Tucson Jazz Festival

About the Event

Join us for the Tucson Jazz Festival 2025!!

Schedule of Events:

2:00 Pm: Endea Owens And The Cookout W/Special Guest Chef Janos Wilder

About The Artist

Endea Owens

Known As One Of Jazz's Most Vibrant Emerging Artists, Endea Owens Is A Detroit-Raised Recording Artist, Bassist, And Composer. She Has Been Mentored By Jazz Icons The Likes Of Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, And Ron Carter. She Has Toured And Performed With Wynton Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday, Diana Ross, Rhonda Ross, Solange, Jon Batiste, Jazzmeia Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, And Cyrus Chestnut To Name A Few.

In 2018, Endea Graduated From The Juilliard School, And Joined The Late Show With Stephen Colbert As A Member Of The House Band, Stay Human. Since Then, Endea Has Won An Emmy, Grammy Award, And A George Foster Peabody Award. Endea's Work Has Appeared On Jon Batiste's Grammy Award-Winning Album "We Are", Oscar-Nominated Film Judas And The Black Messiah, And H.E.R's Widely Acclaimed Super Bowl Lv Performance.

Endea Has A True Passion For Philanthropy And Teaching. She Has Taught Students Across The United States, South America, And Europe. In 2020, Endea Founded The Community Cookout, A Non-Profit Organization Birthed Out Of The Covid-19 Pandemic That Provides Meals And Music To Underserved Neighborhoods Worldwide. To Date, Endea's Organization Has Helped Feed Over 6,000 People.

In 2022, Endea Composed An Original Piece About The Life Of Ida B. Wells Entitled "Ida's Crusade" For The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra And Was Also Performed By The Nyo Carnegie Hall Orchestra. Endea Has Written For Brands Such As Pyer Moss And Glossier. Endea Also Premiered A Newly Commissioned Work With The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra As The 2023 Mac Music Innovator With The Organization. In Addition To Her Work With The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Endea Is The Curator For The National Arts Club And Also A Fellow For "Jazzis Now!" With The National Jazz Museum In Harlem, Where She Presents Original Compositions, Curates Series, And Headlines Performances For The 2022-2023 Season. Endea's Debut Album"Feel Good Music" Has Recently Been Released This Past September.

Janos Wilder

Janos Wilder Is A Tucson Icon And James Beard Award-Winning Chef Who Opened His First Restaurant In Tucson In 1983 In The Historic Hiram Steven's House At The Tucson Museum Of Art And Has Been Cooking With Ingredients Indigenous To The Sonoran Desert Ever Since. While Sourcing Foods That Have Been Foraged Or Cultivated Locally For Thousands Of Years, Wilder Cooks With An Eye To The Future. He Creates Sophisticated, Modern Dishes That Explore The Utility Of Cooking With Ancient Foods In Response To Climate Change And Aridity.

His Current Project, Studio Janos Opened In 2023. In This Art-Filled Space Located Downtown Wilder's Purpose-Built Kitchen Opens Onto An Intimate Dining Space Where Multi-Course Meals Are Prepared In Front Of His Guests. Studio Janos Is Home To Private Dinners, Cooking Classes, And Contains A Complete Video Studio. The Chef Is The Board President Of Tucson City Of Gastronomy, Former Board Chair Of Native Seeds, Search And Lends His Support And Fundraising Skills To Numerous Local Organizations.

Location: Rialto Theatre, 318 E Congress St, Tucson, Az 857014:30 Pm: The Black Market Trust

About The Artist

The Black Market Trust Are An American Traditional Pop/Vocal Jazz Group From Los Angeles Who Combine The Sounds Of The Legendary American Crooners And Vocal Groups With The Fire And Energy Of Gypsy Jazz Guitarist Django Reinhardt. Consisting Of Five World-Class Musicians Who Have Traveled The Globe Recording And Performing On The World's Biggest Stages And With Music's Most Renowned Artists, The Black Market Trust Capitalize On Their Experience And Pedigree To Deliver A High Energy, Crowd Pleasing Performance Filled With Some Of The Best Songs Ever Written.

The Live Show Features Material From The Great American Songbook Infused With Django's Romantic And Virtuosic Flavor. Add Some Intricate Vocal Harmonies, A Dash Of Rat Pack-Style Comedy And It's Clear To Audiences Why The Black Market Trust Have Quickly Earned A Reputation As One Of The Premier Live Acts Performing In Music Today. Be Transported As They Meld Two Distinctly Different Vibes- One Of A Gypsy Campfire, The Other A Slick Metropolitan Nightclub- Into A Cohesive, Stylish Sound.

