The Century Room has been serving up libations and live music since it opened in 2022, gradually expanding its hours to meet the demand. The team is now excited to announce that in 2023 they will be open daily from 6 – 11 p.m. with extended hours to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
From January 13 – 22, the Century Room will be the epicenter of the Tucson Jazz Festival with concerts at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. led by Mike LeDonne, Vincent Herring & Jeremy Pelt, Armen Donelian, Alex Weitz, and Emmet Cohen. The Hotel Congress Plaza stage will also have jazz performances during the festival’s run including ample late-night after-party jams.
Weekly Programming
Following the wrap of Jazz Fest, Century Room venue manager & music programmer Arthur Vint will continue his Friday night series which highlights local performers in a formal concert setting. The series includes two ticketed sets, one at 7 p.m. and the other at 9 p.m.
The venue will also welcome various nationally-touring jazz acts via Century Room’s Signature Concert Series. Pianists Bill Charlap, Arco-Iris Sandoval, Geoffery Keezer, and Christian Sands are among the acts already booked with more to come.
Saturdays will continue to feature late-night performances by local bands that cater to those looking for a fun night of live music and cocktails.
Pianist, saxophonist, trombonist, and trumpeter Max Goldschmid will continue his residency by hosting the Sunday night Century Room jazz jam while drummer Pete Swan keeps Thursdays swinging with a spotlight on fantastic local jazz vocalists and instrumentalists.
Wednesday nights are reserved for Guy Senese’s Mysterious Babies, a traditional jazz band that plays music from a century ago.
Perhaps most exciting in 2023 is the Monday night residency of the newly formed 17-piece Century Room Jazz Orchestra. Performing big band jazz from across the spectrum, the CRJO is inspired by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (originally the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra) which has performed every Monday night at the Village Vanguard in New York City since 1966. How will 17 musicians fit on the Century Room stage? Come find out!
The Century Room’s acoustics and “listening room” reputation has made it a desirable destination for singer/songwriters, blues musicians, ambient performers, and more. With that in mind, Tuesday nights will be reserved for these “out of the ordinary” shows, hosting artists outside of the jazz-idiom.
January Show Highlights
1/5: Late Night with Brice Winston & Outward Bound at 9 p.m.
Thursday of the month, internationally acclaimed saxophonist Brice Winston and his band “Outward Bound” perform their take on jazz standards as part of the Late-Night series.
1/6: Tucson Modern Jazz Quartet: The Music of Herbie Hancock at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($15-$25 tickets) The Tucson Modern Jazz Quartet presents an evening dedicated to the music of pianist Herbie Hancock.
1/7: Late Night with Paul Green at 9 p.m.
($5 Bar / $10 GA tickets / $15 Advanced Reserved tickets) Paul Green returns to the Century Room playing his mix of jazz and blues on the harmonica.
1/8: Fruit Cocktail Lounge at 4 p.m.
($6 tickets) Ring in the New Year at Fruit Cocktail Lounge on Sunday, January 8 at the Century Room! Join your friends, family, and the community at Tucson’s premiere LGBTQA+ jazz cocktail party featuring your dashing host Paul Bowman, stellar pianist and Executive Director.
1/11: An Evening with Dale Watson at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($25-$35 tickets) The Century Room welcomes Dale Watson for two intimate solo performances
1/12: Late Night Solo Piano with Susan Artemis at 9 p.m.
No cover
1/13: That 1 Guy Presents: In the Gnu Gnargaverse at 7 p.m.
($17.51 tickets) The one-man band known as That 1 Guy plays an instrument of his own invention, which he calls “the magic pipe,” live in The Century Room.
1/13: Tucson Jazz Festival Afterparty with Kyle Nasser Quartet at 10:30 p.m.
($10-$15 tickets) Following the Tucson Jazz Festival’s programming, keep the night going with NYC Saxophonist Kyle Nasser!
1/14: The Heavy Hitters at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($35 tickets) The Heavy Hitters is a new collective sextet conceived by two of the music’s greatest artists: Pianist Mike LeDonne and saxophonist Eric Alexander.
1/14: Tucson Jazz Festival Afterparty with Jason Carder & Eric Nakanishi at 10:30 p.m.
($10-$15 Tickets) Following the Tucson Jazz Festival’s programming, keep the night going with an all-star quintet led by Eric Nakanishi & Jason Carder!
1/15: Vincent Herring and Jeremy Pelt at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($35 tickets) Vincent Herring and Jeremy Pelt of the Heavy Hitters join forces on the Century Room stage.
1/17: Tucson Jazz Festival Afterparty with Tom Walbank at 9 p.m.
($10-$15 tickets) Following Arthur Vint & Associates performance on the plaza stage, come have a nightcap at the Century Room while listening to bluesman Tom Walbank.
1/19: The Armen Donelian Trio at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($35 tickets) When the history of Jazz during the COVID-19 pandemic gets written, Armen Donelian warrants a detailed chapter.
1/19: Tucson Jazz Festival Afterparty with Gabe Terracciano Quartet at 10:30 p.m.
($15 Reserved tickets / $10 GA tickets / $5 Bar) Following the Tucson Jazz Festival’s programming, keep the night going with award-winning violinist Gabe Terracciano!
1/20: Alex Weitz Quarter/Album Release at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
($25 tickets) NYC jazz saxophonist and composer Alex Weitz won second place in the prestigious Michael Brecker International Saxophone Competition in 2019.
1/20: Tucson Jazz Festival Afterparty with Brice Winston & Outward Bound at 10:30 p.m.
($15 Reserved tickets / $10 GA tickets / $5 Bar) Following the Tucson Jazz Festival’s regular programming, keep the night going with internationally acclaimed saxophonist Brice Winston and his band “Outward Bound”.
1/21: SPECIAL EVENT – Live at Emmet’s at 10 p.m.
($55 tickets) Fans of Emmet Cohen already know that every Monday night is the time to tune into another episode of “Live at Emmet’s”.
Cocktails and Snacks
Accompanying all of the memorable music at Century Room are the thoughtfully crafted cocktails, curated by the dynamic duo that is beverage director Mike McGill and bar manager Ryne Hoffman — the same duo that paved the way for Century Room to earn the title of one of the best hotel bars of 2022 by Liquor.com
Guests are always welcome to come sit in Paul’s Lounge in the back for a cocktail, including during shows.
And lastly, Century Room will roll out a new food menu in January, designed by Cup Café chef Joe Decker and featuring various boards and small snacks.
Century Room is located at 311 E. Congress St. For more information and tickets to Century Room events, visit hotelcongress.com. For the full Tucson Jazz Fest lineup, check out the online schedule at tucsonjazzfestival.org.
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