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.
Presented by the Colorado based "Dart Echo" (Matt Smiley - bass, Briana Harris - sax, Ben Parrish - guitar, Dru Heller - drums), this two night appearance explores the musical universe of The Talking Heads.
Dart Echo was founded in 2015 and has performed compositions by Paul Motian, Nick Drake, David Bowie, 1960s classic jazz, as well as original music written by band members. With this crossover jazz project, the grooves of David Byrne's songs will stay intact while the harmony and improvisations wander freely over the top. With the goal of capturing the energy of the iconic "Stop Making Sense" concert, Dart Echo will play hits and B-sides from all across the Talking Heads catalogue.
Sunday 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 have access to the 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.
Presented by the Colorado based "Dart Echo" (Matt Smiley - bass, Briana Harris - sax, Ben Parrish - guitar, Dru Heller - drums), this two night appearance explores the musical universe of The Talking Heads.
Dart Echo was founded in 2015 and has performed compositions by Paul Motian, Nick Drake, David Bowie, 1960s classic jazz, as well as original music written by band members. With this crossover jazz project, the grooves of David Byrne's songs will stay intact while the harmony and improvisations wander freely over the top. With the goal of capturing the energy of the iconic "Stop Making Sense" concert, Dart Echo will play hits and B-sides from all across the Talking Heads catalogue.
Sunday 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 have access to the 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.
A musical exploration of the Talking Heads is presented by the Colorado based band "Dart Echo" with Briana Harris, Ben Parrish, Ryan Seward, Matt Smiley, Shilo Stroman and Greg Harris.
Dart Echo was founded in 2015 and has performed compositions by Paul Motian, Nick Drake, David Bowie, 1960s classic jazz, as well as original music written by band members. With this new crossover jazz project, the grooves of David Byrne's songs will stay intact while the harmony and improvisations wander freely over the top. With the goal of capturing the energy of the iconic "Stop Making Sense" concert, Dart Echo will play hits and B-sides from all across the Talking Heads catalogue every Tuesday in June at Nocturne.
Drummer Dru Heller presents a celebration of the music of Paul Motian. One of the most influential jazz drummers of all time, Motian first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and was a member of Keith Jarrett's "American Quartet from 1967-76. As a leader he is most known for his trio with saxophonist Joe Lovano and guitarist Bill Frisell, as well as his Electric Bebop Band which showcased many different young lions of jazz, including Joshua Redmand, Kurt Rosenwinkle, and Brad Shepik. These two shows will celebrate Motian's legacy as a bandleader, drawing from his vast book of original compositions, as well as his unique interpretations of American Songbook classics.
Dru Heller - drums, Tim Wendel - guitar, John Gunther - sax, Matt Smiley - bass
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Dru Heller holds a masters degree in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He has recorded, performed and toured with artists such as Byron Stripling, John Ellis, Ron Miles, Art Lande, Wycliffe Gordon, John Ellis, Kate McGarry, Dave Pietro, and many others. Dru also leads his own group and maintains a busy schedule as a freelance musician of the Denver jazz scene and is an affiliate faculty member of Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Reservation Information and Important Notes:
During this time of limited indoor capacity, floor seats are only available by reservation as we are limited to 49 socially distanced seats per show/seating.
For walk-in guests, an artist fee of $15 per guest applies to this show.
We respectfully request that guests limit their visits to 2 hours so that we may properly clean between sets and comply with Denver's current covid occupancy restrictions.
Current Weekday Music Times: Set One: 6:30-7:45pm | Set Two: 8:30-10:00pm*
In this series Matt and his intrepid trio (Annie Booth - piano and Dru Heller - bass) explore and investigate the works and musical legacy of the eternal Charlie Haden.
An avid explorer of jazz history and recordings, Dr. Matt Smiley has performed both nationally and internationally, including the Montreux, North Sea, and Montreal Jazz Festivals. Matt has a Bachelor's degree in Music Industry with a Jazz Studies minor from James Madison University, and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, and a PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matt has led many artist-in-residencies at Nocturne and his most recent album "Crankbait" was released in spring of 2021 on the Nocturne Productions record label.
Thursday Show Times: Early Set: 6:30-7:45pm | Late Set: 8:45-10:00pm
- For bar and walk-in guests, a music fee of $19 per guest applies to this show
- To accommodate high demand and help our staff maintain a properly sanitized premises, we respectfully request that guests limit their visit to one set only at this time.
