Arizona’s premier jazz venue The Ravenscroft has an incredible lineup of April performances that we wanted to share with you just in time for National Jazz Appreciation Month!
The Ravenscroft’s intimate concert hall showcases world-renowned and Grammy-Award winning artists throughout the year. The Scottsdale venue also features the Jazzbird, a modern lounge with an urban New York City jazz club theme, and hosts music from popular and up & coming local musicians.
Get more information on The Ravenscroft, the artists or to purchase tickets, here.
April Concerts at The Ravenscroft:
- Zazu West – Friday, April 5 @ 7:00PM
ZAZU West creates a unique musical experience for their audience through their performances. Based in Phoenix Arizona, ZAZU West is excited to be carrying on the “ZAZU” Gypsy Jazz tradition started in Arizona in 2004 with the same unforgettable ingredients: irresistible swing, melancholy dark and moody highlights, and improvisation with reckless abandon.
- Holly Pyle Quartet – Friday, April 12 @ 7:00PM
Los Angeles-based Holly Pyle is a compulsively detail-oriented vocalist and songwriter. Her career in music thus far has been marked by innovative approaches to vocal loop arranging, intense musical vulnerability, and barrier-pushing vocal melodies in her songwriting projects. This show will include a collection of favorite jazz standards, rearranged contemporary selections and a few of Holly Pyle’s original compositions, performed alongside local legends Raul Yañez (piano), Mario Mendivil (bass) and Stephen Avalos (drums.)
- Donny Mccaslin – Saturday, April 13 @ 7:30PM
Donny McCaslin is best known as the saxophonist on David Bowie’s last album, Blackstar. The noted composer and bandleader has released a dozen albums over his genre-defying, Grammy-nominated career. Performing alongside Donny McCaslin in Ravenscroft Hall is drummer Nate Wood, a multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the Grammy nominated quintet Kneebody.
- Michael Weiss Trio – Friday, April 19 @ 7:00PM
For over four decades, pianist, composer, educator, and bandleader Michael Weiss has enjoyed a formidable career working in the bands of a who’s who of jazz legends. As a leader Weiss has headlined at major jazz venues around the world and is also recognized as a composer. He was presented the 2000 BMI/Monk Institute Composers Competition grand prize by Wayne Shorter and is the recipient of several Chamber Music America commissions. Weiss will perform selections from his latest recording, Homage (Cellar Live) during his performance.
- GEORGE – Saturday, April 20 @ 7:30 PM
Jazzbird welcomes GEORGE for a special and unique Saturday evening event! Featured artists include Anna Webber (Tenor Saxophone & Flute) Chiquita Magic (Keyboards & Vocals) Sarah Rossy (Keyboards & Vocals) and John Hollenbeck ( Drums.) This genre-bending band was formed during the pandemic and their first album was remotely recorded, until they had the chance to meet. This show will featured the band’s released “shorts”, 4 re-composed remixes based on improvisations from their 1st recording session.
- West By Northwest – Friday, April 26 @ 7:00PM
West by Northwest brings together four highly acclaimed artists who have performed worldwide with a who’s who of jazz. The band’s live performances embrace jazz’ past, present, and future, with a great chemistry and an adventurous, hard-swinging style. Featured artists include Tom Wakeling (Bass) Angelo Versace (Piano) Jason Carder (Trumpet) and Dom Moio (Drums.)
- Mark Guiliana – Saturday, April 27 @ 7:30PM
Grammy-nominated superstar drummer & composer Mark Guiliana brings an adventurous spirit, eclectic palette and gift for spontaneous invention to a staggering range of styles. Equally virtuosic playing acoustic jazz, boundary-stretching electronic music, or next-level rock, he’s become a key collaborator with such original sonic thinkers as St. Vincent, Pearl Jam, Matt Cameron, Brad Mehldau, Meshell Ndegeocello, Matisyahu, and the late, great David Bowie. Experience an unforgettable night of music as Mark Guiliana unveils his latest masterpiece alongside the exceptional talents of Josh Johnson on saxophone and Nicholas Semrad on synths. This exclusive performance at Ravenscroft Hall marks the debut of their unique trio, promising an evening of energetic artistry and innovation.
- Jazz for the Soul: Russel Schmidt Quartet** – Sunday, April 28 @ 6:00PM
The Russell Schmidt Quartet returns to the Jazzbird stage to perform a wide-ranging program featuring jazz classics, songbook standards, and original compositions at Jazz for the Soul. As a performer, composer, conductor, and educator, Russell Schmidt has been collaborating with world-class musicians while also shaping future artists for more than three decades. A deeply creative pianist, he has shared the stage with many celebrated performers and has served as keyboard soloist with more than 30 professional orchestras, including performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall.
**This show is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Doors open at 5:30pm. All donations received will benefit local and international humanitarian causes.
