Bob and I are in Kansas City, MO enjoying KC jazz scene! Some Bozeman & Billings jazz fans have seen fantastic KC musicians who’ve been to MT. One of amazing KC jazz musicians who hasn’t played in The Treasure State Roger Wilder will visit Montana in this spring! He is a superb pianist and our dear friend. I know the spring is a bit away but we are excited to have him in MT and could not help it!
A reminder again about Jazz Night at Open Range. No live jazz on Thursdays in this month. Jazz Night will start again 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 10th 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 10th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. there will be a jazz jam session at Levity Bar and Bistro in Billings! Jeff Long, Joe Sullivan, Robin Martinez, 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 10th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON BROADWAY IN HELENA
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
ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT CRAFT LOCAL IN BILLINGS
On this Thursday, December 12th from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Matt Austin Group featuring Matt Austin on saxophone, Raphael Lopez on guitar, Phil Griffin on bass, and Matt Devitt on drums will be making excellent sounds at Craft Local! Please come down and enjoy local art, local brews, and of course live music by local musicians at Craft Local! No cover.
Craft Local
2413 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101
Thursday, December 12th 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
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 13th from 7:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Alex Robilotta on guitar, Rob Kohler on bass, and Alex Platt on drums will be making fun and exciting sounds! 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 13th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
MICHELLE / COLBY / CHEYENNE / ROB / ALEX – AT CIKAN HOUSE
There will be a pretty special show coming up on Saturday, December 14th! The lineup includes Rob Kohler on bass (and we don’t get to see him that often!), Colby Tinsley on saxophone, Cheyenne John-Henderson on piano, and the fabulous Michelle Manzo Cobb on vocals! This will be a night to remember!
Seating is very limited, and RSVP’s are highly recommended at plattalex@gmail.com
Cikan House
in Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59715-9241
Saturday, December 14th 7:00 p.m. –
Admission : $20
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 15th 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON SUNDAY NIGHT 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
UPCOMING JAZZ & MORE CONCERTS
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)
Facebook event page
Reservations : yaezo1027@gmail.com
WAYNE SHORTER TRIBUTE AT CIKAN HOUSE
Join young and old jazz veterans Philadelphia vibraphonist Silas Stewart, New York tenor saxophonist Will Brown, and Bozemanites guitarist Craig Hall, upright bassist Michael Steele and drummer Josh Poole at The Cikan House Saturday, December 28 at 7 PM. The group will play all the songs, in order, from Wayne Shorter’s 1966 historic Blue Note recording “Speak No Evil,” followed by a scrumptious and libatious intermission and then some original music. Seating is limited. Tix ($25) available at Eventbrite.com
Cikan House
in Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59715-9241
Saturday, December 28th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Admission : $25
Facebook event page
December 19th @ The Mint in Belgrade
Krista Barnett Trio : 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 21st @ Craft Local in Billings
Winter Solstice Concert by John Roberts y Pan Blanco
December 21st @ Big Sky Resort in Big Sky
Tsunami Funk | Big Sky Resort Winter Solstice Party
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 @ Starlite Bozeman in Bozeman
Swing into the 20’s by Downbeat Vintage Swing Society(live music by Montana Manouche)
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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