VJC Blue Hues
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season continues with the Blue Hues, featuring the Indigo Big Band and Cerulean Combo (both under the direction of Russell Schmidt) and the Sapphire Big Band (under the direction of Paul Brewer). This is the first VJC event of the year to feature all three student…
Jazzbird Nights: Edu Ribeiro Brazilian Jazz Trio
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Experience the exhilarating sounds of Edu Ribeiro, a two-time Grammy Award–winning drummer and one of Brazil’s most electrifying musical forces. Hailing from São Paulo, Ribeiro brings his world-renowned trio to celebrate the release of their latest album, Caipora—a vibrant collection of original Brazilian jazz compositions penned by the band’s members. With infectious…
Jazzbird Nights: Mary Petrich & The Jazz Women Collective
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Cutting-Edge Women in Jazz celebrates the rich and evolving musical landscape shaped by influential women from the early 1900s to today—honoring jazz giants such as Mary Lou Williams, Ingrid Jensen, Roxy Coss, Marianne Trudel, and Renee Rosnes. At the heart of this celebration is Mary Petrich, a dynamic saxophonist, composer, and educator…
Dom Moio & Joe LaBarbera
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZDOM MOIO & JOE LABARBERA Step into an evening where rhythm becomes dialogue. At Ravenscroft, master drummers Joe LaBarbera and Dom Moio come together for a rare musical conversation- two life long friends on the drum set speaking, responding, and creating. The music will be in the jazz piano trio tradition along with drum duets. Joined…
JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Ted Bouras Organ Trio
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZAs if this dynamic Jazz Organ trio wasn’t enough, they've added sax player extraordinaire Andrew Gross to the mix, creating a unique and exciting blend of talents that takes their groove to the next level. This trio has been described as “Purveyors of deep grooves, soulful sounds, and toe-tappin' fun.” Come and bring a friend!
Jazzbird Nights: VJC Senior Showcase featuring Jordan Pettay
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The annual VJC Senior Showcase event features the creative gifts of outstanding high school seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program. During the first set, select seniors will have the opportunity to perform jazz standards alongside guest artist Jordan Pettay, a NYC-based jazz saxophonist, backed by leading area jazz musicians. During…
Chamber @ Ravenscroft: Restless Passions
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Join us for Restless Passions, a stirring evening of chamber music featuring powerfully expressive works that explore the depths of longing, intensity, and introspection. The opening work on the concert, Frank Bridge’s Allegro Appassionato for Viola and Piano is a virtuosic gem that showcases the viola’s rich, haunting voice in a thrilling interplay of urgency…
Jazzbird Nights: Ashley Pezzotti Quartet
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Ashley Pezzotti is a rising star in the New York jazz scene, blending the elegance, rhythmic sophistication, and infectious joy of the great jazz vocalists who came before her. Just in her 20s, Pezzotti has already made her mark, touring and recording with jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at…
Jazzbird Nights: Jeff Libman Trio
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Join Phoenix-based guitarist Jeff Libman for an evening of soulful, swinging organ trio jazz featuring organist Michael Kocour and drummer Jacob Eary. Together, they bring fresh takes on standards, popular songs, and originals—drawing on classic organ trio traditions while delivering a sound that’s unmistakably their own. Libman, praised as “a sensitive guitarist…
Caity Gyorgy
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ“Canadian jazz singer Caity Gyorgy, in addition to having a warm voice and swinging phrasing, is a skilled songwriter whose originals sound as if they are from the 1950s with more modern lyrics.” — Scott Yanow Join us for a fantastic night of jazz vocals with Caity Gyorgy, one of today’s most exciting young voices…
Jazzbird Nights: Chris Ross Corner Pocket Quartet
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Experience the timeless music of the legendary Ray Brown Trio—a tribute to one of jazz’s most influential bassists and bandleaders. Ray Brown was not only a master of the upright bass, but also a visionary musician, composer, and innovator whose impact on jazz remains unmatched. This performance celebrates his legacy with fresh…
JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Angelo Versace Quartet
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZJazz for the Soul is excited to present the Angelo Versace Quartet! Angelo has been with us multiple times and is a crowd favorite. Tonight, he brings his quartet of AZ all-stars, including Jason Carder - trumpet, Dom Moio - drums, and Scott Black - bass. Classic jazz at its finest, and will it swing? Absolutely!! Don’t miss this show, and bring your friends.
