To Montana jazz fans and musicians, if you have your favorite jazz albums, tunes, musicians, etc. please share with me. Bozeman jazz fan Greg sends me his jazz picks sometimes with notes (please scroll down to read). I might not be able to put picks from readers every week but I will try! I am curious what/who you are listening to!
* To musician friends, if you would like to share your music, a concert info, etc. on BigSkyJazz.net please contact me!
* Details of these concerts can be changed due to artists/venues’ circumstances.
TUESDAY EVENING AT CARABINER LOUNGE PATIO AT THE SUMMIT HOTEL IN BIG SKY
Bozeman Jazz Band of the Year: Alex Robilotta, Eddie Tsuru, and Adam Greenberg will be playing at Big Sky Resort Carabiner Lounge Patio every Tuesday! If you happen to be around Summit Hotel in Big Sky Resort, please come join the trio and enjoy their music with the gorgeous view! No music charge.
Carabiner
60 Big Sky Resort Rd (Summit Hotel), Big Sky, MT
(406) 995-8078
Tuesday, Aug 15th 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT LEVITY IN BILLINGS
This Wednesday, Levity features Jazz Jam starting at 7:00 p.m. It’s a Jam Session with local jazz musicians. This week John Roberts is hosting the jam session! 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
(406) 651-5985
Wednesday, August 16th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT TUNE UP BAR IN BOZEMAN
Join Bowman/ Stillman/ Paris at Up Bar in Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman on Wednesday! Bassist Eddie T hosts Live Jazz Series on every Wednesday. The lineup of this week: Loren Stillman on saxophone, Bob Bowman on bass, and Zach Paris on drums! Come down to the cozy bar lounge and enjoy their fantastic sounds! 8PM to 10PM. No cover charge.
Tune Up Bar (Kimpton Armory Hotel)
24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 551-7702
Wednesday, August 16th 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE OLD POST IN MISSOULA
Missoula’s most beloved pub The Old Post have live jazz on every Thursday by local musicians. This week Chuck Florence on tenor saxophone, David Horgan on guitar, and Beth Lo on bass will be performing! If you are around Missoula this Thursday, drop by The Old Post to enjoy the live music with American Bistro pub food and some drinks!
The Old Post
103 W Spruce St. Missoula, MT
(406) 540-4433
Thursday, August 17th 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT CRAFT LOCAL IN BILLINGS
Erik Olson & Alex Nauman Present: Jazz Jam Session EVERY Thursday at Craft Local. That’s right, EVERY Thursday! As usual, No cover. All ages welcome. This week, Raphael Lopez and John Roberts are hosting the jam session! Bring your instrument and sit in! Thank you for supporting local art, local brews and your local live music scene.
Craft Local
2501 Montana Ave. Billings, MT
(406) 702-1458
Thursday, August 17th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Craft Local Facebook page
FRIDAY NIGHT AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
Friday Live jazz at Red Tractor Pizza! This Friday, August 18th, Gypsy Jazz band Montana Manouche will be playing Gypsy Jazz and American Swing! Please come down and enjoy your Friday night with live music and of course delicious pizza and beer/wine!
* Friday night at RTP is busy. If you are coming with a group, reservations are recommended
Red Tractor Pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 359-1999
Friday, August 18th 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
FRIDAY NIGHT AT CRAFT LOCAL IN BILLINGS
Friday night jazz at Craft Local! Montana Ave. Jazz Exchange will be performing at Craft Local this Friday! Marie Smith on vocals, Scott Jeppesen on saxophone, Joe Sullivan on piano, Erik Gothberg on bass, and Rosanne Jeppesen on drums. If you are around Billings on Friday, please join this wonderful band and enjoy their music with local craft drinks!
Craft Local
2501 Montana Ave. Billings, MT
(406) 702-1458
Friday, August 18th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
FRIDAY NIGHT AT HOOLIGAN’S SPORTS BAR IN BILLINGS
Come and join Elana and Doug at Billings’ best sports bar! This Friday night, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Elana Hayden on vocals and Doug McShane on keyboard will be performing at Hooligan’s Sports Bar. Please drop by and enjoy their music!
