My June plans will take me to the Midwest states of Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa. I was last in the Midwest in 2016 to perform at South Dakota State University and it’s been too long!
My first stop on my summer travels will be Billings, Montana. I’m looking forward to playing four shows with some amazing local musicians.
On Saturday, June 16th, I will be at Thirsty Street Brewing Company from 7-9pm. I’ll be joining the Big Sky Trio, with Erik Olson on piano, Parker Brown on bass, and Keller Paulson on drums for the night. I’ve known these guys for several years, and I’m so glad to join them for this evening of collaboration. They recently released their debut album, “Short Stories“. There’s no cover charge for this show.
On Sunday, June 17th, Father’s Day, I will be playing at Walker’s Grill from 7-10pm. I’ve played Walker’s Sunday evening Jazz series several times over the years, and I’m so happy to be back in their space. I will be joined by Craig Hall on guitar, Parker Brown on bass, and Keller Paulson on drums for the evening. There’s no cover charge for this show.
On Tuesday, June 19th, I will be the featured musical act at a fundraising event for the nonprofit organization Angela’s Piazza. I’m looking forward to raising funds for this amazing organization that provides educational services and support groups to women in the Billings area. The fundraiser will be held at Craft Local from 6:30-9pm. Tickets are $10. Joining me for the evening will be Alex Nauman on guitar, Parker Brown on bass, and Keller Paulson on drums.
On Wednesday, June 20th, I will be a part of the Parker Brown Trio for a private event.
After a week in Billings I’ll head south to Denver Colorado to spend some time with my family and play a duo show with singer-songwriter Tobi D’Amore at the Crooked Stave Taproom on Monday, June 25th. Tobi and I have been performing together since 2013, when I started playing with his indie rock band The Bone Chimes. We’ll play a night of original songs and jazz standards.
Starting on June 26th my travels will take me to Nebraska, where I’ll spend three nights playing in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska.
On Wednesday, June 27th, I will be playing at Jambo Cat in Omaha, Nebraska from 7:30-10:30pm. Jambo Cat has live jazz five nights a week and has revitalized the live jazz scene in Omaha. Shawn Bell will join me for the evening on trombone. I met Shawn when I attended the Betty Carter residency at the Kennedy Center back in 2007! Mitch Towne, who was the pianist on my first recording, “Half Past”, will be on organ, and Mike Roe will be on the drums for the night. There is a $5 cover charge for this show.
On Thursday, June 28th, I will head west to Lincoln, Nebraska to perform at the Boiler Brewing Company from 8-10pm. I will be joined by Andrew Janak on saxophone, Mitch Towne on organ, and Mike Roe on drums. There is a $15 cover charge for this show.
On Friday, June 29th, I will head back to Omaha for the night and perform at collaborative art space OutrSpaces from 8-10pm. For this show I will be joined by Cubby Phillips on guitar, Bobby Scharmann on bass, and John Evans, who was a part of my last Midwest tour in 2015 on drums. This show has a $15 cover. The percussion ensemble “Flat Water Trio” will perform an opening set.
After this week in Nebraska, I’ll head north on Saturday, June 30th to play my final show of this tour at Vangarde Arts in Sioux City, Iowa from 8-11pm. Vangarde Arts is an energetic nonprofit organization that has been a major promoter of the arts within the Sioux City area. I last performed there in 2015 with Marcus Lewis and his quartet. They recently moved into a new performing arts space in downtown Sioux City, and it promises to be an incredible night of music. I will be joined by Pete Fucinaro on saxophone, Mitch Towne on organ, and Dana Murray on drums, who also was the drummer on my first recording “Half Past”. There is a $10 cover for this show.
If you’re in the Midwest come out to see a show!