Cool Jazz in January - Mile High Jazz Band
with vocalist Jakki Ford
Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Swing into the New Year with the Mile High Jazz Band on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Living the Good Life, 1480 N. Carson Street in Carson City. Admission is free, donations welcome.

The program, Cool Jazz in January, presents favorite big-band jazz tunes and feature the vocal stylings of Jakki Ford. Some tunes planned for this program are Ja-Da; Swing, Swing, Swing; Sweet Georgia Brown; and Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

Mile High Jazz Band events are supported in part by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. For information about Cool Jazz in January and the Mile High Jazz Band, call 775-883-4154, or see the website MileHighJazz.com. For information on other events at Living the Good Life, see facebook.com/livingthegoodlifecc.

Mile High Jazz Band Performs at Living the Good Life
Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band performs its "Jazz Sampler for Sweethearts" at Living the Good Life, 1480 N. Carson Street, Carson City, on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, and donations are greatly appreciated.

Call to Artists for Open Studios Tour
Posted: 2/24/2020

The Second Annual Carson City Open Studios Tour will be August 22-23, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days. We are seeking applicants (artists) for this event.

The application form is available by clicking HERE. The deadline for applications is April 15, 2020.

The Open Studios Tour art event is presented by Mile High Jazz Band Association as part of the 2020 Jazz and Beyond Music and Art Festival, and is supported by grants from the Carson City Cultural Commission, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority, and private donations. For more information, call or text 775-313-8628, email ccopenstudio@gmail.com, or visit http://JazzCarsonCity.com/event/arttour2020.

Big-Band Jazz Times Two!
Mile High-Royal Blue Jazz Extravaganza XVII
at the Carson City Community Center
Tuesday, March 3, 2020

It's "big-band jazz times two" when the Mile High Jazz Band and Carson Middle School’s Royal Blue Jazz Band present the 17th annual combined Jazz Extravaganza concert, on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., in the Bob Boldrick Theater at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street, Carson City. The Extravaganza is sponsored by the Mile High Jazz Band Association as a benefit for Carson City school instrumental music programs.

Tickets are $10 general admission and free for youth age 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Carson Middle School music students, at the Nevada Day Office (716 N. Carson Street), online at MileHighJazz.com, or at the door. For information, call the Mile High Jazz Band at 775-883-4154.

This year, the Extravaganza will feature two big bands, vocalist Jakki Ford, and an intergenerational combo performance. The traditional grand finale, combining the forces of all the musicians, will feature two selections, “Feeling Good” by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, and "Bossa Madeira" by Dean Sorenson. Refreshments and raffle prizes will be on sale in the lobby.

"We're enjoy performing with the middle school jazz band," said David Bugli, Mile High Jazz Band leader and pianist. "This award-winning student ensemble is impressive and deserves community support."

Carson Middle School Jazz Band, directed by Nick Jacques, attend and compete at jazz festivals each year and perform at community events throughout Carson City. The bands are zero-hour classes designed to teach students about jazz - the music that began in America and spread throughout the world.

The Mile High Jazz Band, a professional big-band, plays regularly in northern Nevada, including monthly performances and quarterly Jazz and Poetry events in Carson City. They present the annual Jazz & Beyond: Carson City Music Festival each August.

This concert is funded in part by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council. For more information, call Mile High Jazz Band at 775-883-4154 or see MileHighjazz.com.

Photo: Combined bands at 2019 Jazz Extravaganza concert

Mile High Jazz Band Performs at Comma Coffee
Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band with vocalist Jakki Ford will be joined by several poets and readers on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 7:30-9:30 p.m., for an evening of big-band music and poetry on the theme "Fate & Fortune." Each poem will be followed by a related big-band tune. The event will be at CommaCoffee.com, 312 S. Carson Street, across the street from the state legislature building in Carson City.

Admission is $5 at the door and free for age 18 and under.

The program will feature Rita Geil, Wayne Carlson, Jakki Ford, Krista Lukas, Susan Sara Priest, Timothy Rhodes, Amy Roby, and Tina Wylie reading their original poems and selected works by other published poets. “Fate & Fortune” includes humorous and serious selections to entertain people of all ages.

Mile High Jazz Band performances are funded, in part, by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, and by private donations. For more information, call 775-883-4154, or visit MileHighJazz.com.

Photo: Jakki Ford will sing with the Mile High Jazz Band on March 10.

