8-Ball Quintet
Wednesday, May 31 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket 8-Ball Quintet is a five-piece jazz combo that plays the music of Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Joshua Redman, and many more inspiring jazz musicians. The quintet consists of five students from the University of Montana Jazz Program. The group is coached by local rhythm section musician, Connor Racicot. 8-Ball Quintet is Owen Cleary on bass, Drew Saltzman on guitar, Simon Hickey on drums, Ally Fradkin on tenor sax, and Owen Meador on alto sax. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Points in Time Album Release / Skyler Mendell Sextet, w/ Connor Racicot Trio
Sunday, May 7 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket // $5 Students (Door Only, Griz Card Required) The Skyler Mendell Sextet plays all original, high energy, creative jazz. The group was formed by Skyler when he moved to Missoula to pursue a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance – and he will graduate in May. Since November 2021, they have played all around Missoula. The band is Skyler Mendell on trumpet, Aidan Robinson on sax, Sean Stineford on trombone, Dylan Bautista on piano, Connor Racicot on bass, and Llwyn Clark-Gaynor on drums. The Connor Racicot Trio brings a fresh perspective to great American standards. Featuring Owen Cleary on the upright bass and Sam Purvis on the drums and cymbals, the trio distills nearly 80 years of influences into a modern and exciting sound. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazzoula Spring 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday // April 26, 27, 28, & 29 // Doors at 5:30 // Show at 6:30 PM // $20 // $17 Students & Seniors (50+) It’s Jazzoula Spring ‘23! Celebrating 21 years of Jazz in the Missoula community – presenting 20 plus jazz combos, big bands, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists over four days, April 26, 27, 28, and 29. Providing a complete variety of the only original form of American music: jazz. Jazzoula gives the listener a chance to experience Missoula’s eclectic jazz performers showcasing their individual talents with their groups, and as soloists. With combo jazz, trios, big band, vocalists, student groups, and various musical incarnations. Acts include All City Jazz, Margi Cates, Salsa Loca, Joan Zen Quintet, Night Blooming Jasmine, Finn Carroll Trio, Basement Boyz, Ryan Belski Quartet, Missoula Jazz Collective, Patti Nolan and the Undeniables, Skyler Mendell Sextet, Chuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City Five, Owen Ross Trio, An Absent Wilson Conspiracy, U of M Boyd Combo, Melody Anderson Vocal Trio, Loren Stillman, Kyle Curtis Trio, and SG Modern Jazz Project. Enjoy short sets and a fantastic variety of awesome jazz music. See you there. Wednesday, April 26 Line-up:All City JazzMargi CatesSalsa LocaJoan Zen QuintetConnor Racicot Trio Thursday, April 27 Line-up:Night Blooming JasmineFinn Carroll TrioBasement BoyzRyan Belski QuartetMissoula Jazz Collective Friday, April 28 Line-up:Patti Nolan and the UndeniablesSkyler Mendell SextetChuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City FiveOwen Ross TrioAn Absent Wilson Conspiracy Saturday, April 29 Line-up:U of M Boyd ComboMelody Anderson Vocal TrioLoren StillmanKyle Curtis TrioSG Modern Jazz Project For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazzoula Spring 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday // April 26, 27, 28, & 29 // Doors at 5:30 // Show at 6:30 PM // $20 // $17 Students & Seniors (50+) It’s Jazzoula Spring ‘23! Celebrating 21 years of Jazz in the Missoula community – presenting 20 plus jazz combos, big bands, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists over four days, April 26, 27, 28, and 29. Providing a complete variety of the only original form of American music: jazz. Jazzoula gives the listener a chance to experience Missoula’s eclectic jazz performers showcasing their individual talents with their groups, and as soloists. With combo jazz, trios, big band, vocalists, student groups, and various musical incarnations. Acts include All City Jazz, Margi Cates, Salsa Loca, Joan Zen Quintet, Night Blooming Jasmine, Finn Carroll Trio, Basement Boyz, Ryan Belski Quartet, Missoula Jazz Collective, Patti