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Missing from Tucson’s very active music scene until now was a dedicated venue for jazz.
The Century Room, which is located inside Hotel Congress, is on track to open up its doors for its first jazz performance on Friday, February 4.
In collaboration with the Rio Nuevo Board, The Century Room’s space was transformed into a state-of-the-art club that’s got a goal of adding to downtown Tucson’s nightlife. Shana Oseran, a partner in Hotel Congress with her husband Richard since 1985, partially garnered inspiration to develop the project because of jazz drummer Arthur Vint.
Vint, who’s originally from Tucson, spent 15 years in New York City performing and working in jazz clubs like the Blue Note and Dizzy’s Club. Since 2020, he’s been a professor of jazz drums at the University of Arizona.
“I have always dreamed of opening my own club and Shana has included me in every aspect of planning the Century Room — it is an exciting project that we are thrilled to bring to the community,” said Vint.
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The dedicated jazz club opens its doors in February with a lineup of live entertainment, including a variety of regional and national jazz artists showing up throughout the year. Most of the evening performances will be ticketed concerts, which are shared online to help you plan out your experience.
“The Century Room has been so well received by all of my musical colleagues,” said Vint. “My friends in New York all want to come to perform here and my friends in Arizona are excited for an opportunity to showcase their music at an authentic jazz club. It’s an amazing addition to downtown and Tucson in general.”
Aside from the ear candy, there’s going to be plenty of tastes coming from the bar and lounge inside of the Century Room. The menu is loaded with drinks that’ll have you headed back for more, like the Sonoran Sazerac and the Spirit of the Southwest, which both have hints of Tucson mixed in.
Century Room will also offer guided tastings of small-batch ancestral mezcals featuring a collection of seven LaMata varieties, as well as Rancho Tapua Bacanora, Mazot Bacanora, Sotol Por Siembre, and more. Additionally, a broad selection of local and Sonoran wines, locally brewed beer, and spirits will be on hand.
A small bites menu will be available soon, but in the meantime, check out the different cocktail menus.
Upon entry, you’ll go through the 100-year-old double door entrance on Congress Street and Fifth Avenue. Hotel Congress partner, Shana Oseran, sees the new jazz club as a true labor of love and something that’s gone through years of evolution at the hotel.
“The Historic Hotel Congress has been a leader in adaptive re-use since 1985,” said Oseran. “The Century Room occupies the space that over the years has been home to Valley National Bank, Stamp and Coin, a bookstore, art gallery, Southwestern clothing manufacturer, menswear store, the Copper Hall banquet facility, and now Southern Arizona’s first dedicated jazz club. We are pleased to introduce a third music venue to the hotel, joining Club Congress and Hotel Congress Plaza. I think Tucson is ready for this one-of-a-kind venue.”
Homero Cerón is a local legend who was previously the principal percussionist of the Tucson Symphony for over 40 years. He brings his quartet to the Century Room to play a mix of originals and Latin jazz classics. Accompanying him are Amilcar Guevara (piano), Mike Levy (bass), and Danny Brito (drums).
Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis returns to the Hotel Congress with guitarist Jimmy Grant for an encore performance of their Gypsy Jazz duets.
Pianist and vocalist Susan Artemis brings her quartet for a special Valentine’s weekend concert to perform “Love Songs from the Dark Side of the Lounge.”
This show follows Dirty Dozen’s “Mardi Gras Mambo” performance at the Fox Tucson Theater. Keep the party going at Century Room with some fantastic local musicians.
Howard Alden is a world-renowned guitarist from New York City who recently relocated to Phoenix. He’s performed with a who’s who of jazz legends including Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Dizzy Gilespie among many others, and has won numerous accolades from Downbeat and JazzTimes. He recorded the soundtrack to the 1999 Woody Allen movie “Sweet and Lowdown” and coached Sean Penn for the role. He brings a trio to the Century Room to perform his favorite songs from his illustrious career.
Rob Boone is Tucson’s first call trombonist who has organized a tribute concert to great JJ Johnson called “Blue Trombone,” which takes its name from the 1957 Blue Note album.
This show follows Batiste’s Tucson Jazz Festival performance at Centennial Hall. Fresh off his groundbreaking eleven Grammy nominations finds the multi-talented artist approaching legend status. The afterparty will feature local jazz musicians jamming til the wee hours and will be the place to be after the show.
Mike Moynihan is a prolific composer, songwriter, and recording artist. He has authored hundreds of songs and jazz compositions and has recorded and released over a hundred songs from his various projects. Moynihan will be paying tribute to the saxophone colossus himself, Sonny Rollins.
Founded in 2004, ZAZU West is Arizona’s premier ensemble dedicated to Gypsy Jazz, the style devoted to the legacy of guitar legend Django Reinhardt. Whether playing dozens of unique Django compositions, traditional and contemporary jazz standards in the Gypsy Jazz style, or the music of today’s Gypsy Jazz greats in Europe and the U.S., ZAZU West creates a one-of-a-kind performance experience.
Grammy-nominated pianist Rachel Eckroth brings her trio of bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Caleb Michel to the Century Room to perform the highly influential jazz album “Money Jungle.” Released in 1963, this trio of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach created an album out of a notably tense recording session
The Century Club is located at 311 E. Congress St. For more information, visit hotelcongress.com or call (520) 622-8848.