Art Contest for Jazz & Beyond Music Festival
** Form available here **

Mile High Band Association's 2020 Jazz & Beyond Festival Committee is sponsoring an art contest for Carson-Tahoe area artists. Selected entries in the competition may be used to promote the festival, and the winning entry will be featured on the festival's advertising poster and program cover. A T-shirt may also feature one of the designs submitted. The entry deadline is April 1, 2020. Participation is free.

The artwork will be judged by the Jazz & Beyond committee. The winner of the competition will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Jazz & Beyond-Carson City Music Festival and a cash award of $100. Alexander Cassimus, art project chair, said, “The artist’s work will be front and center, viewed by thousands of festival patrons.”

Entries must be 11”x14” and may be in any two dimensional medium (photography, digital collage and photography, watercolor, acrylic, oil, etc.). All entries must be matted, backed, and submitted in a protective sleeve.

Each submission must include the entry form and a digital image of the artwork as an email attachment to info@jazzcarsoncity.com, or on a CD or thumb drive. It may also be submitted by Drop Box to info@jazzcarsoncity.com. Entry forms are available for download from the festival website, jazzcarsoncity.com.

Artists are to deliver their entries to the Nevada Artists Association Gallery, 449 West King Street, Carson City, NV, by April 1. Gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

For more information about the contest and entry forms, contact Alexander Cassimus at 408-264-4423. You may also click HERE for the 2020 Jazz & Beyond Art Contest Entry Form.

Photo: Artist Reta Hanks shows her winning painting, used for the cover of the Jazz & Beyond program and the festival T-shirt last year.

Mile High Jazz Band will NOT perform at Living the Good Life
Tuesday, April 14, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band had intended to perform at Living the Good Life, 1480 N. Carson Street, Carson City, on Tuesday, Date, 2020, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. However, this performance has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic.

It is important that locations that support big band jazz in Carson City, such as Living the Good Life and Comma Coffee, continue to provide space for liver performances. I encourage you to show your support of these establishments by buying gift cards for future meals. - David Bugli, Leader of Mile High Jazz Band

OLD:
OLD Media Release: Jazz & Beyond Music & Art Festival Update
April 14, 2020

Mile High Band Association announces that, as of now, the Jazz and Beyond - Carson City Music and Art Festival is still planned for August 7 to 23, 2020. The Planning Committee is meeting by video conference and has confirmed several bands and reserved venues. Due to uncertainty about grants, sponsors, and ad sales, as well as COVID-19 restrictions, however, further bookings are on hold. For updates, see MileHighJazz.com

The Jazz & Beyond art contest for the festival's advertising poster, program cover, and T-shirt design is in progress. The entry deadline has been extended to May 1, 2020. Participation is free. Entry forms are available on the websites JazzCarsonCity.com and MileHighJazz.com.

If the festival is cancelled this year, the winning art contest designs will be used for 2021, and if a winner has not been selected, entries will be included in the 2021 competition. For more information about the contest, entry forms, and where to deliver entries, contact Art Contest Coordinator, Alexander Cassimus, at 408-264-4423.

The 2020 Jazz & Beyond festival includes the second annual Open Studios Tour, with a month long exhibit in August at Western Nevada College Bristlecone Gallery, and a reception in the gallery on Thursday, August 20. Open studios art shows and demonstrations will be Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, at studios throughout Carson City. To participate, and for more information, call or text 775-313-8628, email ccopenstudio@gmail.com, or see http://JazzCarsonCity.com/event/arttour2020.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Notification
Updated: April 15, 2020, at 8:30 p.m.

Most events listed below are on hold. If there will be any changes, we will post them on this website, notify CarsonNow.org, and make efforts to contact all participants. The health of our musicians, audience, and volunteers is our concern. We will be following advice from city/county and medical professionals as we make our decisions.

Mile High Jazz Band rehearsals are on hold until further notice. The April 14th performance at Living the Good Life was cancelled and the May 12th performance has been cancelled. We will be evaluating if there needs to be changes to other programs, due to the Coronavirus situation.

Mile High Jazz Band will NOT perform at Living the Good Life
Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band had intended to perform at Living the Good Life, 1480 N. Carson Street, Carson City, on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. However, this performance has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic.

It is important that locations that support big band jazz in Carson City, such as Living the Good Life and Comma Coffee, continue to provide space for liver performances. I encourage you to show your support of these establishments by buying gift cards for future meals. - David Bugli, Leader of Mile High Jazz Band

Mile High Jazz Band Annual Meeting on Zoom
Also Board Meeting
Sunday, July 12, 2020

You are invited to join us at a safe social distance on Zoom! Help celebrate our accomplishment!

The Mile High Jazz Band Association Association will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, July 12, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. The Zoom meeting ID is 83888691967. Please call 775-883-4154 to obtain the password or a link.

Members, future members, friends, and guests are welcome. Admission is free.

Members will elect Board members to fill open terms. We will review accomplishments, discuss the challenges brought about by the Coronavirus epidemic, discuss plans for Jazz & Beyond this summer, and hear about plans for 2020 and 2021. We will also share some recorded entertainment by members of the band and some of our poet/readers.

To register, and for more information, call 775-883-4154. For general information about the Association, see MileHighJazz.com.

OLD Media Release: Jazz & Beyond Music & Art Festival
Updated July 8, 2020

Mile High Band Association announces that, as of now (7/8/2020), the Jazz and Beyond - Carson City Music and Art Festival is still planned for August 9 to 23, 2020 (starting two days later than originally planned). The Planning Committee is meeting by video conferences and is confirming several bands and hoping to reserve appropriate venues. Due to uncertainty about COVID-19 restrictions, however, some bookings are on hold.

The 2020 Jazz & Beyond festival includes the second annual Open Studios Tour (OST). The month long exhibit in August planned for Western Nevada College Bristlecone Gallery for OST artists has been cancelled. However, Open Studios art shows and demonstrations will be Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, at studios throughout Carson City. For more information, call or text 775-313-8628, email ccopenstudio@gmail.com, or see http://JazzCarsonCity.com/event/arttour2020.

Jazz & Beyond 2020 Music and Art Festival - Update
Media release – July 17, 2020
Contact – Elinor Bugli 775-883-4154

The Jazz & Beyond festival committee is rescheduling many of the events originally planned for August 2020 because of the recent rise in coronavirus cases. However, the committee plans to go ahead with the second annual Open Studios Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23. Admission is free.

More than two-dozen artists will be featured at ten studios throughout Carson City. Favorite solo musicians will perform live at most studios. Promotional items for the 2020 festival, including posters, T-shirts, artwork, and Jazz & Beyond facemasks, will be available onsite for a donation. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed and the number of concurrent visitors at each site will be controlled.

Brochures listing studios, artists, and musicians, including a map, will be available at the Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority (visitors bureau), Brewery Arts Center Artisan Store, NAA Gallery, Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum, and Nevada State Museum.

David Bugli, co-chair of the festival, said, "We are looking to provide elements of Jazz & Beyond as a series of events and virtual presentations later in the year and into next year, as conditions permit. We will present events safely, some in new formats, for performers and audience."

For its 17th year, Jazz & Beyond plans to reschedule favorite and new big bands, combos, and special events. These include the Rocky Tatarelli Quartet, the Josh D. Reed Quartet, a Roaring '20s themed program with bassist Scot Marshall's Brass Knuckles band, an annual Day at the Silver Saddle Ranch with performances by Sagebrush Rebels and Sierra Sweethearts, Rosebud's Dance Band, the Reno Jazz Orchestra, and much more. A jazz-related movie, drive-in style, is also in the works.

For up-to-date, ever evolving schedule, see MileHighJazz.com and JazzCarsonCity.com or contact info@jazzcarsoncity.com.

Mile High Jazz Band Association's Jazz & Beyond Festival is funded by grants from the Carson City Cultural Commission, the Nevada Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, and by private donations.

Photo: Jazz & Beyond at the Governor's Mansion - Cherie Shipley with Take This Band. August 9, 2019.

Mile High Jazz Band Presents
"Virtual Jazz & Poetry - Running Out"
Available on YouTube Sunday, July 19, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band Assoc. is presenting a video that we are calling "Virtual Jazz & Poetry: Running Out." It is available as an unlisted video on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqkA5QyRCtI.

On March 10, 2020, the band did a live Jazz & Poetry event at Comma Coffee in Carson City, NV, on the theme, "Fate & Fortune." Little did we know that five days later the band's own fate was to be put in a lockdown for an undetermined period. Faced with this predicament of not being able to perform live, we decided to create a Virtual Jazz & Poetry video in lieu of the Jazz & Poetry event originally scheduled for June 9, 2020. We selected the theme, "Running Out."

Several poets, given the theme, wrote or selected appropriate poems to be read on the video and isolated band members recorded tunes related to the poems. The result of these efforts is this video in six short acts, each consisting of the reading of a poem and the performance of a related piece of music.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the band is also developing a virtual big band presentation of a golden oldie from the big band era. Be on the lookout for that, too.

Photo: Rita Geil (center) and other poet readers read a poem by Carl Sandburg, captured in a Zoom conference call, part of "Virtual Jazz & Poetry: Running Out."

Watch "It's Your City" Episode
"Jazz and Beyond 2020: Pandemic Style"
August 4, 2020

Here is an episode of "It's Your City" called "Jazz and Beyond 2020: Pandemic Style." Cortney Bloomer interviews David Bugli on Aug. 4, 2020. Here is the link: CLICK HERE.

This is David's 7/30/20 "Good Day Carson" interview with Kassandra Butterfield. The festival portion starts around 31:25 on the recording. Here is the link: CLICK HERE.

Jazz & Beyond Music and Art Festival Releases Revised Plan
Media Release - Aug. 5, 2020

The Jazz & Beyond Music and Art Festival is taking a new direction in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The festival was founded in 2004. This is the first year in which gathering of large crowds at musical events has been restricted due to health concerns. The festival, originally planned to start on August 7, now has events starting on August 19 and continuing into September. It will include drive-in movies, small in-person concerts, live streamed concerts, and pre-recorded events made available to the public through the festival's website at JazzCarsonCity.com.

"Back in the middle of March, we had a fairly complete schedule with a few dozen performances planned for the festival in August, but all that changed as the pandemic spread," said David Bugli, President of the Mile High Jazz Band Assoc., sponsor of the festival. "With this new approach, we hope to share with the people in our community some of the great talent from our area, and perhaps reach a wider audience outside Carson City through our live-streamed and pre-recorded events. With few exceptions, admission to events will be free through the generosity of our grantors, advertisers, sponsors donors and Association members."

The first event will be a free, jazz related drive-in movie, "High Society," on Wednesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 20, in the parking lot at the Brewery Arts Center. The movie is presented in cooperation with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club. The 1956 movie, based on the earlier "Philadelphia Story" movie, is moved to a high-class setting near the Newport Jazz Festival. It features Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Grace Kelly in her last movie role before becoming Princess Grace of Monaco. Robin Holabird, film critic and former Nevada Film Commissioner, will introduce the movie and provide commentary. The event is supported in part by a generous grant from the Great Basin Consulting Group (Mike Drews). Reservations are required for each vehicle, and information will be posted on the festival website JazzCarsonCity.com.

The second annual Carson City Open Studios Tour (OST), part of the festival, will be on Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at ten studios throughout Carson City. This admission-free, contemporary cultural event will showcase more than 25 local artists, presenting a wide variety of exceptional visual art and art demonstrations, from painting, sculpture, and 3D art to jewelry, photography, and pottery in ten individual and shared spaces. The Wa-Pai-Shone Gallery at Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum will display works of several Great Basin Native Artists. Individual musicians will perform at six of the locations. OST brochures, which include a map of the locations and list of artists and musicians, are available at the Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority, the Nevada Artists Association, and Carson City Chamber of Commerce, and may be downloaded from the OST page at JazzCarsonCity.com/openstudio.

The Festival plans to start live streaming music events on August 29 and on subsequent dates in September. Bands will perform with a very limited audience at A to Zen, and will be live streamed over the Internet and recorded for later access via the festival website. These will mostly feature musicians who were previously scheduled to perform live in mid-August.

The Day at the Silver Saddle Ranch will be on Sunday, September 20, with the Sagebrush Rebels and Sierra Sweethearts. Reservations are required.

An outdoor Sunday Jazz Brunch featuring Niall McGuinness and the New World Jazz Project is planned for Sunday, September 13, at Empire Ranch Golf, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Reservations, at $10 per person, include a mimosa or soft drink, and guests can order from the Mallard's menu.

Due to the nature of the pandemic, these plans are subject to change. For up-to-date information, check out the festival website at JazzCarsonCity.com or the Facebook page at facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity, or call 775-883-4154.

Artwork: Karen Kreyeski's After Midnight Jam, this year's winning artwork.

Mile High Jazz Band Presents
"Moten Swing, performed by Mile High Jazz Band"
Available on YouTube, Sunday, August 16, 2020

The Mile High Jazz Band Assoc. presents a video called "Moten Swing, performed by Mile High Jazz Band." It is available as an unlisted video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhH-uEksGCg.

Mile High Jazz Band (MHJB) presents its first virtual big-band recording, each individual part recorded by band members and guests artists in their homes in July 2020. This endeavor is one way for the MHJB to continue to work together as a group, even though the coronavirus prevents us from rehearsing together and performing for our dearly missed audience.

As the MHJB explores the new technology for combining separate tracks into a whole, we like to pay tribute to some musical pioneers who came before us. Bennie Moten (1894-1935) wrote "Moten Swing" with his brother Buster in 1932 for his Kansas City Orchestra. It gained additional recognition when Benny Goodman (1909-1986) recorded it in 1938. But it is best known for being recorded in 1940 by Count Basie (1904-1984) and his orchestra. Basie had joined the Moten band in 1929 as a pianist, even though the band already had a pianist (Bennie Moten!). Some speculate that Moten aspired to bring his band up to the level of Duke Ellington's, and hiring musicians of Basie's caliber would help. Basie helped Moten develop the Kansas City style, in part by replacing the 2-beat-per-measure emphasis of the tuba with the 4-beat-per-measure feel of the string bass, an innovation that led to swing.

For information on the Mile High Jazz Band, please go to MileHighJazz.com. The Mile High Jazz Band Assoc. has sponsored the yearly Jazz & Beyond Music and Art Festival since the 100th birthday of Count Basie in August 2004 (see JazzCarsonCity.com).

Revised Jazz & Beyond Schedule
Updated Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Jazz & Beyond Music and Art Festival is posting a revised schedule of events. This schedule has been adjusted from the original schedule in response to the coronavirus situation. We are attempting to maintain the festival site at https://jazzcarsoncity.com, but we have experienced a few technical glitches. We hope this additional listing will be of benefit.

EVENTS

• Wed., Aug. 19 – "High Society" drive-in movie at Brewery Arts Center parking lot. Parking starts at 7:30. Movie starts around 8:30. FREE.
• Thur., Aug. 20 – "High Society" drive-in movie at Brewery Arts Center parking lot. Parking starts at 7:30. Movie starts around 8:30. FREE.
• Sat. Aug. 22 and Sun. Aug. 23 – Open Studios Tour - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. For essential information, see https://jazzcarsoncity.com/openstudio or call 775-883-4154. FREE.
• First live-streamed event – Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 – 3:00 p.m. PST (This was originally scheduled for Aug. 29) – The Jazzettes – Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/TheJazzettes. Link to the live-streamed event will be live on Aug. 30 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/. FREE.
• Second live-streamed event – Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. PST – Josh D. Reed Quartet. Link to the live-streamed event will be live on Sept. 1 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/. FREE.
• Bill Rose & Laurie Blue – Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. PST – Streamed event, pre-recorded at Melodee Music in Virginia. Link to the streamed event will opened on Sept. 8 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/. FREE.
• Tues. Sept 15 – Live-streamed event with Tom Stryker & Impromptu at 7:00 p.m. FREE. Link to the live-streamed event will opened on Sept. 15 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/.
• Sun. Sept. 13 – Jazz Brunch at Empire Ranch Golf, with Niall McGuinness & New World Jazz Project, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Reservations required. Link to the live-streamed event will opened on Sept. 13 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/.
• Sun. Sept. 20 – "A Day at the (little) Ranch" – An event with Sagebrush Rebels, 4:00 p.m. (new time). Reservations required for the live event. FREE. will opened on Sept. 20 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/. (Originally this was going to be "A Day at the Silver Saddle Ranch," but plans had to be changed due to the coronavirus situation.)
• Sun. Sept. 27 – Second Jazz Brunch at Empire Ranch Golf, with Cherie & Take This! 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Reservations required. Link to the live-streamed event will opened on Sept. 27 (just prior to the event) at https://www.facebook.com/jazzcarsoncity/.

For further information, check JazzCarsonCity.com or call 775-883-4154.

Mayor Bob Crowell Has Died
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell and his wife were great supporters of the arts in Carson City. In particular they supported the Jazz & Beyond Music & Art Festival for many years. Bob died this morning. We will miss his warmth, dedication, and smile. Click HERE for a beautiful photo montage prepared by photographer Cathleen Allison. I feel it captures so much that we loved about Mayor Bob.
- David Bugli