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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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Mile High Jazz Band presents "Playing Favorites"
Jazz and Poetry
at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
The Mile High Jazz Band, singer Jakki Ford, and eight poets present
"Playing Favorites," an evening of big-band jazz and poetry, on Tuesday, March 10,
2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge,
507 N. Carson Street, inside the Carson Nugget. Gina's is a smoke-free,
climate-controlled venue, and has a well-stocked bar and specialty cocktails.
The music is free, requested donation is $10.
"Playing Favorites" features the 17-member band playing swinging songs
on the theme of the evening, several featuring vocalist Jakki Ford. Poets
will present poems that express an aspect of the theme, followed
by a tune that relates to the poem. Poets are Rita Geil, Teresa Breeden,
Wayne Carlson, Ursula Carlson, Elizabeth Jones, Melanie Perish, Susan Sara
Priest, and Timothy Rhodes.
Pianist and bandleader David Bugli said, "Some of our favorite, and your
favorite, musicians and poets will be here to entertain you!"
Mile High Jazz Band performances and educational activities are supported in part
by private donations and memberships, and by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council
and National Endowment for the Arts. For information about the band and its activities,
see milehighjazz.com.
Photo: Jakki Ford will sing with Mile High Jazz Band on March 10 for "Jazz &
Poetry," featuring eight poets.
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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 3/5/2026):
- Tues., March 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. - MHJB performs Jazz-and-Poetry event at
Gina's Good Life Music & Lounge
- 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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