Wow, is it really already December? Time doesn’t fly anymore; it warps nowadays!
This Saturday at Red Tractor Pizza, a special fundraiser event for Bridget Kirchner, who lost her husband, a music icon Joe Kirchner, in an accident. She was also injured terribly and in the process of healing physically and mentally. There will be lots of live music. I added more info, so please scroll down.
Heads up from Alex Platt – on Dec 11th, Bits & Beats – a night of Jazz & Comedy, will be back to Last Best Comedy in Bozeman. And The Platt-Kohler Trio: Adam Platt, Rob Kohler, and Alex Platt will perform on Dec 28th at, again, Last Best Comedy!! Please mark your calendar!
Speaking of calendar, my 2025 calendars arrived! Not many are available this year, so please let me know if you are interested before all are gone! Please check the 2025 Calendar page for the details!
* Musician friends, if you would like to add your message, ongoing projects like new albums, etc. on BigSkyJazz.net please contact me!
* Details of these concerts can be changed due to artists/venues’ circumstances.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT ON BROADWAY IN HELENA
Enjoy live Hot Club Jazz and plenty of holiday favorites at On Broadway in Helena this Wednesday! Cottonwood Club play an irresistible mix of string jazz with roots in the ‘Hot Club’ style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Enjoy the energetic rhythms of Cottonwood Club with delicious food and drink at Helena’s historical restaurant!
On Broadway
106 E Broadway St, Helena, MT
(406) 443-1929
Wednesday, December 4th, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT LEVITY IN BILLINGS
Every Wednesday, Levity features Jazz Jam starting at 7:00 p.m. It’s a Jam Session with local jazz musicians. This week the house band – Joe Sullivan on keyboard, Lloyd Marsh on drums, and Robin Martinez on bass will be hosting the jam session! There are always familiar faces, but it’s open to anyone who 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, December 4th, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT SUITE TWO IN MISSOULA
Haymaker will be playing at Suite Two in Missoula this Wednesday for their fourth show as the residency. Catch them on December 4th & 18th. Mark your calendars and come join this wonderful trio for Lift Off! Loren Stillman on saxophone, Tommy Sciple on bass, and John Wicks on drums.
Suite Two
1001 S. 4th St. W. Missoula, MT
Wednesday, December 4th, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Door 7:00 p.m.
https://www.suitetwomissoula.com/
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE OLD POST IN MISSOULA
Missoula’s most beloved pub The Old Post have live jazz on every Thursday by Chuck Florence on tenor saxophone, David Horgan on guitar, and Beth Lo on bass. 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, December 5th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT CISEL HALL (MSUB) IN BILLINGS
Ben Stevens – Junior Recital
MSU Billings Junior Recital featuring Ben Stevens from Sidney Montana. This concert will include tuba solo repertoire, as well as original arrangements written by Ben Stevens for brass ensemble and small jazz ensemble. All are welcome!
MUS Billings Cisel Recital Hall
1500 University Dr, Billings, MT
Thursday, December 5th, 7:00 p.m.-
Facebook event page
FRI, SAT, SUN AT BABCOCK THEATRE IN BILLINGS
Live jazz music over a holiday classic! The Art House tradition returns to the Babcock as Parker Brown, Erik Olson, and Zach Paris perform the jazz score to A Charlie Brown Christmas over the movie for a holiday event you and your family will cherish.
Tickets $10 are available at https://arthousebillings.com/babcock/coming-soon/
Babcock Theatre
2810 2nd Ave N, Billings, MT
(406) 534-1128
Fri, Dec6th, 7:00 p.m. // Sat, Dec 7th, 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. // Sun, Dec 8th, 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY STROLL IN BILLINGS
From Elana Hayden!
Enjoy LIVE MUSIC with the Hayden Quartet feat. Elana Hayden (vocals), Joe Sullivan (piano/vocals), Jeff Troxel (guitar) & Mike Leslie (bass) for December’s First Friday / Art Walk / Downtown Billings Holiday Stroll! The group is playing indoors at YesterYears Antique Mall (208 N Broadway, Billings). Support downtown businesses while you spread and share holiday cheer!
YesterYears Antique Mall
208 N Broadway Suite 50, Billings, MT
(406) 256-3567
Friday, December 6th, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
FRIDAY NIGHT AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
Friday Jazz at Red Tractor Pizza! This week, Alex Robilotta Trio: Alex Robilotta on guitar, Michael Steele on bass, and Adam Greenberg on drums will be making fantastic sounds! Please come down and enjoy your Friday night with live music and delicious pizza! *The jazz night is the first and the third Fridays.
