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Music Festival" (2016 to 2025)
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Mile High Jazz Band
External Links
Carson City Symphony
David Bugli website
Carson City Arts &
Culture Coalition (FB page)
Sacramento Traditional
Jazz
Society (STJS)
The Mile High Jazz Band Association formed in 2001 as a nonprofit corporation
to support the MHJB and its subgroup, the Millennium Bugs (jazz combo), promote
live jazz performance in northern Nevada, educate the public about jazz, and
enrich the cultural life of the community.
Member benefits include mailings, discounts on admissions, and
invitations to special events, plus the satisfaction of helping big-band jazz to thrive!
To book the Mile High Jazz Band (big band)
or Millennium Bugs (jazz combo),
call 775-883-4154.
Mile High Jazz Band Association Updated Mission Statement - Adopted March 4, 2012, by the
Board of Trustees:
Our mission is to enrich the cultural life of our community by promoting live
jazz performance in and around Carson City; enhancing arts education in collaboration
with other organizations and school programs; and supporting our resident big band,
the Mile High Jazz Band, and its affiliated combos.
MHJB Assoc. Board and Officers
The MHJBA board, July 2024:
- Trustees class of 2025: David Bugli, Rita Geil, Ted Xie
- Trustees class of 2026: Ellie Bugli, Steve Hayes, Adam Cohen
- Trustees class of 2027: Kelly Dodge, Alex Cassimus, Doug Conner
(Class of 2027 elected at 6/20/2024 Annual Meeting)
Officers elected at 9/8/2024 Board Meeting:
- President: David Bugli
- Vice President: Kelly Dodge
- Treasurer: Ellie Bugli
- Secretary: Ellie Bugli
The Mile High Jazz Band Assoc. is a member of the Carson City Downtown Business Assoc.
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Jazz & Beyond 2026 Art Contest Announced
Media Release, March 11, 2026
Mile High Band Association's 2026 Jazz & Beyond Festival Committee and
the Nevada Artists Association (NAA) are sponsoring an art contest for northern
Nevada artists, including teachers and students. Selected entries in the
competition may be used to promote the festival, and will be displayed at the
NAA Gallery during the festival, August 14 to 23.
The winning entry will be featured on the festival's advertising poster,
program cover, and festival T-shirts. The entry deadline is Friday,
May 15, 2026. Participation is free. Entry forms will be available for download
from jazzcarsoncity.com.
The artwork will be judged by a 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 $500. Art Contest Coordinator
Alexander Cassimus said, "The artist's work will be front and center, viewed by
thousands of festival patrons."
Artists may submit more than one entry. Artwork must be 11"x14" (portrait or
landscape) and may be in any two-dimensional medium (photography, digital collage
and photography, watercolor, acrylic, oil, etc.). Artwork must be matted, backed,
and submitted in a protective sleeve. The design should relate to music. Each
submission requires a separate entry form.
Artists are asked to deliver their entries by Friday, May 15, to the NAA Gallery,
449 W. King Street, Carson City, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m., or
contact Alexander Cassimus at 408-264-4423 or away4@earthlink.net for other options.
The entry form and a photo or digital image of the artwork (not to exceed 20 MB)
must also be sent as an email attachment to jazzcarsoncity@gmail.com
For more information about the contest and entry forms, contact Alexander Cassimus
at 408-264-4423 or away4@earthlink.net.
Photo: Jazz & Beyond Committee member Alex Cassimus (left) and artist Katelyn
Lehmann show winning artwork, "Sights & Sounds," used for the 2025 Jazz & Beyond flyer,
program, and T-shirt.
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Mile High Jazz Band Performs
at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
April 14, 2026
The Mile High Jazz Band performs at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge in the Carson Nugget on
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The music is free, and donations are welcome.
Mile High Jazz Band performances and educational activities are supported in part by a
grant from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, and by
memberships and donations.
For information about the band and activities, see milehighjazz.com.
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Mile High Jazz Band Presents
More Great Performances in 2026
The Mile High Jazz Band has a number of great performances planned for 2026. Here
is a list of what's coming up, starting in March (list updated 3/11/2026):
- Tues., April 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
- Tues., May 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
- Tues., June 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs Jazz-and-Poetry event at
Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
- Tues., July 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
- Aug. 14 to Aug. 23 - Mile High Jazz Band presents the 23rd annual
Jazz & Beyond Music Festival - about 25 free events at various locations - see
http:jazzcarsoncity.com.
