Bob and I are on our way to Kansas City, MO! I am writing this in a hotel room and it is past midnight. I just want to appreciate musicians who make much effort to keep the music going and share their performance info with me!
* To musician friends, if you would like to add your message, on going projects like new albums, etc. on BigSkyJazz.net please contact me!
* Details of these concerts can be changed due to artists/venues’ circumstances.
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT BILLINGS PETROLEUM CLUB
Live jazz at member’s club Billings Petroleum Club is open to the public! Please come down and enjoy good service, delicious food and drink, and of course fantastic live jazz with a great view from the 22nd floor of the Doubletree hotel! This week guitarist Alex Nauman and pianist Erik Olson will be making beautiful sounds from 6:00 p.m.!
Billings Petroleum Club
(406) 252-6700
22nd floor of DoubleTree hotel, Billings (27 North 27th Street)
Wednesday, September 22nd 6:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
http://billingspetroleumclub.com/
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT LEVITY IN BILLINGS
Every Wednesday Night, Levity features Live Jazz starting at 7:00 p.m. It’s a Jam Session with Local Jazz Musicians. There are always familiar faces, but it’s open to anyone that can play. All you need is raw talent and your instrument!
Levity Bar and Bistro
1027 Shiloh Crossing Blvd Suite 8, Billings, MT 59102
(406) 651-5985
Wednesday, September 22nd 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Levity Facebook page
ON THURSDAY NIGHT AT CRAFT LOCAL IN BILLINGS
John Roberts y Pan Blanco will be gettin a little jazzy this week at Craft Local on Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.! the band consists of John Roberts, Scott Jeppesen, Erik Gothberg, and Luke Kestner. Please come down to enjoy their performance with delicious local beer and wine! No cover charge. “Might throw in a little grease and get shuffly on your &*^%”! by John Roberts.
Craft Local
2413 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101
(406) 702-1458
Thursday, September 23rd 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MURRAY HOTEL IN LIVINGSTON
Please contact The Murray Hotel about this week’s live music in the hotel lobby.
The Murray Hotel
201 W Park St Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-1350
Friday, September 24th 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
https://murrayhotel.com/
ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
Friday Live jazz at Red Tractor Pizza! Early time 5:30 – 7:30PM on the patio. Alex Robilotta on guitar, Eddie Tsuru on bass, and Adam Greenberg on drums will be making exciting and excellent sounds! They will be playing some of their originals and standards and more. Please come down and enjoy your Friday night with live music and of course delicious pizza and beer/wine!
Red Tractor pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 359-1999
Friday, September 24th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT WILD GINGER IN BILLINGS
Come join Scott Jeppesen Quartet at Wild Ginger in Billings on Saturday night!! Scott Jeppesen on saxophone, Craig Hall on guitar, Michael Steele on bass, and Josh Poole on drums will be making beautiful sounds for you! If you are around Billings this Saturday, please come down to Wild Ginger and enjoy the quartet’s music with delicious Asian cuisine and drinks!!
Wild Ginger
2713 Montana Ave Billings, MT 59101
(406) 252-4486
Saturday, September 25th 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
https://wildgingermt.com/
ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE EAGLES IN BOZEMAN THE BRIDGER MOUNTAIN BIG BAND
Sunday night big band fun! Please join Bridger Mountain Big Band at Bozeman Eagles Club!
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
316 E Main St Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-9996
Sunday, September 26th 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
FROM BOB BOWMAN
September 16th we lost a true musical giant in George(Jiri) Mraz. He was not only an amazing bassist, but a kind and extremely observant human being with a quick-witted sense of humor that was pretty much unmatched. I followed him on the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. He was a small man, but his shoes were big ones to fill. I had to grow up quickly at age 23 and still trying. My audition with Thad and Mel was playing the Monday at the Village Vanguard, which continues to this day from 1965(I think) under the name of the Vanguard Orchestra, since both Thad and Mel passed decades ago. George came into the Vanguard that night and said to Mel about me “I like this guy better than the others you’ve tried.” A recommendation I carry close to my heart and he didn’t have say that. He sat in and played up a storm. When I went back and played my bass(same one I’ve been playing for 50 years) it sounded better and all the notes were in the right place.
I would go to hear George every chance I had at Bradley’s in NYC when it was the musicians hang. Everybody was there from Cedar Walton to McCoy Tyner. George Mraz was playing with George Shearing and at the end of the night, Bradley, the owner and somwhat of a pianist himself, asked Shearing, who was blind, about some chords he was playing and without a moment’s hesitation, George Mraz says in his Czech accent “Ive seen many things since I’ve come to America. I’ve seen the deaf leading the blind, but this is the first time I’ve seen the blind leading the deah.” Apparently to rib Bradley. Missing you and everything about you, Jiri.
George Mraz – Bass solo from YouTube
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