Location: Hotel Congress Plaza Stage, 311 East Congress Street Tucson, Az 85701

6:30 Pm: Matthew Whitaker Organ Trio

Two Seatings For All Century Room Shows, 6:30pm And 8:30pm

About The Artist
Matthew's Musical Journey Began At Age 3 With A Keyboard Gift From His Grandfather. He's Now An Artist, Captivating Audiences Globally And Appearing On Notable T.V. Shows Like Showtime At The Apollo, The Today Show, Ellen, And A Feature On 60 Minutes.

Matthew Is A Versatile Artist, Starring, Producing, And Scoring The All-Arts Emmy-Nominated Documentary "About Tomorrow" And Scoring The Film "Starkeisha," Which Is Currently Streaming On Hulu. He Also Appeared In And Contributed Music To The Emmy-Winning Apple T.V. Commercial "The Greatest." Matthew Made His Musical Director Debut For The Award Winning "Billy Strayhorn: Something To Live For." A Musical On The Life Of Pianist And Composer Billy Strayhorn, Which Premiered In Pittsburgh, Pa, In The Fall Of 2023. He's Had Guest Soloist Appearances With Orchestras And Symphonies Including Aspen Chamber Symphony, Under The Baton Of Guest Conductor, Marin Alsop, And The National Arts Centre Orchestra In Ottawa, Cn, Alexander Shelley, Conductor. He Also Composed A Song For The 82-Piece Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, In Sofia, Bulgaria, Which Was Included In The Aforementioned All-Arts Documentary, "About Tomorrow."

Beyond Music, Matthew Advocates For Persons With Disabilities, Consulting With Companies To Improve Accessibility Features.

He Is A Three-Time Ascap Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award Winner, With Three Studio Albums As A Leader; "Outta The Box," "Now Hearthis," And "Connections." His Fourth Recording, "On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute," An Homage To Some Of Matthew's Heroes On The Instrument, Will Debut In Early Summer 2024. Matthew Has Collaborated With Industry Greats Like Bassist, Composer, And Producer Derrick Hodge; Pianist, Composer, And Musical Director Ray Chew; Pianist, Multiple Grammy-Award Winning Composer, Vocalist, And Band Leader Jon Batiste; Grammy-Award Winning Bassist Christian Mcbride; And Nea Jazz Master, Violinist Regina Carter.

Location: The Century Room, 311 E Congress St, Tucson, Az 85701

7:00 Pm: Secret Jazz Series-Vibrate

Marimba/Singing - Drums And Bass - Elizabeth Goodfellow/Thøger Lund/Tba/Tba

About The Artist

Beth Goodfellow Is A Los Angeles-Based Artist Specializing In Drums And Percussion.

Beth Is Known For Her Work With Iron And Wine, Contributing Drums And Percussion On Their Most Recent Album Light Verse (2024), As Well As Appearing In The 2023 Concert Film And Double Lp  Who Can See Forever. She Has Toured With Iron And Wine Since 2017.

Other Notable Credits Include Experimental Pop Artist And Composer Julia Holter, With Whom Beth Recorded, Contributing Drums And Percussion To The Acclaimed Record Something In The Room She Moves (2024). She Also Tours With Julia Performing Drums, Percussion And Vocals.

In 2018 Beth Recorded Drums On The Debut Boygenius Ep With Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus And Julien Baker.

Other Selected Studio Recording Credits Include Per Gessle (Roxette), Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks), Pianist Matt Rollings, Desert Noir Band Calexico, Lisa Morales, And Gaby Moreno With Whom Beth Played And Engineered Marimba On The Grammy-Nominated Album (Alegoria, 2022). Beth Has Also Appeared In A Music Video Sharing Drumming Duties With Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen For Rock Singer Lauren Monroe.

Beth's Experience In Folk And Americana Also Includes Touring With Grammy-Winning Artists Madison Cunningham (2019) And Allison Russell (2021-2022).

Beth's On-Screen Experience Is Extensive, As She Has Served As Drummer For Acts On Jimmy Kimmel Live, James Corden, Steven Colbert, And A Special Episode Of The Ellen Show Hosted By Brandi Carlile. She Has Also Appeared In The Films "Confess, Fletch", "80 For Brady" And Sara Bareillis' Tv Show "Little Voice".

A Jazz Drummer Since Age 11, Beth Plays As One Third Of The La-Based Jazz Trio The Guide And Is An Alumni Of Jen's Sisters In Jazz (2003). She Studied Classical Percussion Performance At San Jose State And Is Also A Veteran, Having Served In The California Air National Guard Band Of The West Coast From 2000-2008.

