Our acoustically designed room in the heart of Denver plays host to live jazz nightly (Wednesday through Sunday). Check the calendar below for set times as they may vary. Nocturne’s distinctive Artist in Residency programming is at the core of our line up. Most artists who perform at Nocturne engage in a four- to eight-week run that focuses on the exploration of a musical icon, the study of a jazz genre, or the exhibition of an Artist's own original work. This old-school approach to programming combines the unique opportunity to hone one’s craft with regular stage time, while also establishing an elevated rapport with Denver music fans. Nocturne is proud to be the only venue in Colorado that features jazz exclusively, and we are also pleased to feature national touring artists on special occasions.
ABOUT LIVE MUSIC AT NOCTURNE:
Reservations are strongly recommended for either music set. By reserving your seat for dinner and a show you can enjoy the live music along with a three course menu by our talented culinary team. You can make a reservation on-line or via phone @ 303.295.3333.
Supporting the musicians practicing their craft on our stage is important to us - your prepaid dinner reservation includes the artist fees that support fair pay to our music community. You can support in other ways such as purchasing music online, physical CD's or sending Venmo tips to your favorite artists. The music community is strong but still working to rebound from a lot of cancelled gigs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your support of their craft will keep this art form alive.
Jay Clayton and Dawn Clement have been long time musical collaborators since the late 90’s. They have presented a variety of material in duo, trio, and quartet settings all over the United States and Canada. This very special performance will feature works from recent releases by both Jay and Dawn and a top shelf Denver rhythm section comprised of Seth Lewis (bass) and Dru Heller (drums).
Jay Clayton is an exceptional educator, improviser, and internationally renowned performing artist. She has been known for her original take on, and delivery of standards from the jazz cannon, as well as the strikingly significant stamp she has made in the free jazz arena, as a vocal improviser. Read about Jay in this recent Downbeat article. Since relocating to Denver in 2018, Dawn Clement has become a celebrated mainstay on the scene and continues her role as area coordinator and Assistant Professor of Jazz and American Improvised Music at MSU Denver. When she is not playing, composing, touring, or teaching, Clement lives in Denver with her husband and three children, Noah, Elvin, and Adele.
Wednesday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm
Set Two: 8:45 - 10:00pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music & Three Course Dinner Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $19 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- If availability permits, we do allow walk-in guests. Walk-in guests will have a music charge of $20 per person applied to their check on weeknights.
We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
Saturday nights in April, the Derek Banach Quintet (Eric Erhardt (tenor sax), Dave Hanson - piano, Andrew Rose - bass and Todd Reid - drums) will be performing two sets nightly inspired by the great Hank Mobley. From his early years as a sideman with the Jazz Messengers and Horace Silver to his later Blue-Note period, Mobley's well-loved compositions and contributions to the Hard-Bop lexicon are treasured by jazz musicians and music fans alike. Through their own voice, Derek's ever swinging quintet will pay homage to Mobley and his brilliant works.
Colorado native Derek Banach has performed professionally for 30 years in a variety of settings from Jazz to Hip-Hop, Salsa, Classical, and Reggae. His roots are firmly set in the Hard-Bop stylings of 60's period icons such as Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Derek's quintet album, "Tugende" displays his composing talents and personal approach to trumpet playing. He has recorded with Italian producer Nicola Conte, Quintetto X, Paul Mulliken and has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Richie Cole, Joe Bonner and Ron Miles.
Saturday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm
Set Two: 9:00 - 10:30pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music and Three Course Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $29 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- If availability permits, we do allow walk-in guests. Walk-in guests will have a charge of $30 per person applied to their check on Fridays and Saturdays
- We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
The first three Saturdays in October, saxophonist Jeremy Wendelin and his talented quintet dig deeply into the art form of hard bop as they study the compositions and stylings of Dexter Gordon and Bud Powell, the famous American jazz expatriates living in Paris in the 1950's and 1960's. In addition to compositions by Powell and Gordon, a special focus will be paid to the contributions of prominent sidemen from this time and place, people like Kenny Clarke, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pederson, Kenny Drew, and Pierre Michelot. These nights will be filled with swinging, driving hard bop, with a few select ballads (always a staple for Dexter), to provide counterpoint.
Saturday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm
Set Two: 9:00 - 10:30pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music & Three Course Dinner Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $29 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- If availability permits, we do allow walk-in guests. Walk-in guests will have a music charge of $30 per person applied to their check on Fridays and Saturdays
We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
This music represents Alex's connection to the tradition, lineage and continuation of the jazz art form. Amongst the many artists Alex looks to he looks to the works Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh and Ambrose Akimusire. The compositions for this project highlight the interplay between the Tenor and Alto saxophones, displaying them beautifully over a lush but reserved trio of Guitar, Bass, and Drums. The group features Remy LeBoeuf, Taylor Clay, Hunter Roberts and Dru Heller who all approach the work with incredible honesty.