- Fri., Aug. 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs annual "Basie Birthday" event as
part of the Jazz & Beyond Music Festival (Aug. 14-23)
- Tues., Sept. 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs Jazz-and-Poetry event at
Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
Mile High Jazz Band Association is funded in part by grants from the Nevada Arts
Council and the National Endowment for the Arts and from Carson City. For more
information, call Mile High Jazz Band at 775-883-4154 or see MileHighJazz.com.
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A Way To Make a Donation to Mile High Jazz Band
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Updated: Sept. 27, 2024
We have a helpful way for people to make a donation to Mile High Jazz Band Assoc.
They can scan a QR code with their smart phone, which will bring them to a webpage
that will make it possible
for them to donate $10, $20, or any multiple of $10 via Square. We are not charging
admission for our events at Gina's, but we are encouraging people to make a donation
to the band and the Association.
Tell your friends to try it out. We will have a sign with a QR code at
performances.
If you like, click HERE to go directly to the Square webpage for donations.
The Mile High Jazz Band Association formed in 2001 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation to support
the MHJB and its subgroups, promote live jazz performance in northern Nevada, educate the
public about jazz, and enrich the cultural life of the community. Member benefits include
mailings, discounts on admissions, and invitations to special events, plus the
satisfaction of helping big-band jazz to thrive!
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The monthly-gig tradition which started in 2001 continues!
Starting in January 2023, following the pandemic, monthly
Mile High Jazz Band gigs on the
second Tuesday of each month resumed. Most performances are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.,
and will be at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge, in the Carson Nugget, at
507 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV. Check this website from time to time for details.
General Information
The Mile High Jazz Band, an 18-member "big band" composed of 17 instrumentalists
and a vocalist, began performing in 1997. The group features music in the Count
Basie-Duke Ellington-Woody Herman tradition, as well as more contemporary styles,
selected from a repertoire of over 200 tunes. They play ballads, high-powered
jazz tunes, and dance music arranged by Nestico, Niehaus, Taylor, and other great arrangers.
Mile High Jazz Band performs for community events, fundraisers, dances, receptions,
private parties, and in concert. They have played benefits for New York Firefighters,
Red Cross Disaster Relief, Carson-Tahoe Hospital Foundation, Douglas County Library
Foundation, and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. They have been featured
in concerts at the Brewery Arts Center and on the Carson City Symphony's "Holiday Treat"
and "Pops Party" concerts. They play monthly at Comma Coffee and collaborate with local
poets in quarterly "Jazz and Poetry" events, alternating poetry readings with related
musical selections. Mile High Jazz Band has performed in Carson City, Reno, Minden,
Fallon, Yerington, Stateline, Incline Village, Virginia City, and Crystal Bay.
In 2002, Mile High Jazz Band won "Best Band" award in Carson City's "Taste of
Downtown." In 2003, American Composers Forum selected Mile High Jazz Band and
Bella Voce women's choir for a national Continental Harmony project. In 2007,
leader David Bugli received the Nevada Governor's Arts Award for Distinguished
Service to the Arts, and the band played for the awards ceremony. Mile High Jazz
Band plays annual benefits with the Carson High Jazz Band to help the high school
band attend the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Also, the Mile High Jazz Band Association
founded and produces or co-produces the annual, multi-day Jazz & Beyond Music Festival in Carson City each August since 2004.
The Mile High Jazz Band performs around the Carson City area. You can
catch us on most second Tuesdays of each month at
from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge,
507 N. Carson Street inside the Carson Nugget.
Millennium Bugs
The Millennium Bugs, a jazz combo associated with the Mile High Jazz Band,
play a great variety of jazz styles. They performed for the Carson City
Preservation Coalition/Historical Society, Olympic Torch Relay Ceremony in
Carson City, Carson City Music Club, Westview block party, Camel Race Day in
Virginia City, Carson Nugget showroom, Carson-Tahoe Hospital Foundation, Carson
High Prom, BAC Beer Tasting, weddings, receptions, and parties.
Mile High Jazz Band Association board meetings are held quarterly.
Call 775-883-4154 for details.
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