Beth's Current Focus As A Solo Artist Is Her Singer-Songwriter Approach To Writing For Marimba And Voice. By Building Loops Of Marimba Counterpoint She Creates A Uniquely Meditative Backdrop For Her Lyrics And Vocals. As A Solo Artist She Has Played Headlining Shows At Club Congress In Tucson, Az, Gold Diggers In Los Angeles, As Well As A Masterclass For The California Percussive Arts Society Day Of Percussion In 2023.

Additionally She Is The First Woman To Have Headlined The San Joaquin Valley Jazz Festival In 2024, Combining Her Marimba Loops And Vocals With The Guide Jazz Trio Resulting In A Fresh And Compelling Sound.

Beth Has Released A Full-Length Album (Silly Sun, 2018) As Well As Multiple Eps And Singles, The Most Recent Being Fire On The Ridge (2023). Beth Is Also A Member Of The Recording Academy, Class Of 2022.

Beth Plays Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Candc Drums, Innovative Percussion Sticks And Mallets, And Ludwig-Musser Marimbas.

Location: The Lounge At Atc, 330 S. Scott Ave. Tucson, Az 85701

8:00 Pm: Emmet Cohen Trio

About The Artist

Multifaceted American Jazz Pianist And Composer Emmet Cohen Has Emerged As One Of His Generation's Pivotal Figures In Music And The Related Arts. A Recognized Prodigy, Cohen Began Suzuki Method Piano Instruction At Age Three, And His Playing Quickly Became A Mature Melding Of Musicality, Technique, And Concept. Downbeat Observed That His "Nimble Touch, Measured Stride And Warm Harmonic Vocabulary Indicate He's Above Any Convoluted Technical Showmanship." In The Same Spirit, Cohen Himself Has Noted That Playing Jazz Is "About Communicating The Deepest Levels Of Humanity And Individuality; It's Essentially About Connections," Both Among Musicians And With Audiences. He Leads His Namesake Ensemble, The "Emmet Cohen Trio," Is A Vibrant Solo Performer, And Is In Constant Demand As A Sideman. Possessing A Fluid Technique, An Innovative Tonal Palette, And An Extensive Repertoire, Cohen Plays With The Command Of A Seasoned Veteran And The Passion Of An Artist Fully Devoted To His Medium.

Emmet Cohen Is Committed To The Intergenerational Transfer Of Artistic Knowledge, History, And Traditions. His Signature Professional Undertaking Is The "Masters Legacy Series," A Celebratory Set Of Recordings And Interviews Honoring Legendary Jazz Musicians. He Serves As Both Producer And Pianist For Each Album In The Series. The Goal Of This Landmark, Ongoing Project Is To Provide Musicians Of Multiple Generations A Forum To Transfer The Unwritten Folklore That Is America's Unique Musical Idiom.  Cohen Has Observed That Playing Jazz "Is Enriched Immeasurably By Connecting And Studying With Jazz Masters, Forging Backward To The Very Creation Of The Art Form." Volume One Of The "Masters Legacy Series" Features Drummer Jimmy Cobb, And Volume Two Spotlights Bassist Ron Carter. Future "Masters Legacy Series" Releases Will Include Cohen's Recordings With Benny Golson, Tootie Heath, And George Coleman.

Emmet Cohen's Exacting Keyboard Artistry Has Garnered Numerous Accolades From The International Jazz Community. He Placed First In Both The American Jazz Pianists Competition (2014) And The Phillips Piano Competition At The University Of West Florida (2011). He Was A Finalist In The Prestigious American Pianists Association's Cole Porter Fellowship (2015, 2011) And The Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition (2011). Cohen Has Appeared In World-Renowned Jazz Events, Including The Newport, Monterey, North Sea, Bern, Edinburgh, Detroit, And Jerusalem Jazz Festivals, As Well As The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival And The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics In Russia. He Has Also Performed At The Village Vanguard, The Blue Note, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Jazz Standard, London's Ronnie Scott's, Jazzhaus Montmartre In Copenhagen, Lincoln Center's Rose Hall, The Cotton Club In Tokyo, And The Kennedy Center, And Was Received In The Oval Office By President Obama. He Is Currently Hammond B-3 Organist-In-Residence At Harlem's Smoke Jazz Club.

