I can’t believe it is December already. I feel the same every December and I bet many of you feel the same way! There will be really nice house jazz concerts at Cikan’s this month. Please check the UPCOMING JAZZ AND MORE section!
Just a reminder about Jazz Night at Open Range – this Thursday, December 5th will be the last Jazz Night for this year and it will start from January 2nd 2020.
* 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 TUESDAY NIGHT AT DEVIL’S TOBOGGAN IN BOZEMAN
Join Montana Manouche for Gypsy Jazz and American Swing at fantastic Devil’s Toboggan! An elegant 1930-style speakeasy lends the perfect ambiance for the band’s music. Feel free to dress vintage, you’ll fit right in! Delicious hand-crafted cocktails and tapas served. Dancers welcome! No cover. The venue’s Happy Hour is 4-6PM. *This event is 21+ Only
Devil’s Toboggan
113 East Oak, Suite 2B (Cannery District)
Tuesday, December 3rd 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ JAM SESSION AT LEVITY IN BILLINGS
On this Tuesday, December 3rd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there will be a jazz jam session at Levity Bar and Bistro in Billings! Joe Sullivan, Robin Martinez, Jeff Long, and Lloyd Marsh will host the jam session. Bring your instruments and join them on your favorite tune. (or tunes!)
Levity Bar and Bistro
1027 Shiloh Crossing Blvd Suite 8, Billings, MT 59102
Tuesday, December 3rd 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
MSU BILLINGS JAZZ AND BILLINGS SENIOR FUNDRAISER FOR TUMBLEWEED
Come down to Craft Local for the holiday fundraiser to help the Tumbleweed organization assist homeless youth. Free admission, but all donations and tips go to Tumbleweed. Performing this evening will be:
-Bronc Project from Billings Senior High
-MSU Billings Commercial Ensemble ( Original Pop, Alt., Soul, Funk)
-MSU Billings Jazz Combos
-Jackets Only a capella
-MSU Billings Big Band (RnB, Funk, Blues, Swing, Latin and more)
These bands are all popping and we’d love to pack the place! If you saw the MSU Billings groups last night, you KNOW you’re in for a treat!
Craft Local
2413 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101
Thursday, December 5th 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT OPEN RANGE IN BOZEMAN
On every Thursday from 9:00 – 11:00PM there will be live jazz at Open Range in Downtown Bozeman! On this Thursday, December 5th vocalist Michelle Manzo Cobb, pianist Cheyenne John Henderson, and bassist Bob Bowman will be making sweet and excellent sounds! Please come down to enjoy the live jazz, delicious food and drinks! No music charge!
Open Range
241 E Main St Bozeman, MT 59715
Thursday, December 5th 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT STAGGERING OX IN HELENA
This Friday Night the Wilbur Rehmann Quartet will be performing 6:00p-9:00p at the Staggering OX. The whole band will be there including Ken nelson, keyboards, Dennis Ferriter, bass, Jeremy Slead, drums and Wilbur Rehmann, saxophones. They’ll be playing plenty of music, some for dancing and some listening! You can also get a tasty treat to eat and a local beer or classic wine to drink.
Staggering Ox (Helena)
400 Euclid Ave, Helena, MT 59601
Friday, December 6th 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
https://staggeringox.com/helena/
ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
Every Friday, there is a Jazz Night at Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman On this Friday, December 6th from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A wonderful young jazz group The Royal We Jazz Quintet will be performing! Please come down and enjoy your Friday night with good live music and of course delicious pizza and beer/wine!
Red Tractor pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
Friday, December 6th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
TSUNAMI FUNK AT AMERICAN LEGION BOZEMAN DEC 6TH & 7TH
If you love dancing to good old Funk music Tsunami Funk will be performing at American Legion Bozeman on this Friday and Saturday! It is Christmas Stroll Weekend in Bozeman Downtown and it will be a big party! Music starts at 9:00 pm to after midnight. No Cover Charge.
American Legion Bar
225 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
Friday, December 6th & Saturday, December 7th 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Facebook event page
ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAZZ COLLECTIVE:DUKE ELLINGTON’S NUTCRACKER SUITE
Rocky Mountain Jazz Collective and Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale are pleased to present Duke Ellington’s treatment of Tchaikovksy’s famous Nutcracker Suite. Presented as a collaboration between the Rocky Mountain Jazz Collective, Montana State University Billings, and the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, join us in the beautiful Petro Hall on the campus of Montana State University Billings for an evening of music and holiday festivities.
The jazz orchestra will include local Billings talent as well as very special guests from Los Angeles, Sacramento, Sheridan, and Bozeman.
The program will feature the Ellington Nutcracker Suite in its entirety. Then, after a short intermission, we will be joined by the fantastic choir students from Skyview High School conducted by Amy Schendel.
The choir will join the jazz orchestra for a selection of holiday favorites.
Tickets are on sale now through the Billings Symphony website. Tickets are $20 general admission/$10 for students/Free for MSUB Students with student ID. Until sold out, tickets are also available at the door.
Petro Hall MSU-Billings
1500 N 30th St, Billings, MT 59101
Saturday, December 7th 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE EAGLES THE BRIDGER MOUNTAIN BIG BAND
The Bridger Mountain Big Band or small combo 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/.
Bozeman Eagles Club & Ballroom
16 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
Sunday, December 8th 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
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 Sam White Quartet : Sam White on saxophone, Alex Nauman on guitar, Erik Olson on keyboard, and Bill Honaker on drums will be making soulful, hot, and fantastic sounds! Please come down to enjoy the music with delicious food and drinks! No charge.