Nolan and the Undeniables, Skyler Mendell Sextet, Chuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City Five, Owen Ross Trio, An Absent Wilson Conspiracy, U of M Boyd Combo, Melody Anderson Vocal Trio, Loren Stillman, Kyle Curtis Trio, and SG Modern Jazz Project. Enjoy short sets and a fantastic variety of awesome jazz music. See you there. Wednesday, April 26 Line-up:All City JazzMargi CatesSalsa LocaJoan Zen QuintetConnor Racicot Trio Thursday, April 27 Line-up:Night Blooming JasmineFinn Carroll TrioBasement BoyzRyan Belski QuartetMissoula Jazz Collective Friday, April 28 Line-up:Patti Nolan and the UndeniablesSkyler Mendell SextetChuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City FiveOwen Ross TrioAn Absent Wilson Conspiracy Saturday, April 29 Line-up:U of M Boyd ComboMelody Anderson Vocal TrioLoren StillmanKyle Curtis TrioSG Modern Jazz Project For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazzoula Spring 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday // April 26, 27, 28, & 29 // Doors at 5:30 // Show at 6:30 PM // $20 // $17 Students & Seniors (50+) It’s Jazzoula Spring ‘23! Celebrating 21 years of Jazz in the Missoula community – presenting 20 plus jazz combos, big bands, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists over four days, April 26, 27, 28, and 29. Providing a complete variety of the only original form of American music: jazz. Jazzoula gives the listener a chance to experience Missoula’s eclectic jazz performers showcasing their individual talents with their groups, and as soloists. With combo jazz, trios, big band, vocalists, student groups, and various musical incarnations. Acts include All City Jazz, Margi Cates, Salsa Loca, Joan Zen Quintet, Night Blooming Jasmine, Finn Carroll Trio, Basement Boyz, Ryan Belski Quartet, Missoula Jazz Collective, Patti Nolan and the Undeniables, Skyler Mendell Sextet, Chuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City Five, Owen Ross Trio, An Absent Wilson Conspiracy, U of M Boyd Combo, Melody Anderson Vocal Trio, Loren Stillman, Kyle Curtis Trio, and SG Modern Jazz Project. Enjoy short sets and a fantastic variety of awesome jazz music. See you there. Wednesday, April 26 Line-up:All City JazzMargi CatesSalsa LocaJoan Zen QuintetConnor Racicot Trio Thursday, April 27 Line-up:Night Blooming JasmineFinn Carroll TrioBasement BoyzRyan Belski QuartetMissoula Jazz Collective Friday, April 28 Line-up:Patti Nolan and the UndeniablesSkyler Mendell SextetChuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City FiveOwen Ross TrioAn Absent Wilson Conspiracy Saturday, April 29 Line-up:U of M Boyd ComboMelody Anderson Vocal TrioLoren StillmanKyle Curtis TrioSG Modern Jazz Project For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazzoula Spring 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday // April 26, 27, 28, & 29 // Doors at 5:30 // Show at 6:30 PM // $20 // $17 Students & Seniors (50+) It’s Jazzoula Spring ‘23! Celebrating 21 years of Jazz in the Missoula community – presenting 20 plus jazz combos, big bands, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists over four days, April 26, 27, 28, and 29. Providing a complete variety of the only original form of American music: jazz. Jazzoula gives the listener a chance to experience Missoula’s eclectic jazz performers showcasing their individual talents with their groups, and as soloists. With combo jazz, trios, big band, vocalists, student groups, and various musical incarnations. Acts include All City Jazz, Margi Cates, Salsa Loca, Joan Zen Quintet, Night Blooming Jasmine, Finn Carroll Trio, Basement Boyz, Ryan Belski Quartet, Missoula Jazz Collective, Patti Nolan and the Undeniables, Skyler Mendell Sextet, Chuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City Five, Owen Ross Trio, An Absent Wilson Conspiracy, U of M Boyd Combo, Melody Anderson Vocal Trio, Loren Stillman, Kyle Curtis Trio, and SG Modern Jazz Project. Enjoy short sets and a fantastic variety of awesome jazz music. See you there. Wednesday, April 26 Line-up:All City JazzMargi CatesSalsa LocaJoan Zen QuintetConnor Racicot Trio Thursday, April 27 Line-up:Night Blooming JasmineFinn Carroll TrioBasement BoyzRyan Belski QuartetMissoula Jazz Collective Friday, April 28 Line-up:Patti Nolan and the UndeniablesSkyler Mendell SextetChuck Florence Birthday Bash – Featuring Chuck Florence and His Motor City FiveOwen Ross TrioAn Absent Wilson Conspiracy Saturday, April 29 Line-up:U of M Boyd ComboMelody Anderson Vocal TrioLoren StillmanKyle Curtis TrioSG Modern Jazz Project For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Big Sky Django Jazz Festival