Besides Leading The "Emmet Cohen Trio," Cohen Has Appeared Regularly With Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart, And Brian Lynch, Among Others. Cohen Is Also A Member Of Christian Mcbride's Trio "Tip City," The "Herlin Riley Quartet," And The "Ali Jackson Trio," And Serves As Pianist And Music Director For Jazz Vocalist And Television Personality Lea Delaria. His Recordings Include "Masters Legacy Series Featuring Ron Carter" (2018); "Masters Legacy Series Featuring Jimmy Cobb" (2017); "New Directions" (2016) With Herlin Riley; "Questioned Answer" (2014), Co-Produced With Brian Lynch; "Infinity" (2013), Featuring His Italian Trio; And His Acclaimed Debut Cd "In The Element" (2011), With Bassist Joe Sanders And Drummer Rodney Green.

Location: Rialto Theatre, 318 E Congress St, Tucson, Az 85701

8:00 Pm: Sunchower, Space Travelers Union, Alassane

About The Event

Immerse Yourself In A Dynamic Showcase Blurring The Lines Between Jazz, Art-Rock, Hip-Hop, And A Plethora Of Modern Sounds. Join Us For An Unforgettable Night Of Music Featuring Alassane, Space Travelers Union, And Sunchower!

About The Artists

Sunchowertjf2025-Sunchower-1-18-25-191 Toole
Sunchower Bio Life Got Ya Down? Me Too. Music Might Help But Probably Not For Long. Sun Chower Collective Is Like A Self Help Book It's Guaranteed* To Make Your Life A Little Better For A Short Amount Of Time Before Terminal Discontentment Sets Back In. Enjoy A Reprieve While You Still Can. *Guarantee Only Works If You Have An Open Mind And If You Like Denormalized Sounds, Some Non-Mathy Odd Times, And Positive Attitudes.

Sun Chower Collective Is A Culmination Of Working Drummer Casey Hadland's Experience, Insights And Frustrations With Music. His Inspirations Draw From Jazz, Punk, Rnb, Rap, Blues, Dad Rock And Ccm. Casey Is Always Changing The Lineup Featuring Different Friends, New Music And New Arrangements So If It Feels Like They're On The Edge Of Their Seats It's Because They Are. Every Show Is Made To Be A Unique Experience For Not Just The Listener But The Musicians As Well.

Tjf2025-Space Travelers Union-1-18-25-191 Toolespace Travelers Union

Space Travelers Union - A Collective Founded By Ryan Wheless Dedicated To Pushing The Boundaries Of
Acoustic And Electronic Fusion.

Influenced By The Likes Of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Yussef Dayes, And Toro Y Moi, The Launch Of The New Project Has Quickly Made Its Mark, Catching The Attention Of Key Industry Figures. Jamie Reynolds Of The Klaxons Has Already Pledged His Allegiance, Stating, "If The Union Does Exist, I'm Joining It."

Geordie Greep From Black Midi Offered His Own Praise, Adding, "It's Always Nice To Listen To Good Musicians."

Touring Alongside Legends Like Echo And The Bunnymen, As Well As Rising Stars Glass Beams And Balthvs, Shows The Collective's Momentum Has No Signs Of Slowing. Radio Heavyweights Were Quick To Rally Behind The Music, With Tom Ravenscroft, Deb Grant, And Emily Pilbeam Singing Their Praises On Bbc 6 Music. Across The Channel, Major French Players Fip And France Musique Have Also Shown Strong Support, Amplifying Their Sound Across The Airwaves.

Alassane
Alassane Diarra Is A Songwriter, Vocalist, And Keyboardist Currently Based In Tucson. His Roots Can Be Found In A Wide Array Of Music From Progressive-Jazz To Art Rock. Influenced By Artists Such As
Radiohead, Kneebody, And David Bowie, Alassane's Soft Vocals And Introspective Lyrics Create A Gripping Contrast Against The Captivating Arrangements Within His Music.

Along His Career, Alassane Has Shared The Stage With Many Notable Musicians, Such As Jenny Lewis On Harry Styles' "Love On Tour," And Courtney Marie Andrews On Her Npr Tiny Desk Concert. His
Song "Moot Points" Is A Collaboration Featuring The Two Influential Jazz Musicians, Rachel Eckroth (St. Vincent) And Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie).

Location: 191 Toole, 191 E Toole Ave, Tucson, Az 85701

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10:30 Pm: Century Room Late-Night Jam W/Alex Kautz Brazilian Quartet

($10 -$20 - 10:30pm Show) Following The Tucson Jazz Festival's Programming, Keep The Night Going With The Alex Kautz Quartet For The Tjf Late Night Jazz Jam! All Tjf Artists Are Invited To These Jam Sessions. You Never Know Who Will Show Up, But We Can Always Guarantee That You Should!

Location: The Century Room, 311 E Congress St, Tucson, Az 85701

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