American Grill & Tapas Bar Walkers
2700 1st Ave N, Billings, Montana 59101
Sunday, December 8th 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
https://walkersgrill.com/
UPCOMING JAZZ & MORE CONCERTS
COTTONWOOD CLUB AT ON BROADWAY IN HELENA, 12/11/19
If you are around Helena on Wednesday, December 11th please come down to On Broadway! Cottonwood Club will be throwing in some special Cottonwood Club holiday tunes! The band : singer Claire Pichette, guitarist Greg Hayes, violinist Luke Michelson, mandolin Victor Daniel, and bassist John Dendy, plays an irresistible mix of jazz from the ‘Hot Club’ era of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli, classic vocal numbers, as well as a growing list of original tunes. The band has its roots in the transatlantic jazz repertoire of the pre-WWII period, but has created an identity all its own.
On Broadway
106 E Broadway St, Helena, MT 59601
Wednesday, December 11th 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
MICHELLE / COLBY / CHEYENNE / ROB / ALEX – DEC 14TH AT CIKAN HOUSE
This will be definitely wonderful and joyful concert!
On Saturday, December 14th at Cikan House in Bozeman. Michelle Manzo Cobb on vocals, Colby Tinsley on saxophone, Cheyenne John-Henderson on piano, Rob Kohler on bass, and Alex Platt on drums.
RSVP available at plattalex@gmail.com
More details will come soon!
Cikan House
in Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59715-9241
Saturday, December 14th
Admission : $20
ON SUNDAY, DEC 15TH AT WALKERS IN BILLINGS
It’s time again for Rimrock Hot Club’s annual Hot Jazz Holiday party 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. On December 15th Rimrock Hot Club will be playing hot swing and jazz manouche music in the style of Django Reinhardt!! Come party like it’s 1935! No cover, All Ages. Seats fill up fast so make sure to come down early!
American Grill & Tapas Bar Walkers
2700 1st Ave N, Billings, Montana 59101
Sunday, December 15th 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
JIM ROTONDI AT CIKAN HOUSE WITH BOB BOWMAN AND CHEYENNE JOHN HENDERSON
“(His) solos are a near-perfect amalgam of power, finesse and logic.” – David A. Orthmann, allaboutjazz.com
“Rotondi has the passion and focus to find a place for the music in the new millennium.”-The New Yorker
Montana native and internationally known trumpeter Jim Rotondi will have a concert at Cikan House on Wednesday, December 18th with Bob Bowman on bass and Cheyenne John Henderson on piano. Both Rotondi and a true jazz veteran Bowman studied at the University of North Texas also played in Grammy-winner Toshiko Akiyoshi’s band at different times. They have played nationally/internationally and dedicated deeply to jazz music. Bozeman jazz fans must have listened to splendid sounds of Cheyenne John Henderson who studied in west coast and now teaching at MSU at concerts around the town.If you are a jazz fan or simply want to experience world class jazz this trio is definitely you don’t want to miss!
Here is Jim Rotondi’s bio :
Trumpeter Jim Rotondi has been a major figure in the world of jazz for over 30 years, both in New York and on the international scene. His sound, soul, and sense of swing have been in demand as leader and sideman all over the world.A Montana native raised in a musical family, Jim started with the piano at eight years old and switched to trumpet at age twelve. Two years later Jim heard a recording of Clifford Brown and he was on his way. A product of the prestigious music program at the University of North Texas, Jim won first place in the International Trumpet Guild’s Jazz Trumpet Competition in 1984.After relocating to New York, Jim toured and recorded with a host of jazz luminaries, including the big bands of Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Grammy-winner Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bob Mintzer, and the small groups of Charles Earland, Lou Donaldson, Curtis Fuller and Joe Chambers. Jim currently leads two of his own groups, a quintet featuring vibraphonist Joe Locke in the front line, as well as an electric group, Full House, which also features pianist David Hazeltine. He is also a founding member of the collective sextet One For All, which features a front line of saxophonist Eric Alexander and trombonist Steve Davis, as well as the aforementioned Hazeltine, drummer Joe Farnsworth and bassist John Webber in the rhythm section. This all-star group is featured in the June 2009 issue of Jazztimes magazine.Jim currently resides in Graz, Austria, where he is Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts, after having been active professionally in the New York City area for 25 years. (https://www.jimrotondi.com/)
Cikan House
in Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59715-9241
Wednesday, December 18th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Admission : $20 (student $10)
Reservations : yaezo1027@gmail.com
December 13th @ Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman
Alex Robilotta on guitar, Rob Kohler on bass, and Alex Platt on drums
December 19th @ The Mint in Belgrade
Krista Barnett on vocals, Cheyenne John Henderson on keyboards, and Bob Bowman on bass
December 20th @ Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman
Bob Nell on piano and Bob Bowman on bass
December 22nd @ Walkers in Billings
John Roberts’ Soul Thang
December 27th @ Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman
Adam Platt on piano, Alex Robilotta on guitar, Bob Bowman on bass, and Alex Platt on drums
December 28th @ Cikan House in Bozeman
Will Brown on saxophone, Craig Hall on guitar, Silas Stewart on vibraphone, Michael Steele on bass, and Josh Poole on drums
December 29th @ Walkers in Billings
My Favorite Sons
December 31st @ Squire House in Bozeman
Michelle Manzo Cobb on vocals, David Charles on keyboards, Bob Bowman on bass, and Michel Gillan on drums
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