of the places I spread Kelly’s ashes. The surrounding is very quiet and looking down Hebgen lake. I would like to share my sincere gratitude for love and support from many of you to Kelly and me when we needed them. Also your continuous support to this wonderful local jazz scene in Montana.
* To musician friends, if you would like to add your message or on going projects like new albums on this website or news letter please contact me!
* Detail of these concerts can be changed due to artists/venues’ circumstances.

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT PLONK

On Wednesday, November 14th from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Craig Hall on guitar, Bob Bowman on bass, and Adam Greenberg on drums will be making fantastic sounds! It has been a while to see this trio and I am very looking forward to listening to them! Please come down to enjoy the music with glass of wine and delicious food! No Charge.
Plonk Wine Bozeman
Wednesday, November 14th
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
https://plonkwine.com/

ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT CAFE ZYDECO

There will be open jam session at Cafe Zydeco Bozeman on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. The house jazz band will consist of Alex Platt on drums, Silas Stewart on vibraphone, John Swendseid on tenor, and Michael Steele on bass. Jazz musicians one and all, students, teachers, and players, come out and play! They will open with their own set, and then open up the stage to anyone who wants to jam. All ages, no cover, amazing food! And BYOB!
Cafe Zydeco
Thursday, November 15th
6:00 p.m. ~
http://www.cafezydeco.com/bozeman

ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE MINT IN BELGRADE

On Thursday, November 15th a band Skylark is performing at The Mint Cafe and Bar in Belgrade from 7:00p.m. to 9:30p.m.! Singer Krista Barnett, guitarist Craig Hall, and bassist Bob Bowman will be making sweet and lovely music.  Please come to The Mint where great foods, drinks, service are and enjoy the music, dance if you would like to!
The Mint Cafe and Bar, Belgrade
Thursday, November 15th
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
http://www.mintcafebar.com/

ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA

Every Friday, there is a Jazz Night at Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  This Friday Alex Robilotta on guitar, Rob Kohler on bass, and Adam Greenberg on drums will be making great sounds! Please come down and enjoy your Friday night with good live music and of course delicious pizza and beer/wine!
Red Tractor pizza
Friday, November 16th
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
http://www.redtractorpizza.com/

LIVINGSTON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018

Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Livingston Jazz Festival!
Focusing on a strong combination of performance, education, and improvisation within the jazz language; The Liv Jazz Fest will hold performances, clinics, and master classes from our guest artists, local professionals, and student musicians from around the state.
For more info, please visit : https://www.parkhighbands.org/livjazzfest

FRIDAY NIGHT – ERIC RICHARDS JAZZTET  & THE PARK HIGH JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Eric Richard // Piano & Trombone
Luca Rodoni // Trumpet
Scott Jeppesen // Saxophones
Alex Nauman // Guitar
Craig Hall // Bass
Zach Paris // Drums

SATURDAY NIGHT – ERIC RICHARDS JAZZ ENSEMBLE & THE PARK HIGH JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Mark Fenderson // Trumpet
Loren Stillman // Alto Sax
Brent Kotch // Baritone Sax
John Roberts // Trombone
– along with –
Eric Richard // Piano & Trombone
Luca Rodoni // Trumpet
Scott Jeppesen // Saxophones
Alex Nauman // Guitar
Craig Hall // Bass
Zach Paris // Drums

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY LATE NIGHT JAM
Alex Platt // Drums
Silas Stewart // Vibraphone
Eddie Tsuru // Bass

ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE EAGLES THE BRIDGER MOUNTAIN BIG BAND

The Bridger Mountain Big Band performs at The Eagles on every Sunday led by a drummer Adam Greenberg.  No cover charge but there will be a tip jar so be generous. 😉 For more information please check https://www.facebook.com/TheBridgerMountainBigBand/.
The Eagles
Sunday, November 18th
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/bozemaneagles326/

ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT WALKERS IN BILLINGS

On every Sunday American Grill & Tapas Bar Walkers in Billings has Jazz night through 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Walkers features some of the very best jazz cats in the Rocky Mountain region and is well known for its depth of musicians. This week Pablo Masis on trumpet, Erik Olson on keys, Parker Brown on bass, and Bill Honaker on drums will be performing! Please come down to enjoy the music with delicious food and drinks! No charge.
American Grill & Tapas Bar Walkers
Sunday, November 18th
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
http://walkersgrill.com/

UPCOMING JAZZ & MORE CONCERTS

MJ WILLIAMS AND FRIENDS!