Featuring Cottonwood Club, Montana Manouche, & Night Blooming JasmineApril 7 at Free Cycles // April 8 at The Show Room at the ZACCDoors at 6:30 PM // Music & Dancing from 7 to 10 PM // $15 Tickets at ZACC available online & at the door // Tickets at Free Cycles available at door only For more information visit: bigskydjangojazz.com The third ever Big Sky Django Jazz Festival will take place on April 7 and 8, 2023, in Missoula, Montana! Started in 2017 by the Rimrock Hot Club of Billings, the BSDJ Festival is Montana’s only music festival dedicated to celebrating the sublime music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapellie’s Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Strings and accordions take the place of horns and drums in this infectious European interpretation of American jazz. This year the festival brings together 15 musicians from across Montana including: Cottonwood Club of Helena, Montana Manouche of Bozeman, and Night Blooming Jasmine of Missoula. Dress your best for two unforgettable nights of swing, and don’t forget your dancing shoes! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazz Night w/ Patti Nolan & The Undeniables
Thursday, March 16 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $12 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Patti Nolan & The Undeniables takes over The Show Room at the ZACC for a spirited night of jazz, paying tribute to jazz standards with a fresh new sound. With Patti on vocals, Ben Shuberg on piano, Pete Hand on bass, Graeme Pletscher on sax, and Christian Guitierez on drums, Patti Nolan & The Undeniables bring a totally fresh new sound to the Missoula jazz scene. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Absent Wilson Conspiracy w/ Bigskylight
Sunday, January 29 // Door at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter The Absent Wilson Conspiracy explores acoustic, and electric jazz through contemplative and spacious original compositions. Drawing rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic textures from across the spectrum of classic and contemporary jazz, the band is driven by a deep love of the collective improvisation at the heart of jazz. Also known as The Captain Wilson Conspiracy, the band began conspiring in Missoula Montana nearly a decade ago. After keyboardist Keaton Wilson moved to Arizona, bassist Steve Kalling, guitarist DR Halsell, and percussionist Ed Stalling adopted the ‘Absent Wilson’ moniker as a way to acknowledge the origin and connection while forming the nucleus of an expanding group of like-minded conspirators. In recent years, Helena-based composer and pianist Steven Gores joined the fun. His emotional and cinematic compositions made him complicit from the first note. Montana has a way of pulling together people who love wild places and find the particular kind of quiet that comes in the wind and wide sky. This experience of the wide-open spaces and the people and communities who live here, has shaped their compositions. They look forward to sharing these stories and exploring the spaces they shape from the ZACC stage this January. Bigskylight’s music is inspired by the subtle differences in the color and timbre of light across the Montana sky. It is created to slow down, go deep and listen. Dynamic and fluid, the ensemble revolves around the ethereal and sound of the hand-pan (a contemplative relative of the steel drum). Image credit ‘Time to Feed the Frog’ by Paula Wittner, 2019, Gouache on Ragboard For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jazz Night with Patti Nolan & Friends
Sunday, January 222 // Door at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // $12 // $15 Artist Supporter Join us at the Show Room at the ZACC for a spirited night of jazz classics and standards performed by Patti Nolan & Friends, with Patti on vocals, Dylan Bautista on piano, Pete Hand on bass, and Ed Stalling on drums. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