Based in Denver, CO Alex Heffron is a first-call jazz guitarist and composer in the Denver scene. Alex plays regularly with local Denver artists such as Ken Walker, Eric Gunnison, Paul Romaine, John Gunther, Paul McKee, Jeff Jenkins, Gabe Mervine, and Todd Reid. Additionally, as a bandleader he leads his own unique projects that honor the tradition of the music while also looking forward. His music has been featured on stages all across the country, as well as at festivals like the 5 Points Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Evergreen Music Festival, Boulder Jazz and Arts Festival and New West Fest. Alex has studied guitar since he was 9 years old and holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Saturday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm | Set Two: 9:00 - 10:30pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music and Three Course Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $29 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- We do allow four to six walk-in guests per set. Walk-in guests will have a charge of $30 per person applied to their check on Fridays and Saturdays
- We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
Dan Schwindt - guitar, Bijoux Barbosa - bass, Justin Adams - piano, Matt Amundson - drums
Bandleader Dan Schwindt is a freelance guitarist based out of Denver, Colorado. A graduate of the University of Northern Texas, Dan has been a professional performer and educator for the past ten years primarily in Colorado's Front Range. Working as one of Denver's top-call sidemen, Dan has had the opportunity to play in a wide variety of ensembles and genres of music. Recent highlights include playing with Karl Denson (Tiny Universe), Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Jeff Coffin (Dave Mathews Band), George Porter (The Meters), DJ Logic, Speech (Arrested Development), Eric Marienthal, Karrin Allyson, Peter Eldridge, Eric Krasno (Soulive) and Michael Brecker. While in Denver, Dan has been a regular member of the Kyle Hollingsworth Band, The Motet, Supercollider, and Rekha Ohal Trio.
Important Notes:
During this time of limited indoor capacity, floor seats are only available by reservation as we are limited to 50 seats per show/seating.
For walk-in guests, an artist fee of $19 per guest (per set) applies to this show.
New Limited Capacity Weekend Music Times: Set One: 6:30-7:45pm | Set Two: 8:30 - 9:45*
*In accordance with the new Colorado State statutes: Last call for alcoholic beverages will be at 9:45pm. All tabs containing alcohol must be closed by 9:59pm. Guests can continue drinking and dining past 10pm, but cannot purchase or pay for alcohol after 9:59pm*
The last two Fridays in May, David Bernot (a recipient of two Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer awards) and his new quintet will debut a selection of innovative & original compositions that represent David's eclectic education and uniquely forged career. David's top-shelf quintet is comprised of a collection of highly regarded and grammy award nominated musicians including: Greg Gisbert on trumpet, Tom Amend on piano, Gonzalo Teppa on bass and Michael D'Angelo on drums. All the members of this quintet are also active educators and performers in Colorado's world-class jazz scene.
David Bernot, born and raised in Gilbert Arizona, moved to Denver in 2012 to study jazz performance at the University of Denver. Since earning a Bachelors of Music from DU’s Lamont School of Music David has played professionally a jazz musician and freelance saxophonist ( in funk, pop & EDM categories).. In addition to playing, David also teaches a private studio, and is faculty with the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts.
Important Notes:
During this time of limited indoor capacity, floor seats are only available by reservation.
Saturday nights in March, the Derek Banach Quintet presents a night of "Straight-Ahead Modern Jazz Compositions" with a focus on harmonic sophistication and beauty. The band will feature compositions by Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Kirkland, Cedar Walton, Kenny Garrett, Woody Shaw and more. Special guests for this series include Keith Oxman, David Bernot, Tom Amend, Ron Bland and Todd Reid.
Colorado native Derek Banach has performed professionally for 30 years in a variety of settings from Jazz to Hip-Hop, Salsa, Classical, and Reggae. His roots are firmly set in the Hard-Bop stylings of 60's period icons such as Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Derek's quintet album, "Tugende" displays his composing talents and personal approach to trumpet playing. He has recorded with Italian producer Nicola Conte, Quintetto X, Paul Mulliken and has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Richie Cole, Joe Bonner and Ron Miles.
Saturday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm
Set Two: 9:00 - 10:30pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music and Three Course Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $29 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- If availability permits, we do allow walk-in guests. Walk-in guests will have a charge of $30 per person applied to their check on Fridays and Saturdays
- We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
The Walter Gorra Quintet makes its debut at Nocturne, playing Walter’s newest original compositions and arrangements, the quintet features Gonzalo Teppa on bass and Alejandro Castaño on drums along with world class horn players John Gunther on woodwinds and Gabe Mervine on trumpet round out the group. These long-time friends and Colorado musical accomplices draw from their backgrounds in various styles of music to develop an exciting sound. From a modern Afro-Cuban Danzon composition to a well-loved jazz standard played their way, the group features a diverse and fresh library of music. The quintet will delight audiences while respecting the tradition and history of jazz and making its own contributions to the trajectory of the music.
Walter Gorra is a Colorado-raised pianist, composer, educator and structural engineer. Studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Walter earned degrees in jazz piano performance and structural engineering and had the good fortune to study and work with Art Lande, Jeff Jenkins, Victor Mestas and many other notable Colorado musicians. Earning his master’s degree at William Paterson University in New Jersey, Walter had the opportunity to study and work with Jim McNeely, Cecil Bridgewater, Harold Mabern and Bill Charlap among others. During his time in New York, Walter also performed and/or wrote and arranged music for Paquito D’Rivera, Ingrid Jensen, and Pete McGuinness and others. Walter has performed at jazz festivals and clubs throughout North and Central America and won Downbeat and ASCAP Herb Alpert awards for his compositions.
Saturday Show Times:
Set One: 6:30 - 7:45pm
Set Two: 9:00 - 10:30pm
Important Notes and Reservation Information:
- Due to high demand, we encourage guests to book well in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Floor seats are reserved for Dinner and a Show Reservations (Music and Three Course Included)
- Reserved Bar Seats are $29 per guest and include music. Bar guests can order from our entire dinner menu as well as our wine & cocktail list.
- If availability permits, we do allow walk-in guests. Walk-in guests will have a charge of $30 per person applied to their check on Saturday nights.
- We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to one set only at this time
