Madison Jazz Calendar

Your Guide to the Local Jazz Scene

Welcome to Madison Jazz Calendar, a listing of live jazz events in Madison, Wisconsin. Go directly to the calendar, or see below for features, notices, and news about jazz in Madison

  • Ryan Meisel’s “Jarred”

    On December 1, Ryan Meisel is hosting a Coda Vinyl Album release party for his latest release, “Jarred.”

    Ryan Meisel grew up in the Milwaukee suburbs, graduated from UW Madison, and is director of bands at New Berlin Eisenhower HS. He maintains a busy performing schedule throughout southern Wisconsin and has put out over 10 albums. From the liner notes:


    Jarred “Electric” represents one of the biggest musical risks I have taken on a recording project. Stretching boundaries, I wanted to capture the edginess of 80’s and 90’s rock and heavy metal that I grew up with as a kid. Playing through an FX processor gave me the chance to create fresh sounds that fuse improvised jazz with electronic experimentation. This album features three new compositions on side A and two reworked originals on side B. I’d like to thank my bandmates Jake, Cody and Matt for joining me on this project.
    -Ryan Meisel, 2024.

    credits

    released June 1, 2024

    All selections composed and arranged by Ryan Meisel.

    Ryan Meisel: Soprano, Tenor, & Baritone Saxophones, EWI, Korg AX3000G Processor.
    Cody Steinmann: Guitar
    Matt Rodgers: Electric Bass
    Jake Polancich: Drums

  • Chris Mosley’s “Tribunal”

    Tribunal was released Sept 6, 2024 and is Chris Mosley’s first record since moving to Madison in 2022. He is having a record release party on October 26th at Cafe Coda.

    According to his website, Tribunal is “an instrumental psych-jazz guitar record feat. bassist Damian Erskine and drummer Wayne Salzmann II. Eight compositions built for exploratory improvisation, the album is a tour of colors, textures, stories and lines. A broad jazz guitar sound is joined by the other-worldly vibes of fretless guitar, microtonal(36edo) guitar and a mini Korg synth, floating atop the effortless grooves of Erskine’s 5-string bass and Salzmann’s kit.”

    Chris was raised in Austin, attended Berklee College of Music, and lived in Portland. He has been writing, recording, and performing music for over 20 years. Tribunal is his 7th studio album as bandleader. 

  • New Release from John Christensen

    “Soft Rock,” John Christensen’s latest recording is now available. Featuring Tony Barba, Matt Gold, Joshua Catania and Neil Hemphill, this record blends elements of jazz and rock.

    Below is an excerpt from the Bandcamp site. For the full liner notes see this publicity release from Paradigm Records.

    “Christensen’s compositions are a case study on how to write simply enough to work within rock-driven groove vehicles yet incorporate enough intricacy and individualism to allow such vehicles to venture away from over-travelled back-beaten paths.” – DownBeat Magazine

    credits

    released August 9, 2024

    John Christensen – bass
    Tony Barba – tenor saxophone
    Matt Gold – electric and acoustic guitars, organ, mellotron
    Joshua Catania – piano, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer
    Neil Hemphill – drums

    All compositions by John Christensen (BMI)

  • Jazz at Five 2024 Line-up

    Jazz at Five has announced it’s lineup for this summer. Details for each week are on the calendar.

    Due to construction, the location this year is changed to the South Hamilton side of the Capitol Square. Live music will take place against the backdrop of the Capitol, and food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages vendors will be on-site.

  • Madison Jazz Fest 2024

    The schedule below just came out and was copied from the Madison Jazz Fest homepage. Details for each event can be found on the calendar. A special treat this year: UW Union headliners are free and outside on the Terrace rather than inside the Union Theater.

  • Allen Gardens Summer Concerts 2024

    Allen Garden 2024 Concerts poster

  • Les Thimmig

    This is a repost from Facebook. Johannes Wallman is the author.

    I just received sad news that my dear colleague and friend Dr. Les Thimmig passed away yesterday. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

    For 53 years, Les was an invaluable member of our UW Madison and music communities. I know much will be written about his accomplishments as a composer and performer and his impact on generations of students, but here is a lovely article from 2021 about his work and passion as a Professor of Composition, Jazz Studies and Woodwind Performance.

  • Jakob Heinemann – Opacity

    The Jakob Heinemann quartet performs at Arts and Literature Lab on Saturday, April 13 at 7pm. Opacity is his maiden recording, released in December 2023.

    From the liner notes: “Most of the music is through-composed, but the notation is very open, meaning each performance is a little different, and the performers can add their own ideas and sensibilities as they wish. The compositions are at times collaged with field recordings, group improvisation, and foley sounds, creating a wide palette of colors that blend together to create a unique sonic environment.”

    Jakob Heinemann – bass, objects, field recordings
    Ishmael Ali – cello
    Jeff Kimmel – clarinet
    Molly Jones – flutes

  • Love Hurts: New Feestet release

    This latest EP from Feestet was released the weekend before Valentines day, and is a trio of songs about the dark side of love. Feestet (pronounced “Feest-tet”) is a Madison-based jazz ensemble fronted by vocalist Helen Feest. They can be found in many sizes – from an intimate duet all the way to a groovy sextet. Band members are:

    Helen Fest – vocals
    Anthony Utehs – guitar
    Ari Smith – bass
    Frank McKearn IV – electronic valve instrument
    Greg Riss – percussion

  • Jazz Camp

    Laurie Lang, president of Madison Jazz Society, is teaming up with Arts and Literature Lab to run a jazz camp this summer. The class is aimed at 10-14 year-olds and runs from 9am-noon for one week in July. Laurie will be assisted by a team of high school student mentors, college students and other jazz educators. Go to Jazz Club to learn more and register.