Jazzbird Nights: Kris Johnson
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Kris Johnson is a trumpeter, composer, and educator based in Detroit. With contributions to six GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning Basie Swings the Blues by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member…
VJC Spotlight Concert featuring Kris Johnson
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative’s main educational program (grades 8-12) share the Ravenscroft Hall stage for a final time this season. And the annual VJC Spotlight Concert is once more a fundraising event, presented in cooperation with MSW Ministries’ Music on a Mission outreach. 100% of all proceeds and donations…
Jazzbird Nights: Marcos Crego
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Born in Havana, Cuba, José Marcos Crego Tamayo is a world-class pianist, composer, and producer whose vibrant career bridges Afro-Cuban roots and contemporary jazz. A graduate of the Amadeo Roldán Music School and son of legendary trumpeter José Miguel Crego “El Greco,” Tamayo has performed with renowned groups including Klimax, Los Dan,…
Chamber @ Ravenscroft: The Power of Six
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Experience the lush textures and sweeping lyricism of The Power of Six, an unforgettable evening of chamber music featuring two masterful string sextets that showcase the full emotional and sonic depth of six instruments in perfect conversation. The program opens with Reinhold Glière’s infrequently performed Sextet No. 3 in C Major, a…
Jazzbird Nights: We3 featuring O.M.G. (Our Musical Genre)
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT A true Jazzbird Nights fan favorite, O.M.G. (Our Musical Genre) returns for another unforgettable performance! This all-star group—featuring the dynamic trio We3, Grammy Award-winning bassist Mel Brown, and internationally acclaimed drummer Dowell Davis—delivers a genre-defying experience that blends everything from Bluegrass to jazz, and classical to country. Known for their incredible chemistry…
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ“Kurt Rosenwinkel can say more in a few lines … than most guitarists manage over the course of an entire career”— New York Times Immerse yourself in the artistry of Kurt Rosenwinkel, one of the most influential and forward-thinking guitarists in modern jazz. With a career spanning more than three decades, Rosenwinkel has redefined the…
Jazzbird Nights: Adam Roberts
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Experience an evening with saxophonist Adam Roberts, one of Arizona’s most versatile and dynamic musicians. Blending jazz, funk, rock, and classical influences, Roberts brings a bold and expressive sound to the stage. Known for his work with artists like Michael Bublé, Idina Menzel, and George Russell, Adam delivers performances that are both…
JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Local Spirits
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZJazz for the Soul is excited to bring THE LOCAL SPIRITS to you for the first time!
This Phoenix-based instrumental quartet channels Jazz, Rock, Bluegrass, Country, Blues, Middle Eastern, Gypsy Jazz, and World Music flavors altogether into a style of their own. Guitar and mandolin twin harmonies are woven into drum-and-bass grooves, creating a genre-defying style that makes this quartet uniquely creative. You’ll want to hear this group! At Jazz for the Soul, improvisation, creativity, and skill are a thing! You won’t be disappointed.
Jazzbird Nights: Maryanne Muglia
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Led by MaryAnne Muglia, a jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer based in Arizona, the ensemble features a dynamic group of Arizona jazz musicians who bring a fresh, collaborative energy to the stage. Drawing inspiration from Duke Ellington, Blossom Dearie, James Moody, Ella Fitzgerald, Esperanza Spalding, and other jazz greats, they bring an…
Jazzbird Nights: Francine Reed
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Get ready for an unforgettable night of powerhouse vocals and timeless tunes as the legendary Francine Reed makes her return to the Jazzbird Stage. Known as “The Queen of the Blues,” Francine brings her signature soul, sass, and show-stopping presence to the stage, performing favorites like “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues,”…
Jazzbird Nights: Mikailo Kasha Quartet
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Mikailo Kasha is an award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Miami, Florida. Currently considered to be among “the top 1% of bassists worldwide”, as stated by Scotty Barnhart of the Count Basie Orchestra, Kasha is a dynamic bandleader, versatile sideman, and a prodigious voice on both upright and electric bass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql47FBr_KVc…
VJC Alumni Band Summer Celebration
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season concludes with a Summer Celebration from the VJC Alumni Band. Now a much-anticipated highlight on the VJC calendar, the Alumni Band will perform in Ravenscroft Hall under the direction of Russell Schmidt. Again this year, due to ever-growing interest from program alums, our Summer Celebration…
JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Mike Vax
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZJazz for the Soul is pleased to present Mike Vax!
To say that Mike Vax is the consummate trumpet player is an understatement. He’s played lead and solo trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Bad Band, and the U.S. Navy Show Band. Join us for a fantastic show!