On Tuesday, November 20th, Squire House in Bozeman will host a unique and geographically diverse quartet of Montana jazz musicians. This performance will feature MJ Williams on vocals, Bob Bowman on bass, Jeremy Quick on guitar, and Alex Platt on drums. (Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM. )Tickets are $25, available directly through Squire House on 25 Mendenhall, or through online sales at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mj-williams-at-squire-house-tickets-52074315680

MJ Williams is a vocalist and trombonist who lives in Basin Montana but has traveled the world in search of musical ideas and opportunities to learn about music in all its many forms. Williams has performed in the Bozeman area with Kelly Roberti, Ann Tappan and many others for at least three decades. She has been involved in many recording projects including a CD recorded in France entitled “The MJ Williams Paris Project”. In her early career she performed at the Universal Jazz Coalition in New York City, the Bellevue Jazz Festival in Seattle WA. In 2013, MJ wrote a score for Mary Ellen Strom’s two channel video installation at the Longhouse Projects Gallery in New York City. In 2015 she performed at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis with pianist Bob Packwood. In 2016 she was a recipient of the Montana Governors’ Award to Artists.

Bob Bowman (Bozeman/Kansas City) has performed with numbers of artists including Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Frank Mantooth, Carmen McRae, Pat Coil, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, Karrin Allyson, Dan Haerle, Steve Houghton, Steve Allee, Bill Mays, Clay Jenkins, Danny Embrey, Todd Strait, Loren Stillman, Bob Sheppard, Matt Otto, Rod Fleeman, John Stowell, Jerry Hahn, Bobby Watson and others. Bob has toured around the world and been on many recordings that have won or been nominated for GRAMMY awards. While performing with these artists, he works with his own bands including the legendary Kansas City group, INTERSTRING and BOWDOG. Also he has also dedicated himself to jazz education. Bob now resides in Montana continuing to play and influence the music scene.

Jeremy Quick (Whitefish, MT), skilled musician and composer, has been studying and enjoying music since he was a young child. He’s been performing live since 2003: nationally and internationally, solo and with groups. While Jeremy enjoys playing guitar for a myriad of bands, he also finds time to compose and tour with his original project, The JQTrio. In 2011, the group recorded an album, Live and Uncut. Jeremy Quick’s first studio album Sketches of America was released in 2016. When Quick is not performing, composing, writing, or learning about music, he’s teaching music. In Fall 2015, Quick was Artistic Associate for The Banff Centre’s Artists-In-Residence (Banff, AB, Canada). His 2014 original song, “Superhero” (available on iTunes) was an American Songwriting Award Nominee.

Alex Platt (Bozeman/Los Angeles) began playing the drums at the age of 10, began gigging professionally at the age of 13, and along with his prodigious younger brother Adam Platt (piano), started his career early in life opening jazz festival shows for international jazz stars like Ahmad Jamal, Diana Krall, and many others. He went on to study with drum legends Joe LaBarbara, Mike Clark, Tootie Heath, Rick Latham, Dave Elitch, Jeff Hamilton, and received his performance degree in Jazz and African-American Music from the California Institute of the Arts in 2001. He has performed and/or recorded with jazz artists such as Alice Coltrane, Jack Walrath, Oranyon Coltrane, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Brad Rabuchin; as well as country artist Stephanie Quayle, soul/funk impresario Big Joe Hurt, Persian legends Bahram Bajelan and Mehrdad Arabi, Jake Faulkner and Zac Sokolow of The Americans, and many more. He has also been a part of the rotating faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He currently resides in Bozeman, where he performs, teaches, and records.


November 21st @ Plonk

Jeremy Quick on guitar and Bob Bowman on bass

November 23rd @ Red Tractor Pizza

Alex Robilotta on guitar, Eddie Tsuru on bass, and Mike Gillan on drums

November 25th @ Sola Cafe

Montana Manouche

November 25th @ Walkers (Billings)

Arterial Drive


BigSkyJazz.net and news letter Jazz this week are non-profit. I am doing this to be a little help for jazz community around Bozeman while I work as a website/graphic designer.
If you feel like helping me with a little reward please donate from “Buy me a glass of wine page“. It is much appreciated!!!