August 6th: Chablis Showdown

Honoring the musical innovations and legacies of modern jazz masters. With a particular focus on Charlie Haden, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor the band will honor three musicians who passed too early in their lives, but still changed the direction of jazz forever.

Dru Heller: Drums

Heath Walton: Tenor

Josh Reed: Trumpet

Patrick McDevitt: Bass

Annie Booth: Piano

Reservations: http://www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations

A collaboration between trumpeter Al Hood and pianist, composer, and arranger Dave Hanson, the H2 Big Band is a 16-piece orchestra comprised of prominent jazz educators and performers.  Originally conceived as a recording ensemble with players appearing on their recording dates from all over the US, the H2 Big Band has recently formed a steady "live" personnel made up of the finest jazz musicians in Denver.

The band will be playing Wednesdays from 7:15 - 11:00 pm with occasional small groups opening for them from 6:15-7:15 from local collegiate and elite High Schools. These shows give the Denver community a rare opportunity to regularly hear a large world-class jazz ensemble and as such we are welcoming guests 13 years of age and older.

To reserve a table go to: http://www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations

In late 2009, pianist and composer Adam Bodine began working with his trio throughout Colorado. Complimented by bass and drums, Bodine's bandmates include Alejandro Castagno on drums, and John Grigsby on bass. This trio is always fresh and thoughtful in its song selections including a core of original music.

The trio has wowed crowds at The Mile High City's Five Points Jazz Festival and the Denver City Park Summer Jazz Concert Series, as well as a host of many other festivals and public performances in the region. Recently aired on PBS, Adam's trio, was included in a documentary commemorating the cultural impact of Denver's Jazz89 KUVO.

To kick off 2016 the Trio is holding a two-month residency at Nocturne, focusing on Adam's original compositions. 

An ambitious producer and bandleader, Adam has recorded and released five full-length albums with his trio: Evergroove Session (2015), Adam Bodine Trio Plays Nirvana (2013), Up 'N Hear (2011), Blue Mud (2010) and The Chauffeur (2009). In addition, Bodine has put out several various live recordings with his band. Recipients of high acclaim locally, nationally and internationally, all of Adam's albums continue to be acquired by fans and various distributive entities across North America, throughout Europe, as well as Japan. Performing live however finds the Adam Bodine Trio amplifying its artistry to new heights. The shows radiate a fun, spontaneous and playful presence with stellar musicianship, spirited improvisation and venturesome interplay.

Reservations: http://www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations

Appearing in their second Nocturne Artist-in-Residency, The Tom Gershwin Quintet will play from mid January through February. This adroit ensemble starring Jean-Luc Davis on bass, Annie Booth on piano, Sam Williams on tenor, and Kevin Matthews on drums, will all be contributing original works to the nighty repertoire performed. 

After several years in New York, Tom has returned home to share his talents with Denver audiences. Tom's first full recording, Sweet Pastimes was released in 2013 and has received wonderful critical acclaim with international radio play. Tom has recently performed with a diverse range of groups, including Juno winner Jayme Stone, The Temptations, Leftover Salmon, The Motet, Ryan Tedder, and The New West Guitar Group.

In May 2012, Tom graduated from NYU, where he was an adjunct faculty member. At NYU he performed and worked with Kenny Werner, Brian Lynch, Chris Potter, Ralph Alessi, Tony Moreno, and trumpet guru Laurie Frink. While in New York, Tom was also a faculty member at Douglaston School of Music and Art. Moving forward as an artist in 2016, Tom seeks to understand a daily process that allows emotion and creativity to thrive. By dedicating himself to this, he strives to inspire students, fellow musicians, and listeners alike.

Reservations: http://www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations

 ON JANUARY 22nd THIS SHOW WILL START LATE (8:00 instead of 7:00)

11:15pm-1:15am

Late Night @ Nocturne

Mark's hard-grooving acoustic bass sound was birthed in the New York area, where he learned to play many musical styles. His professional career started in New Jersey in the early "70's" at Family & Friends with Jeff Kohnberg and Lisa Cerasia. In 1980 he moved to Colorado with the band Arabesque and has since been a sought after sideman on over 100 albums, including Grammy award winner Tim O'Brien, Tim and Mollie O'Brien, Sally Taylor, (daughter of James and Carly), James Van Buren with Richie Cole, Keith Oxman, Mary Flower, and Mary Ann Moore. He has played for President Bill Clinton and other luminaries over the years. Mark has toured Europe, and regularly appears at festivals and clubs across the country.

He has performed with such legendary performers as Earl Klugh, Nnenna Freelon, Spike Robinson, Richie Cole, James Moody, Ernestine Anderson, Ben Sidran, Peter Rowan, Kenny Loggins, New Orleans piano sensation Henry Butler, Fred Wesley (of the James Brown funky horn section), Buddy Tate, (of the original Count Basie Band), Bruno Carr ( the drummer for Ray Charles, Herbie Mann, and many jazz greats), blues men Eddie Kirkland and Mark Hummel, and a couple of great New York based jazz vocalists Allan Harris and Tom Lellis. Mark has opened shows for B.B. King, Kenny Rogers, Wilson Pickett, Koko Taylor, and Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, to name a few.

Critical Notes:

"The music was some of the finest yet most accessible improvisational jazz I had heard in years, with an interplay between musicians that was a joy to see and hear." - Michael Vernier, The Front Page

"Bassist Mark Diamond's frenzied solo spanned the entire length of the fretboard, alternating between low drones and novel sounds from the instrument's higher registers. Diamond coaxed impossibly high-pitched notes from the thick strings, even as he rung occasional notes from the low E string as a back up."  - Jon Solomon, Westword

With a large range, very personal tone, and dazzling technique, Trumpeter Greg Gisbert is considered by many to the modern-day Clark Terry. A graduate of the Berklee School of Music, Greg has spent his musical life playing with stars of jazz world (Maria Schneider, Buddy Rich, Gary Burton, The Woody Herman Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Ken Peplowski, to name but a few). 

Greg takes to the Nocturne's stage with a captivating quintet made up of a few of Denver's "Young Lions" that together explore the future, and reveal a few uncommon treasures past. This ensemble plays everything from original compositions to Monk and Ellington, with a lot of edge and joy.

GREG GISBERT - TRUMPET

ANNIE BOOTH - PIANO

STEVE KOVALCHECK - GUITAR

PATRICK MCDEVITT - BASS

MARK EMMONS - DRUMS

To reserve a table go to: http://www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations