Features

Special event: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Breakfast Jazz at Greenhouse Garden Center

David Bugli and friends will play for the Carson City Chamber of Commerce's "Jazzy Breakfast Club" at Greenhouse Garden Center on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., which is normally too early for jazz musicians. Join the Chamber for breakfast and gardening ideas. The event will also be used to familiarize the business community with plans for this August's "Jazz! Carson City" music festival. For last minute details, check the Chamber's website and click on "Chamber Events Calendar".

Special event: Thursday, May 12, 2011
Getting in the Mood,
featuring The Commanders Jazz Ensemble

Mile High Jazz Band Association and the Carson High School Jazz Band present a free concert by The Commanders Jazz Ensemble from the US Air Force Band of the Golden West on Thurdsay, May 12, 2011, at the Carson City Community Center at 7:00 p.m. The concert is being presented as a preliminary event to the "Jazz! Carson City" music festival, which will feature over 35 free music events this coming August. The festival is sponsored by the Mile High Jazz Band Association and the city of Carson City.

Although The Commanders concert is free, people are encouraged to get their free tickets ahead of time. Tickets will guarantee general admission seating up to 6:45 p.m., at which time seating will be open to the public. Tickets will be available starting April 15 at Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall (1213 South Carson Street, Carson City) and at the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (1900 S. Carson Street, Suite #100, Carson City)

The event will start with a short performance by the Carson High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Jarod Sorum, at 7:00 p.m., followed by the performance by The Commanders, under the direction of Technical Sergeant Jim Butler.

The Commanders, a newly-revived ensemble coming from the US Air Force Band of the Golden West, carries on the American musical tradition of the great big bands, yet offers a lot more than the big band sounds. This energetic group of highly-trained professional musicians, formed from about a dozen Airmen, delivers the full gamut of jazz music - traditional jazz, cool, bop, swing, Broadway favorites, popular tunes, Latino rhythms, and patriotic music. The Commanders offers an entertaining show you won't soon forget!

A typical evening with The Commanders might include favorites from Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Count Basie, to Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie - to the sounds of today's greatest salsa groups and modern jazz groups, plus American show tunes and pop songs delivered by the group's enchantingly talented vocalist. Their renditions of hot jazz standards of any style feature rousing improvised solos from every instrument in the group. This is an ensemble capable of delivering a truly unique combination of entertainment.

In addition to enjoyable community concerts, the group offers informative lecture and performance clinics and general assembly programs. They visit colleges and schools throughout the region, inspiring future generations of musicians and connecting with youth.

For more information about this event, contact the Mile High Jazz Band at 775-883-4154. For information about The Commanders go to http://www.bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil and click on the "Ensembles" link. You can also check out their Facebook page (Click here). Click on the "photos" link to see some recent photos of the band in performance in southern California.