Red Tractor Pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 359-1999
Friday, December 6th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Facebook event page
SATURDAY – BRIDGET’S FUNDRAISER AT RED TRACTOR PIZZA IN BOZEMAN
From Red Tractor Pizza.
The Bozeman community is still processing the loss of our dear friend, husband, brother, son Joe Kirchner. We are continuing to raise funds for his loving wife Bridget to cover medical and living expenses, as well as the cost of a celebration of life worthy of her husband.
There will be an all day event from noon until 10pm Saturday December 7th at Red Tractor Pizza in Bozeman. There will be a wide variety of silent auction items to bid on, as well as rotating musicians paying tribute all day while you bid and munch on some delicious pizza.
Music Schedule (times subject to change)
The Waiting (Doc Wiley): 12 -12:45 // Francis Rasmussen: 12:50 -1:15 // Mike D (Michael E DeJaynes): 1:25 – 2:10 // Alex Platt/ Weston Lewis: 2:20 – 3:05 // Olive Boldy: 3:15 – 3:45 // Sonic Duo (Zach Murray): 3:55 – 4:40 // Kailey Marie: 4:50 – 5:35 // Emma & the Ledge: 5:45 – 6:30 // 76ers (Tim Rooney): 6:40 – 7:25 // The Scurry (Bill Hyland): 7:35 – 8:10 // Instrumental Jam: 8:20 – 9:05 // Family Jam (Groovin’ Allstars): 9:15 – 10.
Red Tractor Pizza
1007 W Main St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 359-1999
Saturday, December 7th, 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT BOZEMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
The weekly Improvised Music at the Library hosted by guitarist Craig Hall on Saturdays from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, upstairs at the Bozeman Public Library. Craig will be joined by a different area player each week. This Saturday, Craig will play with pianist Bob Nell! Don’t miss this wonderful duo!
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main Street. Bozeman, MT
(406) 582-2400
Saturday, December 7th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
SUNDAY NIGHT AT EAGLES IN BOZEMAN
Sunday night big band fun! Please join The WD40’s Big Band at Bozeman Eagles Club!
The WD40’s perform at The Eagles every other Sunday. No cover. Dancers are welcome!
Bozeman Eagles Club & Ballroom
316 E Main St Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-9996
Sunday, December 8th, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
UPCOMING JAZZ & MORE
WED, DEC 11TH AT LAST BEST COMEDY IN BOZEMAN
From Alex Platt!
For our end-of-the-year Bits & Beats event, we are bringing back the original quartet to this super fun thing we’ve started! Sometimes called the “Double Helix Quartet” (a pun on the fact that there are two Alex’s … we’re open to name suggestions), this group features myself, Jake Fleming on sax, Alex Robilotta on guitar, and Isaac Winemiller on bass!
AND did I mention? One of our featured comedians is Chace McNinch! Just a few words about this amazing lady. Not only is she absolutely hilarious, but she’s a tremendous keyboardist and singer as well. And she loves to sit in with the band (and we love it too)! This is gonna be a party on December 11th!
Tickets: $20 available at https://www.lastbestcomedy.com/
Last Best Comedy
Alley Entrance, 321 E Main St, Bozeman, MT
(406) 219-3933
Wednesday, December 11th, 7:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
SUN, DEC 15TH AT ART HOUSE IN BILLINGS
From Art House Billings!
Returning to Art House Cinema & Pub for one night only, Erik Olson returns from Georgia for an intimate concert showcasing original music and classic jazz standards. Erik Olson, Alex Nauman, Bill Honaker and Parker Brown are some of Billings’ finest musicians, and are thrilled to be reunited at one of their favorite places to play live music!
Tickets $30 are available at https://arthousebillings.com/cinema-and-pub/
Art House Billings
109 N 30th St, Billings, MT
(406) 601-1241
Sunday, December 15th, 6:30 p.m. –
BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT…A JAZZ NATIVITY
Bending Towards The Light, A Jazz Nativity 2023 in Bozeman was great! They will perform in Greensboro, NC. on Dec 13th, Chicago, IL. on Dec 15th, NYC, NY. on Dec 16th, and Tucson, AZ on Dec 22nd & 23rd this year! (Unfortunately, not in MT) So, if you will be in these area on these dates, please catch the shows! If you will stay in MT, the shows will be available on streaming!
Please visit https://www.jazznativity.org/ for more details.
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!!!