Hooligan’s Sports Bar
109 N 28th St, Billings, MT
(406) 294-3495
Friday, August 18th 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE BREAK ROOM IN BOZEMAN
Come and enjoy Sunday brunch with jazz at The Break Room! Kellan Moore on keyboard, Isaac Winemiller on bass, and Alex Platt on drums will be playing jazz at a friendly local lounge near MSU from 12:30 p.m. Please join the trio and enjoy their music with food, beer, old fashioned soda fountain!
The Break Room
1011 W College St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 204-1406
Sunday, August 20th 13:30 p.m.-
Facebook event page
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT RED LODGE MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE IN RED LODGE
John Roberts y Pan Blanco in Red Lodge!! Move your feet to the ensemble of energetic musicians that inspires the audience to dance and enjoy life! Pan Blanco will be playing live on the patio from 3pm-6pm!
Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course
828 Upper Continental Drive, Red Lodge, MT
(406) 446-3344
Sunday, August 20th 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
SUNDAY EVENING AT RED TRACOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
Sunday Jazz Jam at Red Tractor Pizza! David Charles on keys, Eddie T on bass, and Alex Platt on drums … and YOU! With the exception of keys and drums, please bring your own instrument if you want to play. And if you are a vocalist, please bring charts for everyone to read in your key. (Due to time constraints, each vocalist is asked to limit themselves to one or two tunes maximum.)
Red Tractor Pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 359-1999
Sunday, August 20th 5:00 p.m. –
Facebook event page
SUNDAY NIGHT AT WALKERS GRILL IN BILLINGS
Like many musicians, Billings’ pianist and composer Erik Olson spent 2020 reflecting on the year of ups and downs and putting it down in notes. Erik is returning to Walkers Sunday August 20th to showcase his new material and is being joined by regional jazz icons Parker Brown and Bill Honaker as the Erik Olson Trio. While most of the songs are deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, you can expect an eclectic set featuring a variety of different styles and genres. And as always, there is no cover! Join us for food, drinks and great music! 7pm-10pm.
Walkers Grill
2700 1st Ave N, Billings, MT
(406) 245-9291
Sunday, August 20th 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
UPCOMING JAZZ & MORE
AUG 24TH AT LAST BEST COMEDY IN BOZEMAN
From BITS & BEATS!
We’re bringing it back to the 1950’s, New York City! The birth of modern jazz coincided with the birth of modern stand-up comedy, and these artists frequently shared the same venues. Comedians like Lenny Bruce and Bob Newhart would trade sets with jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck, combining nights at clubs like the Village Vanguard and the Blue Angel.
On August 24th, we bring this format back to life!
We’ve got the jazz quartet, Double Helix, with: Jake Fleming on sax / Alex Robilotta on guitar / Alex Platt on drums / Isaac Winemiller / bass.Featuring the comics Charlie Mulluk and Matt Balaker, hosted by Nick Banish. Tickets are $20 are available on Last Best Comedy’s website (link below).
Last Best Comedy
321 E Main St. Alley Entrance Bozeman, MT
(406) 219-3393
Thursday, August 24th 6:00 p.m. –
Last Best Comedy website
FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE
Bozeman jazz fan Greg has sent me his jazz picks last several months but I am always in some kind of hurry to compose my newsletter and often fail to add them. But today, I finally did it!
“I would encourage cats, and jazzbones more generally, to listen once again to Herbie’s classic Maiden Voyage — both the title track and the entire album. I always conceived of the tune as very cosmic, Bay Area-type stuff from the ’60s. But I heard it last night, and it struck me that it is pure Claude Debussy, pure impressionism, with the strong influence of Ravel (whom I’m listening to right this moment) as well. That’s what makes cats like Herbie masters, and what separates them from the also-rans. Jazz is serious music!”
… also when Tony Bennett passed away last month, Greg sent me this message:
“It is truly the end of an era. Everyone surely knows by now that the great Tony Bennett passed away this morning just a couple of weeks shy of his 97th birthday. Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, but continued to perform professionally, and at a very high level, for another five years before retiring.
… it would be jazz malpractice not to pick his two most critically acclaimed recordings: his two duo albums with Bill Evans. The first is titled The Tony Bennet Bill Evans Album, and the second, Bill Evans Tony Bennett Together Again. There is also a 1977 album titled Bill Evans & Tony Bennett — Complete Recordings. “
Thank you for your picks, Greg!
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